Ulyanovsk State University celebrates its 36th birthday on February 11. In 1986, at the initiative of the heads of the region, and first of all the then first secretary of the Regional Committee of the CPSU Yuri Samsonov, a group was formed to develop the concept of a new educational institution. It includes representatives of the region's leadership and scientists from Ulyanovsk universities, who stood at the origins of the classical university in Ulyanovsk. Professor Yuri Polyanskov headed the creative group.

It was assumed that the university would initially become a branch of one of the largest universities in the Volga region. But later the residents of Ulyanovsk decided to take a swing at "kinship" with the main university of the country. Thus, the first branch of the Lomonosov Moscow State University in the history of the country appeared in Ulyanovsk. The corresponding resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was signed on February 11, 1988. This date is considered the day of the founding of the branch of Moscow State University, later Ulyanovsk State University.

The first  admission was  only 200 people. There are 14 thousand students at the university today. Starting with two faculties, UlSU has grown into a powerful scientific, educational and innovative center, one of the best universities in the country. The University confirms this status again and again - in recent years, the university has won the competition of the federal program "Priority 2030", won the competition for the opening of an advanced engineering school, and is annually included in the top 100 best universities in Russia according to academic ratings.