Before you stands one of the most iconic buildings in Kyiv. The Red Building of Taras Shevchenko National University is not only a symbol of the city but also a place where the history of Ukrainian science, culture, and statehood was shaped.
The university’s story began in 1834, when the Imperial University of Saint Vladimir was opened in Kyiv. Its first rector was the prominent historian, ethnographer, philologist, and naturalist Mykhailo Maksymovych. He laid the foundations of the future scientific school that would go on to educate many generations of the Ukrainian intelligentsia.
On the façade of the Red Building, you will find memorial plaques dedicated to the events and people who left their mark on the university’s history. Among them is Taras Shevchenko. In 1845, he began working here in the Archeographic Commission. During this period, Shevchenko became a member of the Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood, which advocated for the national revival of Ukraine.
Until the early twentieth century, the university remained a men’s educational institution and only later opened its doors to all.
After Ukraine gained independence, the university was granted national status in 1994.
Today, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is a powerful center of education, science, and research, ranking among the best universities in Ukraine. Its students and lecturers participate in international programs, and the Red Building continues to be a recognizable symbol not only of Kyiv but of Ukrainian education as a whole.