Department of hydrology, St. Petersburg State University, is the ancestor of higher hydrological education in the Russian Federation. The article presents the history of the hydrology department from its foundation to the present day, the role of outstanding scientists in the development of the department and the training of highly qualified specialists in hydrology, the main stages of the educational and scientific work of the department since the twenties of the last century and new trends in the preparation of basic programmes implemented by the department.