The history of Samarkand State University begins with the founding of the Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasah, that is, on September 21, 1420. For the first time in the madrasa, Mawlana Muhammad Khavafi gave a scientific lecture on the theory of Claudius Ptolemy to more than 100 students.

    From that day on, students at the Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasa began to study algebra (al-jabr), geometry (handasa), law (fiqh), and other fundamental sciences alongside religious knowledge. The educational process in the madrasa continued uninterruptedly until the 1920s, except for the period of Ashtarkhan Abulfayzkhan, that is, the period covering several decades in the first half of the 18th century. Over the past period, this madrasah has not lost its prestige as the most advanced and prestigious educational institution of its time - Madrasah Aliya. The madrasah continued its activities in the field of training pedagogical personnel even during the Soviet era.

   From 1920, the teachers of the Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasah were involved in short-term courses for the training of pedagogical personnel, the graduates of which later began to teach in educational institutions.  Later, on January 22, 1927, the Higher Pedagogical Institute was established in Samarkand.

   The Pedagogical Institute is one of the first higher educational institutions in Central Asia. The foundation of the institute's pedagogical team, which was later transformed into a university, was formed by prominent representatives of the national intelligentsia who received higher education at the Ulugbek Madrasa, along with professors and teachers invited from Moscow, Leningrad, and Kyiv. This fact confirms that Samarkand State University is a direct successor to the Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasah.

    In 1930, the educational institution was transformed into the Higher Pedagogical Academy. The first rector of the academy was Karim Abdullayev (1931-1935). In 1933, on the basis of the Pedagogical Academy and the Medical Institute, one of the largest universities in Central Asia - the Uzbek State University - was established.

   In 1941, in connection with the 500th anniversary of the birth of the poet, philosopher, and statesman Alisher Navoi, who studied at the Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasa in the 60s of the XV century, the Uzbek State University was named after the great scholar. In the same year, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, the university's activities were temporarily suspended. In 1941-1944, Samarkand University was temporarily merged with Tashkent State University.

• In 1944, at the initiative of Rector Musa Muminov and with the support of the republic's leadership, the university's activities were restored.
• In 1961, the name of Uzbek State University was changed to Samarkand State University named after Alisher Navoi.
• In 1992, the Samarkand Pedagogical Institute named after Sadriddin Ayni was incorporated into Samarkand State University.
• In 1994, the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages was established on the basis of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Samarkand State University.
• In 2022, Samarkand State University was named after the outstanding statesman Sharaf Rashidov.

Currently, the following faculties operate at the university:

• Faculty of Philology;
• Faculty of Mathematics;
• Faculty of History;
• Law Faculty;
• Faculty of Psychology and Social and Political Sciences;
• Faculty of Geography and Ecology;
• Faculty of Intellectual Systems and Computer Technologies.

   825 professors and teachers teach more than 12,100 students at the university. The university's information resource center has a total collection of 3,794,575 units.

   From among the students who studied at the university in different years, dozens of prominent statesmen, cultural and scientific figures, writers and poets emerged. Among them, the names of Sharof Rashidov, Hamid Olimjon, Uyg'un, Ibrohim Mo'minov, Yahyo G'ulomov, Muhammad Asimi, Abdullo G'ani, Mirtemir, Usmon Nosir, Manzura Sobirova, Habib Yusufiy, Omon Matjon, Nodir Jonuzoq, and others became known in Uzbekistan and the world.

   Currently, 3 student dormitories operate at Samarkand State University, with a total capacity of 1116 places. Including:

• Student dormitory No. 1 - 200 places;
• Student dormitory No. 2 - 394 places;
• Student dormitory No. 3 has 522 beds.

   On the basis of regulatory documents related to the activities of the student dormitory, internal regulatory legal documents of the university have been developed and approved. In particular, there is a student dormitory regulation, an ad corner, a student list, and a fire safety corner.

  Conditions have been created in the dormitories for students to live, work independently on themselves, and rest. For students, the President previously put forward five important initiatives in the field of art, sports, and computer technologies. There are reading and sewing rooms.

   Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov actively works in the following social networks:

• Instagram
• Telegram
• Facebook
• YouTube

   If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this university, you can contact the following addresses and numbers:

• Telephone: 0 (366) 2391140
• Email: devonxona@samdu.uz
• Official website: samdu.uz
• Address: Samarkand region, Samarkand city, University Boulevard, 15, postal code: 140104

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Prepared by Mamura Turayeva