Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University ETU-LETI

Founded in 1886, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” is the first higher education institution in Europe to specialize in electrical engineering.  

The university is renowned in Russia and all over the world as a leading research center. ETU “LETI” researchers are credited for inventing radio, building first Russian hydroelectric power plants, introducing semiconductor heterostructures for high-speed- and opto- electronics. They made major strides in engineering and technology and brought these inventions into our modern world. An inventor of radio Alexander Popov, founder of Russian radio engineering Imant Freiman, pioneer of Russian hydropower engineering Genrikh Graftio and Nobel Prize winner in physics Zhores Alferov have worked here over the years.

Now, ETU “LETI” is thriving as a global world-level university. Bachelor’s, Master’s and Specialist level training in 38 technical, economics and humanities majors is conducted at 6 faculties and 2 institutes. ETU “LETI” has 9 English-taught Master’s programs that follow the current research trends in computer science, laser technology, wireless communication systems, solar energy, energy-efficient technology, digital healthcare, automation, robotics, heritage science and innovation management. PhD level students in 14 majors are taught at LETI by highly qualified academic staff.

The university has over 9000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Over 1800 students came to LETI from overseas. The university teaching staff includes 200 Professors and Doctors, 20 winners of Russian and international awards. The university attracts guest lecturers from Germany, Brazil, India, the UK, Italy, Denmark and other countries.

The LETI innovation infrastructure comprises one of the first Russian technoparks, 350 laboratories for study and research, 8 academic and research centers and 5 research institutes.

Now, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University implements large-scale projects at the frontier modern science in selected R&D areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Human-Machine Interface, Portable Medical Systems and Devices, Advanced Wireless Technology, Electrical and Power Engineering. LETI will introduce R&D Master’s programs in these areas in 2020.

Each year, LETI holds large-scale international conferences, symposiums and seminars in artificial intelligence, electronics, soft computing, X-ray engineering and ergonomics.

160 universities, big enterprises and research institutions from 75 countries are among academic and industrial partners of LETI.  

Every year, ETU “LETI” holds about 30 international seasonal schools. It is a unique opportunity for international students to learn Russian, gain professional expertise and knowledge in the fields of IT, robotics, biomedical engineering, renewable energy, among others, as well as to get to know Russian history and Saint Petersburg culture.

ETU “LETI” is active in its support of student talent and leadership. At the university, the students can fulfil their research potential and expand their creativity at various music and theater groups. 8 student work teams are deployed to various Russian cities. Members of 20 university sports clubs win Russian and international powerlifting, arm wrestling, football, volleyball, billiards and chess competitions.  

LETI is situated in the historical center of Saint Petersburg which is a Russian culture capital and one of the most world beautiful cities. The university campus embodies various architectural styles: from German Renaissance to so called Unorthodox Emotional Functionalism. International students and other non-residents of Saint Petersburg are housed comfortably in 11 university dorms.

Over 2000 students graduate from LETI annually. LETI alumni - researchers, prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs, politicians, engineers and inventors - live in 92 countries of the world. Even after graduation they still are a community that maintains a strong bond with their alma mater and promotes LETI at the global scale.