Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
Российский университет дружбы народов имени Патриса Лумумбы
Motto
Открой Мир в одном Университете!
Motto in English
Discover the World in one University!
TypePublic
Established5 February 1960 (5 February 1960)
PresidentVladimir Filippov
RectorOleg Yastrebov
Administrative staff
8,586
Students38,484
Undergraduates25,650
Postgraduates11,450
1,384
Address
117198, Moscow Miklukho-Maklaya str. 6
,
Moscow
,
Russia
CampusUrban
Colours   
AffiliationsIFPU
Websitehttps://eng.rudn.ru/
University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World316 (2025)
THE World601-800 (2025)
USNWR Global726 (2025)
Regional – Overall
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia31 (2022)

The Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (Russian: Российский университет дружбы народов имени Патриса Лумумбы), also known as RUDN University and until 1992 and after March 2023, as Patrice Lumumba University in honour of the Congolese politician Patrice Lumumba, is a public research university located in Moscow, Russia. It was established in 1960 by a resolution from the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR to help nations to assist countries that had recently achieved independence from colonial powers. The university also acted to further Soviet foreign policy goals in nonaligned countries.

The university focused on catering to non-aligned countries, which were previously known as the "Third World". The university's main goal was to train personnel from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. RUDN University was considered the 'Oxford' of Russia in the mid-1980s due to the fame it achieved within a short period. RUDN University's stance on global issues became neutral after the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union. RUDN University mainly focuses on research and has partnerships with over 2500 foreign universities and research centres.

In March 2023, the name of Patrice Lumumba was returned to the RUDN University.

Rector Oleg Alexandrovich Yastrebov signed a letter of support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.