Karazin University was founded on the initiative of the outstanding enlightener Vasyl Karazin in November 1804. The formal opening took place on January 29, 1805.
The University history is part and parcel of the intellectual, cultural and spiritual heritage of Ukraine. For more than two centuries, Karazin University has been extensively engaged in enlightening, making scientific discoveries, improving the educational constituent, implementing a large-scale program of international cooperation, with higher school in Kharkiv region and Ukraine on the whole developing along the way.
Karazin University is the only university in Ukraine to have trained and employed three Nobel Prize laureates: biologist Ilya Mechnikov, economist Simon Kuznets, physicist Lev Landau. The training of international students at Karazin University began in 1948. Currently, the University is the leader of Ukraine in the number of international students enrolled, who come from almost all continents. Among others, Karazinites are students from Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, North, and South America. In total, Karazin University’s 22 schools provide training for over 4,000 international students from more than 70 countries of the world.
The University has long-standing traditions of international cooperation, and participates in educational and professional associations, which is indicative of the world scientific community’s recognition of its significant role in training dedicated highly-qualified professionals. The University holds high positions in the national and international rankings.
Karazin University community comprises academicians, full and associate professors, PhDs and doctors of sciences, who used to study within its walls. Some of them make Karazin University particularly proud. They are people who have contributed a lot to the development of education, science, culture, sports of Ukraine and the world, and therefore have glorified their Alma Mater.
Today, the University has 23 Schools and education and research institutes: School of Biology; Education and Research Institute "School of Physics and Technology"; School of Radiophysics, Biomedical Electronics and Computer Systems; School of Physics; School of Computer Sciences; School of Philosophy; School of Mathematics and Computer Sciences; School of International Economic Relations and Travel Business; School of Geology, Geography, Recreation and Tourism; Education and Research Institute of Ecology; School of Economics; School of Foreign Languages; School of History; School of Philology; School of Medicine; School of Chemistry; School of Sociology; School of Psychology; School of Law; Education and Research Institute of Computer Physics and Energy; Education and Research Institute "Karazin Business School"; Education and Research Institute of Public Administration; Karazin Banking Institute.
The Central Scientific Library was founded in 1804 on the initiative of the prominent educator, public figure and scholar Vasyl Karazin. The overall library holdings contain more than 3,350,000 items. Among them are more than 1.7 million items of scientific literature, 1.1 million textbooks. The unique collection of rare books and manuscripts counts nearly 60,000 items, including the collection of incunabula (issues printed before 1500), palaeotyps (1501-1550 ), and considerable collections of Ukrainian and foreign printed ancient editions (dated 16th-18th centuries) and editions of prominent figures of science and classical literature. The collection of manuscripts includes nearly 1,000 items. Among the manuscripts are The Universal by the Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa (1704), The Annals by Hrabianka (early 19th century), materials dealing with the history of Ukraine (17th-18th centuries), letters written by Ivan Franko to penwoman Kobrynska (1884-1886 ), a collection of Greek, Polish and other manuscripts. The collection of foreign publications counts more than 700,000 items written in the main European languages.
The library also stores publications of the printing house founded at the University in 1804. Among them are the first in Ukraine magazines and newspapers published in the printing house of the University: Kharkovskie Izvestiia (Kharkiv News) (1817–1823), Kharkovskii Demokrit (Kharkiv Democritus) (1816), Ukrainskii Vestnik (Ukrainian Messenger) (1816–1820), Ukrainskii Zhurnal (Ukrainian Journal) (1823–1825).
Here is what Karazin University Library has to offer: five lending departments, eleven reading rooms, an interlibrary loan service, two specialized rooms with catalogs, the Center for Internet Technologies, a room of literature on the history of the University, a room of local history books on Greece and Cyprus created with the assistance of A. Leventis Foundation (Cyprus), and the Window on America Information Center.
The library also has a department of rare editions — a storeroom where a collection of book monuments, valuable manuscripts, archival documents is kept, 955 items in total. Among them are incunabula, palaeotypes, foreign early-printed books, Glagolitic and Cyrillic publications, universals, political documents, etc. The chronological framework of these book monuments is 14th–20th centuries.
Karazin University Library is a participant in the Single Reader Card innovative project that provides free access to the holdings and electronic resources in the reading rooms of the higher educational institutions involved in the project.
Sports is an integral part of student life. There are various sports to choose from physical training classes: aerobics, athletic training in the workout room, badminton, basketball, boxing, water tourism, volleyball, track-and-field, five-a-side, table tennis, self-defense, archery, lawn tennis, taekwon-do, fencing. Medically fragile students attend physical rehabilitation classes. Classes are conducted by the qualified faculty of the Department of Physical Training and Sports, among whom are Masters of Sports of International Class, Masters of Sports, Merited Coaches. Students have at their disposal the sports halls of the Karazinskyi Educational and Sports Complex, Unifekht Sports and Fitness Center, the Main and Southern Educational Buildings and the Building of the School of Physics and Technology, as well as the Unicourt Tennis Complex.
Students actively take part in the University sports events, Olympic lessons, as well as various competitions, namely the Student Athletic Games and the Spartakiad of Student Dormitories, the University President’s Cup in five-a-side and the Student Trade Union Cups in basketball, badminton, volleyball, table tennis and cheerleading, individual events in lawn tennis, fencing and archery.
There are sports sections of badminton, basketball, boxing, volleyball, athletics, futsal, table tennis, powerlifting, rock climbing, archery, tennis, fencing, football, cheerleading, and chess for students with sufficient sports training. Among the students of the University are champions and prize-holders of the most prestigious international competitions — the Olympic Games, the World and European Championships, Universiade, but the main task of the Department is to preserve and strengthen students’ health.
It is for this purpose that students and faculty go to Fihurovka Sports and Health Camp situated on the bank of the Siverskyi Donets River near Kharkiv.
The Center for Primary Health Care operating at the University is a place you can turn to when in need of urgent medical care. There is a GP, a dentist, and other medical specialists you can have an appointment with at the city student hospital.
For more than two centuries in a row, Karazin University has been implementing its mission «to learn — to teach — to enlighten», caring not only about the development of science and the acquisition of classical European education by its students, but also about imparting high spiritual and moral values, aesthetic taste and love of the beautiful.
The University also creates, co-ordinates and develops all areas of extracurricular activities related to revival and development of the Ukrainian culture, provides opportunities for boosting students’ and faculty’s artistic creativity, and organizes various leisure activities.
Cultural and educational activities are carried out directly through creative associations and groups involved in amateur arts. They play a significant role in the cultural development of students, who make up an academic student choir, an ensemble of folk dance, an ensemble of contemporary variety dance, Schools’ teams of the Club of the Cheerful and Sharp-Witted, a team of hip-hop contemporary dance, a club of poetry fans. The University pays considerable attention to the genre of solo singing. Many vocal students are laureates of city, regional and international festivals and contests of variety song.
The Cultural Center’s staff and the creative teams annually join their efforts to hold Karazin University’s traditional holidays: the ceremony of initiation into studentry, the first-year student creative contest Alma Mater, gala concerts to mark International Women’s Day, the beauty pageant, days of schools, the festive graduation ceremony, etc. Besides, the University actively promotes foreign cultures, particularly German, French, Italian, Indian, African, Israeli, Arabic, Chinese, Polish, and others, by celebrating traditional holidays, holding festivals and other festivities. The University’s Henryk Siemiradzki Art Gallery exhibits not only paintings executed in different styles and genres by the recognized and young artists, but also the best examples of arts and crafts, photo pieces, musical instruments of peoples of the world, pottery, embroidery, and so on. This is a large-scale cultural center offering an opportunity to touch the beautiful.
The University’s YermilovCenter is the first center of contemporary art in Kharkiv, a multicultural and multifunctional ground and a communication platform for artists. Painting, sculpture, photography, design, literature, theater, choreography, cinema, music are among the trends it presents. It hosts various artistic events and exhibitions of graphics and painting, photo pieces, posters, sculptures, and installations. The YermilovCenter brings together like-minded people at creative meetings, conferences, and lectures given by experts from all over the world, it provides food for discussion, raises questions that matter today, presents their reflection in art, follows the contemporary trends in art and conducts creative experiments. The useful gets combined with the pleasant: the Center organizes festivals, film shows, theatrical performances, music bands’ concerts, and the like.
The University is not only about studying, but also about a bright student life. Karazin University holds a lot of interesting events, both enjoyable and useful, direct participation in which is a good way to adapt to the student environment, make friends and show yourself.
Another bright event after the First-Year Student Week is the Alma Mater Contest. It not only helps students better know one another, but also reveal their musical, dancing, and other artistic talents.
The University holds four beauty pageants: Mr. University, Miss University, Miss Trade Union, Mr. Trade Union. Karazinites enjoy celebrating. That is why women may receive a theatrical performance as a present for March 8, or St. Valentine’s Day; those in love can test their feelings by participating in a staged marriage ceremony at the University: the newlyweds can borrow wedding clothing and rings, and receive symbolic marriage certificates. Student’s Day, Schools’ Days, and other holidays are accompanied by various events, contests, performances.
The Student Council is actively involved in students’ leisure organization.
In particular, students can choose to join the Bandlerol creative organization, the Trade Union and the Cultural Center that organizes the work of the University’s folk and ballroom dance ensembles, hip-hop groups, student choir, poetry-lovers clubs, theater and clubs of the cheerful and sharp-witted.
The University’s Open Cup of the Cheerful and Sharp-Witted is very popular among subtle humor fans; intellectuals prefer the What? Where? When? and the Brain Ring; those who enjoy singing favor Karazin University Karaoke Kingz Contest; oral culture lovers are all for literary contests and poetry parties; gamers enjoy the Dota 2 Сybersport tournament; football fans relish in meetings with the Metalist players hosted by the University; and film shows are a popular treat for everyone.The University holds Days of world peoples’ cultures during which students can learn a lot of new things and take part in workshops. They can visit various exhibitions. The Central Scientific Library, YermilovCenter, Henryk Siemiradzki Art Gallery hold art and photo exhibitions, the University History Museum and LandauCenter — scientific ones. The Library and the Gallery organize meetings with artists; YermilovCenter holds workshops, concerts, festivals, and performances; and LandauCenter conducts scientific experiments.
The University Museum of Nature and the Museum of Archaeology, opened more than 200 years ago, are interesting for visitors, too. They contain collections that are among the largest in Ukraine and the oldest in Europe. The University is a place where fellow students and faculty will meet with each other and with famous people of Ukraine and the world. It is an opportunity to learn a lot of interesting and useful things, and to talk to socialize. Karazinites spend a quality leisure time outside the University. Their Trade Union distributes tickets to concerts and theatrical performances held in Kharkiv, organizes trips to away games of Metalist 1925, and excursions about the city and the country. The Trade Union provides tickets to the team’s home games at a 30% discount (occasional tickets are free), and a football season pass for the club’s home games. The University has a student sports and health camp, Fihurovka, situated by the river Seversky Donets, which is a great place to spend summer holidays in. There are also recreation camps at the coasts of the Black and Azov Seas. Winter holidays are best spent at the ski resorts of the Carpathians. The Trade Union Organization will help with the trip tickets. The Trade Union also helps obtain an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) that provides discounts and benefits in the network of shops, entertainment centers, sports clubs, foreign languages schools in Ukraine and the world.
The University’s student self-governance is carried out at the levels of the University, its schools, academic groups, the student campus, halls of residence and their blocks (floors). The student self-government bodies are the Student Council and the Student Campus Council. Their principal task is to protect students’ rights and interests, ensure that their needs in education, life, health and recreation be satisfied.
The Student Council participates in governing the University, improving the academic process through education quality monitoring, assists the administration in improving curricula, programs, awarding scholarships, etc. It promotes young people’s social activity by engaging them in various events and projects, educational and sports competitions, youth projects, supporting initiative students, and providing them with comprehensive assistance.
The Student Council participates in various cultural and sports events. It cooperates with Kharkiv charity organizations to hold social campaigns, including collection of toys and useful things for orphanages, donorship actions, etc.
The Student Council supported the creation of a platform for talented students’ development — Karazin University student blog UNK. Each school has its own Student Council that participates in decision-making in matters related to students’ expulsion, reinstatement, etc. The Council is headed by the student dean who, among other things, helps solve controversial issues and conflicts arising between students and faculty, if any.
The Student Campus Council protects the interests of the students residing in the halls of residence, participates in settling them in the dormitories and ensures proper living conditions. The subdivisions of the Student Campus Council are student councils of halls of residence, each having its head.
Every year on Student’s Day, November 17, Day of Student Self-Government is celebrated. On this day student deans receive students on issues related to education and student life. After that, they discuss the existing problems with the University Administration and seek out ways to solve them together. Karazin University students are issued Karazin University student ID cards. Karazin University Student Card is a unique discount project of the Primary Trade Union Organization of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Having it means paying less in more than 85 places in Kharkiv. Moreover, Karazin University Student Card is a regular participant in special-offer programs offered not only by its partners, but also by other institutions of the city. The card holders can enjoy discounts not only in entertainment, sports and shopping facilities, but also in educational institutions. Karazin University Student Card is accepted in cafes and restaurants, bookstores, supermarkets, quest rooms, foreign language schools, IT courses.
The University foreign students are accommodated in halls of residence, and accommodation may be provided to their families, too. Accommodation is coordinated by the Center for International Education of the University. The Center directly draws up lists of the recommended for accommodation. The Student Quarters Council relies on these lists to prepare move-in permits, accommodation contracts and dormitory check-in assignments for the first-year students.
Foreign students are mostly accommodated in hall of residence No. 5. It is a five-floor building with a corridor system, a laundry room, a sports hall, and access to the Internet in every room. The building is located at the address: 46 Tsilynohradska St. Follow the link to see how to get from Derzhprom metro station to Oleksiivska metro station, or from the Derzhprom metro station by taking route bus No. 217.
The University also has an extensive network of spots to eat at with affordable and delicious food served: they vary from plain buffets working in all the University buildings and offering quick snacks to major cozy cafes where to enjoy a set meal in a pleasant atmosphere, namely Bunker, Siome Nebo, FeelGood and FL-P-Malyshev.
The menu in University cafes includes Ukrainian, Georgian, Indian and Arabian cuisine. The average bill is $ 1.5–2.