St Petersburg University is growing in popularity among foreign students

Applicants from more than 45 countries of the world come to St Petersburg University. A prerequisite for successful learning is their integration into the university environment. An important role in this challenge is played by the Club of Foreign Students of St Petersburg University. The Club Council regularly meets, organises tutorials on language practice, and also organises work of the advisory service to help students from other countries. With the assistance of the Club, foreign students are actively involved in the University’s cultural and sports life. As part of the quests and informal students’ parties, they get acquainted with its history and traditions. They also take part in all events along with other university students. Moreover, they introduce the culture of their countries to other students, and perform creative acts at festive evenings, thematic weeks, and festivals at St Petersburg University.

Throughout the academic year, the University organises conversation clubs and tandem programmes for mutual learning of Russian and foreign languages. In addition, in 2018, the second Summer School of Russian as a Foreign Language was held at St Petersburg University with great success. Students from the University of Tokyo participated in it. The main theme of the programme was "Musical Petersburg".

In addition to the number of students studying in degree programmes, the number of participants in academic mobility programmes is also growing. These are part of the exchange between St Petersburg University and partner universities from Germany, Italy, China, France, the USA, Japan, the Netherlands and other countries. One of the reasons for the growing popularity of studying at St Petersburg University among foreign students has become regular adaptation-promoting activities, as well as special programmes for extracurricular activities. In particular, a welcome week for foreign students admitted to the Exchange programmes is traditionally organised at the University at the beginning of the semester. This includes: excursions to St Petersburg University, St Petersburg and its suburbs; informational meetings; international cuisine evenings; and other events organised by volunteer students of the University. So, for example, a buddy programme is implemented by the participants of the “ESN SPbU” student association, which involves attaching a mentor to each foreign student from among Russian students. Their tasks include: meeting the foreign student at the airport; help around the city and the University; and answers to everyday questions arising from the student. To participate in the buddy programme, you must register in advance.

The programme “SPbU Ambassadors” was created to promote academic mobility. Its participants are foreign students who studied at the University and university students who have visited partner universities. They publish reviews and talk about their studies, and also represent St Petersburg University at international educational exhibitions. Last November, St Petersburg University hosted a fair of academic mobility programmes in order to attract students to participate in exchanges.

Non-degree programmes of St Petersburg University are also very popular among foreign students: during the second half of 2018, they were mastered by almost 2,000 students. The most popular areas of training were: Russian as a foreign language; political science and philology; as well as the programme “Development of mineral resources of the World Ocean”, which is unique in its interdisciplinary approach to the offshore study and development.

Another achievement was the opening in 2018 of the non-degree general education programme “Preparatory Course (for foreign citizens)”. This programme is designed to train foreign applicants for admission to St Petersburg University in all areas of degree programmes taught in Russian. Students are trained to take the test in Russian as a foreign language and entrance examinations in subjects that depend on their chosen area of study.

According to statistics, the greatest interest in training in non-degree programmes of the University is shown by foreign citizens from the CIS and neighbouring countries. There are also students from: China; the United States; the United Kingdom; the Republic of Korea; and Japan. In total, students from 73 countries studied at St Petersburg University in the autumn semester of 2018