M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University is the largest university in Russia. Established in 1755, it also claims to be the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. The university has more than 40 000 undergraduates and about 7 000 postgraduate students. Every year Moscow University enrolls about 2 000 international students from all over the world.

Saint Petersburg State University is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious universities in Russia. There are more than 32,000 students in SPBSU, receiving education in more than 323 specialties in 20 faculties.