Scientific research at the university follows the well established traditions that were spelled out even before the opening. It was the first TSU scientists and professors who, being themselves exceptional personalities, created an atmosphere of spirituality, culture and science service - the climate of a classic university that made it possible to set up not only well-known Siberian scientific schools but also Russian scientific schools, to educate qualified people and renowned scientists.
TSU is one of the leaders in Russian higher education in the field of fundamental research. Among the university faculty there are 300 Doctors of Sciences, about 800 Candidates of Sciences, 4 Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 4 Corresponding Members of RAS, 2 Corresponding Members of RAO, 2 Corresponding Members of RA RAS, 86 Members of RF Public Academies, 68 people are awarded honorary titles like "Honored Worker of Science of RF", "Honored Lawyer of RF", "Honored Economist of RF", "Honored Worker of Art of RF", " Honored Worker of Higher School of RF", "Honored Cultural Worker of RF". There are 25 dissertation councils at TSU out of which 18 award Doctoral Degrees. Annually about 20 students earn Doctor of Science Degree and 80 receive a Candidate of Science Degree.

In the last 5 years 32 TSU scientists have become RF State Scientific Prize winners, RF Government Scientific Prize winners, and RF President Prize in Education winners. TSU researchers and professors were awarded more than 500 grants of Russian Government Scientific Funds as well as International Scientific Funds. 14 Scientific groups of TSU are in the RF Presidential List of Leading Scientific Schools of Russia.