North-Western State Medical University named after I. I. Mechnikov

Historical Background

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov traces its history back to 1885 with the opening of the Alexandrovskaya City Barrack Hospital, which later became the clinical base for the formation of the city’s leading medical educational institutions. In 1907, the Psychoneurological Institute began operating here, eventually gaining the status of the State Institute of Medical Knowledge, and later—the Leningrad Sanitary and Hygienic Medical Institute.

The university acquired its current structure in 2011, when two prestigious medical universities in St. Petersburg merged. The institution is named after Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, a Nobel laureate and one of the founders of immunology.

About the University Today

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov is a dynamically developing university that combines rich scientific traditions with modern educational approaches. The university comprises more than 80 departments and offers all forms of medical education: undergraduate, specialist, master's, residency, and postgraduate programs. Students are taught by highly qualified faculty, including professors and instructors with academic degrees, members of academies, and recognized clinical experts.

The university has its own clinical base and a well-developed infrastructure, including:

• Modern simulation centers for practical training
• Research laboratories in molecular biology, microbiology, pharmacology, immunology, and other fields
• Advanced computer classrooms
• Educational and diagnostic centers for implementing innovative medical methods.

International Activities

NWSMU named after I.I. Mechnikov is actively engaged in the international educational arena: it collaborates with universities in Europe and Asia, implements joint research and educational programs, welcomes students and faculty from dozens of countries, and also offers an English-taught study program.