Universitet Metro Station opened in 1959 on the Sokolnicheskaya Line, in the south-west of Moscow, and is named after Moscow State University. Universitet Metro Station has rectangular white marble pylons, tiled walls and two round vestibules on either side of Prospekt Vernadskogo.
It is the station on the way to the university campus and to Sparrow Hills, one stop after the station on the bridge over the Moskva River. This guide explains what to look for, how to find the university and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Университет |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1959 |
| Architect(s) | Mikhail Markovsky; vestibules by Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova |
| Address | Jawaharlal Nehru Square, Prospekt Vernadskogo, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Ramenki |
| Interchanges | Universitet (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station itself, between Vorobyovy Gory and Prospekt Vernadskogo) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the station is open to passengers during those hours.
Exact first and last train times were not confirmed, so check the Metro's official information (as of October 2026 – check the official site, mosmetro.ru). |
| Best time to visit | Mid-morning and early afternoon on weekdays are calmer, and late evening is quiet. The morning and evening rush hours are the busiest in term time, when students fill the platform.
The station works in every season, so it is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Universitet Metro Station?
Universitet is the Metro’s station for Moscow State University, the campus that was built on the Sparrow Hills in the 1950s. It opened in 1959, when the Sokolnicheskaya Line was extended across the Moskva River on a combined road and Metro bridge.
The hall is a pylon hall, about 26.5 meters deep, with rectangular white marble pylons and tiled walls. The two round vestibules, designed by Ivan Taranov, stand on either side of Prospekt Vernadskogo, at Lomonosovsky Prospekt.
The station is a regional heritage site. It is the practical way to the university and to the avenue named after Mikhail Lomonosov, but the walking time to the main building was not verified.
Highlights of Universitet Metro Station
White marble pylons
The hall is a pylon hall, with rectangular white marble pylons and tiled walls, about 26.5 meters underground.
The white stone and the tile give the hall a light, clean look.
Tip: Look along the row of pylons from the middle of the platform.
Two round vestibules
The station has two round entrance vestibules, designed by Ivan Taranov, on either side of Prospekt Vernadskogo at Lomonosovsky Prospekt.
They are the part of the station that you see from the street.
Tip: Check the exit signs for the side of the avenue you need before you go up.
The station for Moscow State University
The station is named after Lomonosov Moscow State University, whose campus was built on the Sparrow Hills in the 1950s.
The university has its own article.
Tip: Check a map for the route to the main building, since the walking time was not verified.
After the bridge station
Universitet lies one stop after Vorobyovy Gory, the station on the combined road and Metro bridge over the Moskva River.
The extension to the university opened in 1959.
Tip: Ride one stop back to Vorobyovy Gory to see the only Metro station with windows.
A heritage station
The station is listed as a regional cultural heritage site, and is described as a pylon station.
It is located at Jawaharlal Nehru Square, on the border of the Ramenki and Gagarinsky districts.
Tip: Look for the heritage plaques near the vestibules, if any.
Lomonosovsky Prospekt
The avenue was named in 1956 after Mikhail Lomonosov, when the new campus had been built nearby, and runs close to the station.
A different Metro station of the same name serves the avenue on Line 8.
Tip: Do not confuse the two stations; this one is on Line 1.
Atmosphere
The hall is bright, with white marble pylons, tiled walls and an even light, and the footsteps of students echo along the platform. The sound is trains, announcements and the long hum of the escalators.
Students, lecturers and visitors to the campus use the station, and in term time the platform fills at the start and end of the day.
It is calm in the holidays and late in the evening.
History of Universitet Metro Station
In the late 1950s the Sokolnicheskaya Line was extended south-west in the Frunzensky radius. After it reached the Luzhniki Stadium in 1957, the line was continued to the new campus of Moscow State University on the Sparrow Hills.
This required crossing the Moskva River on a combined road and Metro bridge, with a station on it, now called Vorobyovy Gory. The extension from Sportivnaya to Universitet, 4.5 kilometers long, opened in 1959.
The avenue by the station, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, had been named in 1956 after Mikhail Lomonosov, when the new campus of the university was built nearby.
Universitet is a pylon station about 26.5 meters deep, with rectangular white marble pylons and tiled walls. Its station was designed by Mikhail Markovsky, and its two round vestibules, on either side of Prospekt Vernadskogo, by Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova.
In 1963 the line was extended to Yugo-Zapadnaya, and later farther south-west. The station is now a regional cultural heritage site.
Today it is a working stop on Line 1, and the Metro’s station for the university.
Tickets and Booking for Universitet Metro Station
There is no ticket for the station itself; entering needs a Metro fare. Reports on 2026 fares differ: a budget-level fare (₽) for a single ride with a Troika card, a slightly higher budget-level fare (₽) by contactless bank card and a higher budget-level fare (₽) for a 90-minute fare, while some sources still give lower fares. Check the current fare on the official Moscow Metro site, mosmetro.ru.
- Troika card: a reusable card sold at ticket windows and top-up machines in station halls and through the official Metro app; the deposit is reported as a small amount (₽), so check the price.
- Foreign cards: reports conflict on whether foreign Visa or Mastercard cards and phone payments work at the turnstiles, so carry rubles in cash and buy a ticket or card at a ticket window.
- Rush hours: the station is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays in term time.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ. All fares and payment methods are listed on the official site, mosmetro.ru.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Universitet Metro Station
Universitet is in the south-west of Moscow, at Jawaharlal Nehru Square, on the border of the Ramenki and Gagarinsky districts, at the junction of Prospekt Vernadskogo and Lomonosovsky Prospekt.
- Metro: Universitet (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Vorobyovy Gory and Prospekt Vernadskogo.
The two round vestibules stand on either side of Prospekt Vernadskogo. The exit details and the walking times to the university main building and Sparrow Hills were not verified. A taxi can drop you on the avenue.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station is about 26.5 meters deep and reached by escalators, and the availability of lifts and step-free access was not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Prospekt Vernadskogo, Lomonosovsky Prospekt and the university area have cafes, canteens and shops that serve students. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a map or a navigation app for the walk to the campus, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Universitet Metro Station
Along the white pylons
The rows of white marble pylons receding along the hall, with the tiled walls beyond.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the platform is quieter
A round vestibule
One of the two round vestibules, seen from Prospekt Vernadskogo.
Best time: Daylight, outside rush hours
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the station were not confirmed. Taking photographs of the hall is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the platform is busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The station is a practical stop for families visiting the university area and Sparrow Hills. It is busy at rush hours in term time, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check which vestibule you need before you go up; they stand on opposite sides of Prospekt Vernadskogo.
- Ride one stop back to Vorobyovy Gory to see the only station of the Metro with windows.
- Do not confuse this station with Lomonosovsky Prospekt on Line 8; they are different stations.
- Look at the pylons for the white marble, which is the station's main decoration.
- Check a map for the route to the university main building and the viewing platform before you set out.
- Come outside term-time rush hours if you want the platform quiet.
Explore Nearby Universitet Metro Station
Sights near Universitet Metro Station
Moscow State Universityabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours for the campus and the viewMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sparrow Hills Moscowabout 2.1 km away · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours including the walk upMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Great Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Avenueabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Universitet Metro Station
Vorobyovy Gory Metro Stationabout 2.5 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Lomonosovsky: University Avenue, Metro Stations and Sparrow HillsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sparrow Hills: Moscow’s Best Viewpoint, University and Nature ReserveMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ramenki Metro Station: Yellow Line Stop in the South-WestMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Lomonosovsky Prospekt Metro Station: Line 8 Stop in RamenkiMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Michurinsky Prospekt Metro Station: Ramenki Hub, Line 8 and Big CircleMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Ramenki · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Universitet Metro Station
When did Universitet open?
In 1959, when the Sokolnicheskaya Line was extended across the Moskva River to the university; the exact date should be checked.
Which line is it on?
Line 1, the Sokolnicheskaya Line, in red, between Vorobyovy Gory and Prospekt Vernadskogo.
Is it the station for Moscow State University?
Yes, it is named after the university. Check a map for the walking route to the main building.
How deep is it?
About 26.5 meters, in a pylon station.
Who designed it?
The station is credited to Mikhail Markovsky, and its round vestibules to Ivan Taranov.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is it the same as Lomonosovsky Prospekt station?
No. Lomonosovsky Prospekt is a different station, on Line 8, and has its own article.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the hall.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026.
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