The BSU, in full the Belarusian State University, is the largest educational, scientific and cultural center in Belarus. It is the oldest and the most prestigious University in Belarus. It was founded in 1921, October 30th and was headed by Academician Vladimir I. Picheta. Initially, there were three faculties Workers', Medical, and Social Sciences with 1,390 students among them. The 1920-30s marked one of the most dynamic periods in the history of the University. In 1922 a new Pedagogical Faculty was established. The University campus construction began in November 1927 and in 1930 it welcomed the first students. In October 1927 the postgraduate education began.
Rapid development of the University played a significant role in the creation of the educational system in Belarus. The University's educational and research capacity gave birth to a number of independent higher educational establishments, such as Minsk Medicine Institute, Minsk Law Institute, Minsk Pedagogical Institute, the Belarusian Institute of National Economy, etc. The Belarusian State University contributed much to the foundation and development of the Academy of Sciences, the Republic's State Library and a number of large research institutions.
The war did great damage to the University. The University campus was destroyed almost completely. University archives, library funds, laboratories and study-rooms were plundered. Despite the ravages of the war regular classes at its six faculties began at the station of Skhodnya near Moscow right in October, 1943. After the liberation of the Belarusian capital in August 1944 the University renewed its work in Minsk. The same year the Faculty of Journalism was opened at the University.
The pre-war education and material base of the University had been restored by the end of 1950. A new period in the history of the Belarusian State University began, the period of its rapid development, creative teaching and scientific research. In the second half of the 20th century new buildings of faculties were erected and new faculties were opened: the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Radio Physics and Electronics, Philosophy and Economics. Later on the Military and Humanities Faculties, as well as several educational bodies of unitary status were added to the university structure.