History of faculty

The Faculty of Physics was founded together with the University in 1865. At that moment, it comprised two departments, the Department of Physics and Physiography and the Department of Astronomy. Experimental studies were carried out in the two rooms of the departments.

In 1920, after implementation of a reform of the Higher Education System, the Faculty of Physics was merged with that of Mathematics to form a basis for the  Physico-Mathematical Institute. In 1921, the Institute was joined to the Institute of Public Education.

In 1930,  the Institute of Public Education was transformed into the Institute of Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry. When the University was reinstated in its status in 1933, the Faculty renewed an active training of specialists at its newly-formed Departments of Experimental Physics, X–Ray Physics, and Theoretical Physics.

In 1936, the Faculty of Physics and that of Mathematics were merged into the Physico-Mathematical Faculty.

Since 1960, the Faculty of Physics has existed as a separate unit of the University.

Some of the outstanding scientists who used to work at the Faculty were F. N. Shvedov, M. A. Umov, A. V. Bogatskii, V. P. Tsesevich, V. V. Serdyuk.