One of the oldest Russian institutions of higher education, Moscow University was established in 1755. In 1940 it was named after Academician Mikhail Lomonosov (1711–1765), an outstanding Russian scientist, who greatly contributed to the establishment of the university in Moscow.

In 1755, on 25 January, St. Tatiana's Day according to the Russian Orthodox Church calendar, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed the decree that a university should be founded in Moscow. The opening ceremony took place on 26 April, when Elizaveta Petrovna's coronation day was celebrated. Since 1755 25 January and 26 April are marked by special events and festivities at Moscow University; the annual conference where students present the results of their research work is traditionally held in April.

Moscow State University is a major traditional educational institution in Russia, it offers training in almost all branches of modern science and humanities. Its undergraduates may choose one of 57  qualifications, while doctoral students may specialize in 168  different areas. The total number of MSU students exceeds 40,000; besides, about 10,000 high school students attend various clubs and courses at MSU.

MSU is a centre of research science famous for its major scientific schools. There have been 11 Nobel Prize winners among its professors and alumni, out of 18 Russians who have received the prestigious prize so far. Many more MSU scientists have been awarded various Soviet and Russian prizes for their achievements, among them 60 Lenin Prizes and 120 State Prizes, over 40 MSU scientists having received the State Prizes over the last decade, 6 of them this year.

Among those who teach at MSU there are 2,500 higher doctoral degree holders and almost 6,000 holders of doctoral degrees, almost 1,000 full professors and 2,000 associate professors. The total number of full members and correspondent members of The Russian Academy of Sciences is about 300. About 5,000 scientists and scholars are currently involved in 310 research projects in various fields.

Moscow State University comprises 29 faculties and over 350 departments, 15 research institutes, 4 museums, the Science Park, the Botanical Gardens, The Library, the University Publishing House and printing shop, a recreational centre and a boarding school for talented children. 9 faculties have been recently established, along with 47 new departments and 22 research laboratories. Research has recently started in 30 new interdisciplinary areas. At the moment the University Computer Centre represents more computing power that any other educational institution in Russia. There have been major changes in the curricula, with over 200 new academic programmes added.

• Advanced Educational Scientific Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University — A. N. Kolmogorov School
• Artificial Intelligence Institute M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Center of Big Data Storage and Analysis Technology, Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Centre for New Information Technologies, Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Crimean Laboratory of Shternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University
• Department of Psychology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Institute for Theoretical and Mathematical Physics of Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Institute of Complex Systems Mathematical Research, Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Institute of Ecological Soil Science of Moscow State University
• Institute State Administration and Social Research
• International Laser Center of Moscow State University
• Kazakhstan Branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Laboratory "Multidimensional Approximation and Applications", Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Laboratory of infinite-dimensional analysis and mathematical physics, Department of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow State University
• Lomonosov Moscow State University Business School
• Lomonosov Moscow State University Faculty of Geography
• Lomonosov Moscow State University in Baku
• Lomonosov Moscow State University in Dushanbe
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Bogoliubov Institute for Theoretical Problems of Microphysics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Additional Education
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Cosmic Research
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Economics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Fundamental Physical and Chemical Engineering
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geology
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Global Studies
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Materials Science
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Pedagogical Education
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Philosophy
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Physics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Physics, Laboratory of Cryoelectronics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Sociology
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Mechanics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Russian Language and Culture
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of World Cultures
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow School of Economics
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, P. K. Sternberg Astronomical Institute
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Research Computing Center
• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics
• Lyapunov French-Russian Institute for Applied Mathematics and Informatics
• Medical Research and Educational Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Moscow Center for Fundamental and Applied Mathematics
• N. N. Bogoljubov Laboratory of Geometric Methods in Mathematical Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Quantum Technology Center of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Sarov branch of the Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Sevastopol Branch of the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Shenzhen MSU-BIT University
• Tashkent branch of Moscow State University named after L. V. Lomonosov