Samarkand State University (SamSU) (Uzbek: Sharof Rashidov nomidagi Samarqand Davlat Universiteti (SamDU); Russian: Самаркандский государственный университет имени Шарофа Рашидова) is a public university in Samarkand, Uzbekistan established by a government decree of the Government of Uzbekistan on 22 January 1927 in the city of Samarkand. The university is commonly known as Samarkand University (in Uzbek Samarqand Universiteti).

The university was originally organized in 1927 as the Uzbek Pedagogical Institute and in 1930, it was renamed the Uzbek State Pedagogical Academy and in 1933, upon merger of the Pedagogical Academy and the Uzbek State Medical Institute into the Uzbek State University. In 1941—2016, the University was named after poet and philosopher Ali-Shir Nava'i.

In 1961, the Uzbek State University was finally renamed the Samarkand State University, a name it keeps to date. The rector of the university since 2015 is Dr. Alimdjan Rakhimovich Khalmukhamedov.

Currently, the University comprises the following faculties: Philology; History and Philosophy; Teaching; Physics and Mathematics; Biology; Economy; Tajik Philology; Russian Philology; Law; Physical education.

NATURAL SCIENCES: 1. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Applied mathematics 
Software engineering 
Computer Science & programming technologies

2. MATHEMATICS

Mechanics 
Mathematics 
Methods of teaching mathematics

3. PHYSICS

Physics 
Astronomy 
Biomedical physics 
Methods of teaching physics & astronomy

4. BIOLOGY

Biology (by types) 
Biology teaching methods 
Biotechnology (food, feed, chemistry & agriculture) 
Technology of cultivation & processing of medicinal plants

5. CHEMISTRY

Chemistry 
Chemical technology 
Materials science & chemistry of new materials 
Chemistry teaching methods

HUMANITIES: 6. HISTORY

Archeology 
History (by countries and regions)

7. GEOGRAPHY & ECOLOGY

Geography 
Hydrometeorology 
Ecology & environmental protection

8. DIGITAL ECONOMICS

Economics 
Economics, human resources management

9. TEACHING

Pedagogy & psychology 
Primary education & sports education

10. PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION

Preschool education 
Technological education: labor education 
Technological education: music education 
Technological education: fine arts & engineering graphics

11. PSYCHOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY

Sociology 
Philosophy 
Psychology (by type of activity) 
Social work (in different areas of activity) 
National ideology, fundamentals of spirituality & legal education

INTERNATIONAL: 12. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Preschool education 
Mechatronics & robotics 
Applied mathematics & informatics 
History (History of the Great Silk Road) 
Materials science & new materials technology

LANGUAGES, ARTS & SPORTS: 13. PHILOLOGY

Philology & language teaching (Uzbek) 
Philology & language teaching (Tajik) 
Publishing

14. RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PHILOLOGY

Philology & language teaching: Russian 
Foreign language literature: English 
Russian language & literature (in other language groups)

15. ART

Music education 
Handcrafts education 
Fine arts & engineering graphics

16. SPORT

Physical culture 
Sports activities (in the field of women's sports)

NEW PROGRAMS STARTING IN 2020: 17. LAW 18. AGROBIOTECHNOLOGY

• List of universities in Uzbekistan
• Zoological Museum of Samarkand State University

• Official website

39°38′41″N 66°57′40″E / 39.6448°N 66.9610°E / 39.6448; 66.9610