Over more than two centuries of existence, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University has made a significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian society, providing a strong impetus to transform Kharkiv into a powerful scientific and cultural center. Currently, the university rightfully occupies top positions in nationwide rankings among classical universities and is well-known beyond the borders of Ukraine.
Throughout all these years, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University has evolved and absorbed the best global practices. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University ranks 691-700 globally. Currently, over 15,717 students are enrolled in the university. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University offers classical education combined with innovative teaching methods. It is a classic that stays ahead of its time. University students have the opportunity to participate in international student exchange programs and study in EU countries, double degree programs with leading EU universities in France, Poland, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, and others. The university collaborates with leading employers, and students can intern at Ukrainian and international companies such as NIX Solutions, SoftServe, and others.
History
Kharkiv National University is one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe. It was founded in November 1804 on the initiative of the prominent educator V. N. Karazin, in accordance with the Charter of Tsar Alexander I. The opening ceremony took place on January 29, 1805. Count Severin Pototski was appointed as the first supervisor, with the philologist Ivan Ryzhski serving as the first rector. From 1820 to 1850, the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University operated under strict control, with rectors appointed by the Minister of Education and activities such as scientific publications and the academic process being censored. However, during this period, the university was autonomous to some extent, with rectors being elected.
In 1863, a new Statute granted the university partial autonomy. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University comprised four schools: Physics and Mathematics, History and Philology, Medicine, and Law. Additionally, a veterinary school was established within the university in 1839, later becoming an independent institute in 1851. The university’s infrastructure included laboratories, clinics, an astronomical observatory, a botanical garden, and a library. Various academic societies were founded, including the Philotechnical Society and the Mathematical, Historical, and Philological Societies of Kharkiv, as well as societies for Naturalists, Physics, Chemistry, and Law. The university also played a significant role in shaping educational and cultural life in Slobozhanshchyna during its early years, from 1805 to 1835.
University Today
V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University, with a history spanning over 200 years, stands as a prominent institution in Ukraine for both research and education. In the “Top-200 Ukraine” ranking conducted by the UNESCO Chair in 2009, Kharkiv University holds the third position among Ukrainian higher education institutions. According to Scopus, a leading international scientific publication database, the university ranks third among Ukrainian research and educational institutions for the number of articles published in renowned international scientific journals.
Presently, the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University comprises 20 schools and 125 departments, offering training across 61 majors. It also includes three research institutes (Astronomy, Biology, and Chemistry), a Central Scientific Library with a vast collection of over 3.5 million books, and various museums such as the Botanical Garden, University History Museum, Museum of Natural History, and Museum of Archeology and Ethnography. The university caters to approximately 16,800 students and 500 postgraduate students through its schools, Center for International Students Training, and Pre-Enrolment Training Center. The teaching and research staff consist of 308 Doctors of Sciences and Doctors of Letters, full professors, around 800 PhDs, associate professors, and 15 academicians and corresponding members of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Sectoral Academies.
V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University is renowned for its 24 internationally recognized scientific schools, offering significant potential for training highly skilled personnel in the region. It hosts over 20 Expert and Senior Expert Examining Boards, where numerous doctoral and PhD theses are defended annually. University scientists contribute significantly to scientific literature, publishing textbooks, manuals, monographs, journals, and scientific articles, including in leading international scientific journals. The V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University organizes more than 150 international and national conferences annually on research and teaching methods.
V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University fosters close collaboration with Research Institutes of the National Academy of Sciences and Sectoral Academies of Ukraine. It has established 17 branches of university departments within the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and, in collaboration with the academy, opened The School of Physics and Energy. Internationally, the university enjoys recognition as a signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum and a co-founder of the Eurasian Universities Association. It actively participates in the International Association of Universities and European University Association, serving as a training center for approximately 1,500 international students, postgraduates, and doctorate students from 50 countries worldwide. The university engages in research and educational cooperation with over 100 universities and organizations globally.
Schools and Institutes
- Bakhmut Education Research and Professional Pedagogical Institute
- School of Biology
- School of Geology, Geography, Recreation and Tourism
- School of Economics
- School of Foreign Languages
- Institute of Post-Qualifying Education and Part-Time (Distance) Learning
- School of History
- School of Mathematics and Computer Sciences
- School of Medicine
- Education and Research Institute “Teachers’ Academy”
- Educational and Scientific Institute
- Education and Research Institute “Karazin Business School”
- Education and Research Institute “Karazin Banking Institute”
- Education and Research Institute “Karazin Institute of International Relations and Travel Business”
- Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy
- Education and Research Institute “School of Physics and Technology”
- Education and Research Institute of Ecology
- Education and Research Institute of Computer Sciences and Artificial Intelligence
- Education and Research Institute of Computer Physics and Energy
- Institute of International Education for Study and Research
- School of Psychology
- School of Radiophysics, Biomedical Electronics and Computer Systems
- School of Sociology
- School of Physics
- School of Philology
- School of Philosophy
- School of Chemistry
- School of Law
Fields of study
- Health Care
- Education and Pedagogics
- Humanitarian Sciences
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Jurnalistics
- Management and Administration
- Law
- Biology
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Natural Sciences
- Information Technologies
- Electrical Engineering
- Automation and Instrumentation Engineering
- Service Sector
- International Relations
- Public Administration and Management
Accommodation
V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University has a very good hostel system with fully furnished rooms, a quiet study environment, and a surrounding recreation center. The International Office provides a guarantee of accommodation placement services to all international students. There are several accommodation options for international students based on their preferences for an independent lifestyle or living in a community. V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University combines the convenience of living on or near campus, access to programs and services to help them excel academically, the opportunity to build lasting friendships, and comfortable, affordable living. The territory of the University and the main students’ routes from the hostels to the educational buildings are protected and patrolled by officers of guard service.
All rooms in student hostels at the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University are provided with internet facilities. All hostel rooms are furnished and vary in size and number of conveniences. Dormitory rooms at a hostel can accommodate 2 or 3 students to a room. They are equipped with a bed, mattress, pillow, blanket, desk, chair, alarm, heating, water system, and suitable lighting for both study and relaxation. There are common areas for international students to play and mingle. Upon the student’s arrival on campus, specific accommodations are assigned and after a satisfactory health report, the student will be accommodated in the room which is allotted to him.
Off-campus housing can be obtained in nearby apartments. Available apartments and houses are furnished and vary in size, cost, and number of conveniences. Life in Kharkiv is friendly and devoid of rush. In the hostel of the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University – Karazin University each room is attached to the kitchen is provided for students to cook food to their own taste. Students need to supply their own kitchen utensils. Meals may be bought from various food outlets. All the rooms are provided with heaters. Student hostels feature 24-hour access to security and emergency services, making it easy to get assistance when you need it. As a campus resident, international students have access to all support services such as campus Security Services, Counseling Services, and Health Services.