Equipment
The Department of Crystallography of St Petersburg University is equipped with modern equipment which allows for advanced mineral and synthetic material characterization of very different crystalline systems. The research is carrying out with the help of the Center of X-ray diffraction studies at the Research park of St Petersburg University (XRD Center SPbU).
Postgraduate
The Russian Postgraduate (PhD) system so far retains its unique Soviet model established in 1934. According to the Soviet pattern, there is a distinction between two scientific degrees that evidence a personal post-graduate achievement in scientific research. Hence, scientific degrees in Russia traditionally include two levels of doctoral degrees: the Candidate of Sciences (Russian: кандидат наук, kandidat nauk) and the Doctor of Sciences (Russian: доктор наук, доктор nauk). The titles are issued by Higher Attestation Commission of the Russian Ministry of Education.
In 2013, St Petersburg University became the first university in Russia to start conferring its own doctoral degrees: PhD SPbU and Doctor of Sciences SPbU.