Chemical education in our region has a long history.

In 1916, Academician L.V. Pisarzhevsky and his students organized a chemical department at the Higher Women’s Courses in Yekaterinoslav (now Dnipro).

In 1921, the Department of Electronic Chemistry was opened at Ekaterinoslav Mining Institute, which was headed by L.V. Pisarzhevsky.

In 1925, at the metallurgical faculty of the Dnepropetrovsk mining institute a chemical and technological department was created, which had at that time two directions: solid fuel technology and metallography. In 1928, this department was transformed into a chemical-technological faculty.

Finally, May 15, 1930, on the basis of this faculty on the initiative of academicians L.V.Pisarzhevsky, prof. O.I. Brodsky and prof. P.T. Rubin a new independent higher educational institution, Dnipropetrovsk Chemical-Technological Institute (DCI), was created. This date is considered the official birthday of our University.

Immediately after the creation of the Institute of Physics and Technology, known scientists L.V. Pisarzhevsky, O.I. Brodsky, Yu.V. Korshun and others.

The first director of the institute was P.G. Storozhuk. After him in the prewar years, the ICTI was headed by BG Belokopitov (1932-1937), MI Savin (1937-1941), MM Bychkov (1941).

The newly created higher educational institution in the conditions of the rapid development of the chemical industry was preparing specialists-technologists for the industry of the South of Ukraine and the Soviet Union. The first issue of specialists took place in 1931

In the early 1930’s, there were two faculties in the institute: technological with the specialty “Coke production” and the faculty of the main chemical industry with the specialty “Production of acids and alkalis”. In 1933, the mechanical faculty with the specialty “Equipment of chemical plants” was created.

In 1934, at the Department of Physical Chemistry of the Institute of Physical Chemistry under the guidance of professor O.I. Brodsky for the first time in the domestic science received a heavy isotope of hydrogen (heavy water), which consolidated the reputation of the institute of a powerful scientific institution in the country.

In 1937-1941 under the leadership of M.I. Savin completes the construction of the main building, the student contingent and the teaching staff grow. There were two faculties (technological and mechanical), 19 departments working at the institute.

In 1938-1939, 6 professors, 45 assistant professors, 40 assistants worked at the Institute of Physics and Technology. At this time, the institute became a famous high school that trained specialists for chemical production. By the decision of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR in 1939 the institute was transferred from the third to the second category with the right to award the scientific degree of the candidate of sciences to the departments: analytical, physical, organic chemistry, technology of organic substances and technology of pyrogenic processes.

The rapid development of the institute was interrupted by the 2^nd World War. In 1941, DCTI was evacuated to Kemerovo (Russia), where it operates as a defense company for the production of bottles with an infusion mixture for the needs of the front. Of great importance to the production of weapons during the war years were the work of M.O. Loshkarev from hydrometallurgy of nickel and cobalt. Professor VI Dahl successfully solved the important task of creating a substitute for oil lubricants. The shortened staff of lecturers was headed by O.Y. Karasik In the evacuation of higher educational institutions is merged with the Rubizhne chemical-technological institute.

In May 1944, the institute returned from the evacuation to the city of Dnipropetrovsk; the restoration of buildings destroyed during the war begins. For the first year of the first post-war academic year, 100 students were enrolled. The same was true at senior courses.

Since the 40’s of the last century, DCTI  became the only institution of higher education in Ukraine.

From 1944 to 1950, the Institute was seconded by assistant professor M.I. Savin.

During 1950-1972, the post of rector of the DCTI was occupied by a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, doctor of sciences, professor M.O. Loshkaryov, who became the founder of the world-famous scientific galvanochemistry school. There were new departments and faculties in the institute (technologies of organic substances, technologies of inorganic substances, technology of high molecular substances, technology of silicates, correspondence faculty). For a significant contribution to the development of science professor M.O. Loshkaryov was awarded the honorary title of “Honored Worker of Science and Technology”. Professors V.V. Goods and G.A. Fomichov became the laureates of the State Prize of the USSR. Significant contribution to the development of science and the development of DCTI as a powerful educational and scientific center were introduced by the corresponding member of the Kazakh SSR V.V. Standler.

During these years, the Institute carried out an active construction: new educational and research corps, dormitories, sports and recreation camp “Dubovyi Gai” appeared.

In 1953, two new faculties were formed: technologies of organic substances (the first dean became associate professor OS Fomenko) and technologies of inorganic substances (its founder was Professor O. V. Baranov).

In 1954, the Faculty of Silicates Technology was opened (professor G.I.Belyaev became the dean) and the correspondence department for working young people, which in 1958 was transformed into a correspondence faculty (headed by associate professor MI Shenbor).

In 1964, a new faculty emerged – technology of high molecular compounds, which separated from the Faculty of Technology of Organic Substances (the first dean became associate professor O.S. Fomenko).

During 1972-1983, it was headed by the doctor of technical sciences, professor V.D. Parkhomenko, founder of the school of plasmochyma, who in 1983 was appointed Minister of Education of the Ukrainian SSR. In these years, the DCTI substantially expanded the fields of scientific work, branch research laboratories are being formed. A museum of history of the chemical-technological institute was created, buildings of the mechanical faculty and two new dormitories were built. In 1978, for significant achievements in the development of scientific chemical education, the Dnepropetrovsk Chemical Technology Institute was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

In 1984-1998, the staff of the University was headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine Y.I. Bilyi. In 1993, DCTI received the status of a university and became the Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology (USUCT). In 1994, a research institute of galvanochemistry (director – doctor of sciences, professor F.Y. Danilov) and a research institute of biotechnology (headed by Ph.D., associate professor O.P. Kulyk). In 1995, the Faculty of Economics was opened (led by Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor B. A. Kior), which trains economists for chemical and other branches of the national economy. During this period a new building of the Faculty of Technology of Organic Substances and a sports complex was built, which is one of the best in Ukraine.

In 1998-2013, the University was headed by Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine M.V. Burmistr.

In the new status since 1999, the “School of Chemist” of USUCT began its work. In September 2002, the Chemistry and Technology Lyceum was created on the basis of the University. In 2004, Dneprodzerzhinsk Industrial College entered the USUCT. To provide the educational process, an educational center, a publishing and printing complex and an information and computer center were created. The university publishes a scientific journal “Questions of Chemistry and Chemical Technology”.

In 2006, the University received the official name of the State Higher Educational Institution “Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology “(SHEI USUCT)

In April 2014, the conference of the University staff elected a new rector.  It was  Oleksandr Andriiovych Pivovarov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, student of V.D.Parokhomenko, I.G.Ploshenko, L.I.Momona.

Today, the University is doing a lot of work to improve the material and technical base, it plans to restore the department of military training, which existed at the university until 1995. Thanks to O.A. Pivovarov, the University has a high scientific potential and prepares its own personnel, while maintaining a professional staff of teachers.

In May 2014, the Association of Graduates of the University was created. In the future, the University will continue to actively collaborate with foreign universities in France, the Czech Republic, Russia and other countries on student exchange, internships with academics, joint research projects, and more.

O.A. Pivovarov actively supports extra-curricular student life: participation in amateur activities, sports, creative ideas and student flash mobs. The University was awarded the Grand Prix at the urban festivals “Student Spring 2014” and “Student Spring 2017”.

During its existence, more than 60 thousand highly skilled specialists have been trained at the University. Of these, more than 50 have become academics from different academies, and 22 are the winners of state awards. Teachers of the University have published more than 400 textbooks, manuals and monographs. Currently USUCT is a wide-specialized specialized chemical and technological higher education institution of Ukraine. According to the scientific indicators of the international database, Scopus USUCT ranks 16th among all universities of Ukraine and 3nd place among the universities of Dnipro, giving way only to the national classical universities of Ukraine, which bring together significantly larger teams of scientists!

At present, 5 faculties of full-time education, 37 departments function at USUCT. The University employs more than 400 scientific and pedagogical workers (among them there are 55 doctors of sciences and professors and 220 candidates of sciences and associate professors), the number of students of all forms of training is about 5,000 people.

The University publishes 3 scientific journals:

• “Problems of Chemistry and Chemical Technology”
• “Economic Bulletin”
• “Computer simulation: analysis, management, optimization”

The Scientific and Technical Library is one of the leading libraries in the region with a fund of about 1 million copies. USUCT has a developed scientific research unit, two research institutes, a problem laboratory, 12 research laboratories, a department of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine together with the Institute of Natural Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a branch of the Ukrainian Scientific and Technological Center.

Three specialized scientific councils for the defense of theses for obtaining scientific degrees of a doctor and a candidate of sciences in 10 specialties work in the university.

The University has 8 educational buildings with modernly equipped auditoriums and laboratories, 5 hostels for 2,600 places, a sports complex – one of the best in Ukraine, a sports and health camp “Dubovyi Gai” (the Oak Grove), sanatorium-preventorium.