Educational Establishment "Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov" was founded on November 21, 1910 as a teacher's institute. Over the 110-year history of the university, there have been many global changes, and today VSU named after P.M. Masherov is a regional center in the field of multilevel social, humanitarian and natural science education. Currently VSU named after P.M. Masherov is accredited for compliance with the declared type and is a classical university, and also accredited as a scientific organization.

At the present stage, 13 scientific schools function at the university, which have received wide recognition in the Republic of Belarus, as well as in the countries of near and far abroad. At Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov, students are being trained in specialties of the first stage of obtaining higher education, the second stage of obtaining higher education (Master's programmes), which includes 25 specialties and postgraduate studies (20 specialties). Additional education programs for adults are implemented at the Institute for Advanced Triaining and Retraining - a structural subdivision of Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov.

In June 2010, the university certified the quality management system for compliance with the requirements of STB ISO 9001-2009 and DIN EN ISO 9001: 2008. In 2011, the labor protection management system STB 18001-2009 was introduced. In 2013 VSU named after P.M. Masherov was awarded the title of Laureate of the Prize of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for achievements in the field of quality in 2013.

World ranking of universities UniRank (4icu) as of 01.02.2021: Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov took 3rd place in the Vitebsk region and 13th position in the Republic of Belarus among 47 universities in Belarus and 5047 in the world as of 01.02.2021 (the adjusted figure within University development strategy for 2021, place - 5200 in the world). Thus, since the publication of the previous ranking, the university has improved its position in the world. In June 2020, VSU ranked 3rd in the Vitebsk region, 16th in the Republic and 5300 in the world. A total of 13,600 universities are ranked.

The University has 87 valid cooperation agreements with foreign educational and scientific organizations. In 2018, Vitebsk State University named after P. M. Masherov became a diploma winner of the competition "Best Exporter of 2018". 37% of full-time students are foreign citizens. In total, during 2020, foreign citizens from 30 countries were trained: Ghana, Germany, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Israel, India, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Kazakhstan, PRC, Congo, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Maldives , Morocco, Palestine, Poland, Russia, Syria, Sudan, USA, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, France, Sri Lanka.

According to the results of work for 2020, Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov became the winner in the nomination "For the development of innovative activities and the export of educational services" and was awarded the Diploma of the Ministry of Education.