Field practice plays an important role in the process of training new specialists at the faculty of geography of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Field practice of the firstyear students is held in the Kaluga region, at special training ground for practice and scientific work, ‘Satino’. During their practice students get acquainted with different geographical methods of field research. Topographical field practice, however, along with geological and geomorphological practice play a special role in the training process, as they precede all other types of field practice. This type of field work develops students’ skills of instrumental measurements and initial processing of field materials; helps them learn the basics of ‘geographical thinking’, which is based on precise measurements; develops the ability to identify links and patterns in the natural processes on the basis of the creation and analysis of topographic maps, interpretation of aerial and satellite imagery, thus providing the foundation for the further development of methods of field research in geography. Students perform the theodolite, levelling, shooting large-scale topographical works, create large-scale maps, profiles, determine the height and the coordinates of the points of observation, learn new ways to identify the coordinates using satellite positioning, get acquainted with the aerial photograph interpretation. The article discusses the aims and objectives of topographical field practice, its process, material and information support, its history, current status, and the ways of further improvement of the methods of conducting and updating its instrumental base.