The purpose of this article is to substantiate the importance of research work in the professional training of future teachers, to reveal the main directions of students’ research, to offer methodological materials for correct understanding and adequate description of the scientific apparatus of course and final qualification works. The introduction reveals the goals and tasks of students’ research work at a pedagogical university; describes the main types of students’ research, principles, methods and approaches to its organization. The main part offers materials to help students in their research. The methods of scientific re-search (theoretical, empirical, mathematical) are revealed, with which it is necessary to familiarize students for the successful implementation of their research work. Particular attention is paid to the scientific apparatus of research, the content of concepts: relevance, object and subject of research, the problem of research, the purpose and objectives of the study, the hypothesis, scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance, etc. To help students, samples of the description of the scientific appa-ratus of the research are offered, examples of the use of language means are given, with the help of which the content of scientific concepts used in course and final qualification works on topical problems of pedagogy is revealed. The results of the research were approved in the educational process of the Mari State University, reflected in the author's publications, reported at international and all-Russian scientific and practical conferences and seminars. The article provides information about the testing and implementation of research results. The conclusion of the article contains conclusions on the results of the study as a whole, the directions for enhancing the research work of students of a pedagogical university are outlined.