page_title: Baku State University
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Baku State University / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Coat of arms of Baku State University in 1919.
context_page_description: Baku State University; is a public university located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Established in 1919 by the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the University started with faculties of history and philology, physics and mathematics, and law and medicine, with an initial enrollment of 1094. The first rector of BSU was V.I.Razumovsky, a former professor of surgery at Kazan University.
  In 1930, the government ordered the University shut down in accordance with a reorganization of higher education, and the University was replaced with the Supreme Pedagogical Institute. However, in 1934 the University was reestablished again, and continued to work through the difficult years of World War II experiencing a shortage of faculty members.
  By its 40th anniversary in 1959, the University already had 13 faculties. The Azerbaijan Medical University and Azerbaijan State Economic University were both spun-offs of the original respective faculties at BSU.
  Among the graduates of BSU were two former presidents of Azerbaijan, Abulfaz Elchibey and Heydar Aliyev.
context_section_description: BSU was established on September 1, 1919 by the decision of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The University was established as a part of 4 faculties (history and philology, physics and mathematics, lawing, and medicine). The first rector of the University was the famous surgeon V. I. Razumovsky.
  Among the leading professors in 1920-40 were Azerbaijani writer Abdurrahim bek Haqverdiyev, Orientalist Professor P.K. Juze, Professor A.O. Makovelski, Professor A.O. Mishel and other scholars. During that period the administration of the university invited to Baku such teachers as N.Y. Marr, V.V. Bartold, the academician of the Eastern Science Academy Fuad bek Kuprulluzade.
  In 1930 the university was liquidated according to the decision made by Council of the People's Commissar on reorganization. The High Pedagogical Institute was created. Only in 1934 the state university resumed its activity and very soon became the republic's scientific-pedagogical center. Despite the great shortage of university teachers because most of teachers went to the Second World War, the university managed to keep its leading position. In 1945 the teachers took an active part in founding the Azerbaijan Academy of Science. Most of the republic's universities — such as Azerbaijan Medical University, Azerbaijan University of Economy, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and others — were founded on the basis of Baku State University.
  The years after 1969 can be considered as the years of development in the direction of knowledge and science. Covering a wide historical period, in those years there were founded faculties on modern specialties, departments and about 30 scientific research laboratories started. As a result, there was created a strong assurance of future development. University began to develop further after Heydar Aliyev came to power. Modern specialities, departments and scientific laboratories started to operate at university. With its rich historical background, Baku State University has always been a major scientific and educational center of Azerbaijan. Famous scientists, intellectuals and politicians and Azerbaijan's outstanding politician, Heydar Aliyev graduated from Baku State University. Currently, Baku State University has 16 majors with 55 bachelor and 153 master's degrees.
  The 100th anniversary of Baku State University was commemorated throughout the 2019 year not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Vienna, Austria (September 2019) and at the headquarter of UNESCO in Paris (June 2019). A special medial in honor of the 100th anniversary of BSU - “The 100th jubilee (1919-2019) medal of Baku State University” was issued by the Presidential Decree in November 2019, and 113 people were awarded this Medal.
caption: Coat of arms of Baku State University in 1919.
exif: {"Image ExifOffset": "26"}