In the end, the St. Petersburg government evicted the university from the palace — because of the plastic windows, which were only temporary — forcing it to move to an ordinary building across the street.

University officials say they were never clear why the teaching license was revoked. They say the authorities cited the failure of the university’s political scientists to work outside the campus, and its lack of a proper gym.

“I am sure the reason we cannot study has nothing to do with fire safety regulations,” said Roman V. Popov, a student of economics, who had to transfer to another college in St. Petersburg to receive his degree. “It might be political, or perhaps someone just wanted to have our building.”

While the university may now to be back on its feet, some faculty members said they were disappointed with what they described as the administration’s subservient stance over the past year.

“The ability to make a deal with the government was good, but at one point, it turned into a catastrophe,” said Yevgeny V. Anisimov, one of the leading historians in Russia. “We lost students, we lost our building. The one we have now is still empty.”