Founded in 1896, Tomsk Polytechnic University is one of the oldest technical training institutions in Russia. Situated in the city of Tomsk, west-central Russia, the university has more than 22,000 students across undergraduate and postgraduate level. Courses are organised across 10 research and engineering schools and 18 divisions of learning, with a separate e-learning institute and military training department on site. The university offers 29 bachelor degrees in a wide range of engineering and technology courses, as well as computer science and robotics, education and biomedical sciences. More than 30 postgraduate and 18 PhD programmes are taught at the institution. On campus, 14 dormitories provides accommodation for 8,000 students. The facilities are modern, following renovations in 2015. Students have access to multiple gyms and sports halls, which include basketball courts, football fields, a ski centre and 25-metre swimming pool. A large library boasts more than 2.7 million books and reading materials. Students are also encouraged to take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities and clubs, such as mountaineering, film-making, poetry, diving and folk art. The university places great emphasis on science translation, and hosts a number of projects and mentoring schemes for senior students to assist first years in their studies.