The Bestuzhev Courses were the largest and most prominent women's higher education institution in Imperial Russia.

The Bestuzhev Courses were the largest and most prominent women's higher education institution in Imperial Russia. 

The Courses opened its doors in 1878. It was named after Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin, the first Director. The most famouse professors of the Bestuzhev Courses were Alexander Borodin, Faddei Zielinski, Dmitry Mendeleyev, Ivan Sechenov, and Sergey Platonov. A building for Bestuzhev Courses on the 10th Liniya (Line) of Vasilevsky Ostrov (Island) was built in 1885 on a draft of Academician of Architecture A. Krasovsky. 

Bestuzhev courses in St. Petersburg. 1878-1918

Konstantin Bestuzhev-Rumin (1829 - 1897)

Initiators of foundation of High Women's (Bestuzhev's) Courses. (1890).

Professor of Physics and Mathematics Faculty of the Courses Ivan Meshchersky among girl students (1914).

Female students of the courses were called "Bestujevka". 

Female students of the courses.

The girl students in the physics laboratory (1913).

The Library of the Bestuzhev Courses now (2012).

The new observatory of the Bestuzhev Courses (1912).

The Bestuzhev Courses were on the 10th Line of Vasilevsky Ostrov (Island) and some girl students rented room on 8th Line and then in the very nice building on 14th Line.

Bestuzhev Courses building now. (2012).

Bestuzhev Courses building now. (2012).