The Volga State Academy of Water Transport was founded on the basis of the Gorky Water Transport Institute established in 1930 with the object of training highly skilled engineering and technical specialists for water transport. At present it is a big higher education and research association with a well-developed infrastructure including 7 faculties, 24 departments, a computing center, a simulation training center and a scientific research department. About 8780 students are trained at the Academy, among them 3500 students are taught at the full-time department.

The Academy is entitled to carry on educational work in the field of higher professional education towards 8 trends and 18 professional qualifications, as well as 22 qualifications of post-graduate education and training and 10 professional degree programmes of additional higher education.

The Academy provides additional educational services including retraining and professional development of specialists. Study and research laboratories are fitted out with modern equipment. Future navigators, mechanical and electromechanical engineers acquire practical skills at a unique simulation training centre, the only one in Russia and the republics of the former Soviet Union, — a sea going training vessel "Alexander Popov".

Graduates of the Academy are erudite and versatile specialists adapted for work under market conditions.

The Academy buildings and hostels are situated in the central historical part of Nizhny Novgorod, founded in 1221 at the confluence of two great Russian rivers — the Volga and the Oka. A few minutes walk away from the Academy there is the most beautiful Verkhnye-Volzhskaya Embankment. A view of endless expanses across the Volga opens from the high bank of the Volga River. Close by is the ancient Nizhegorodsky Kremlin — the heart of the city, a conservatory, a philharmonic, theatres and museums.

• Astrakhan Branch of Volga State Academy of Water Transport

• Gorky Institute of Water Transport Engineers
• Volga State Academy of Water Transport