Elih Nüchter on breaking stereotypes and adapting to student life at SPbU

Can you tell us about your educational background? What did you do before applying to SPbU?

I finished high school in 2023 and worked a number of different jobs in the following year— as a cook, as a tutor, and even in quality control at Mercedes-Benz. With the money I earned, I got to travel to countries like Cuba, Bulgaria, Romania, Pridnestrovie, Moldova, and China. At the time, I haven’t yet made a decision as to what to study and wanted to broaden my horizons. I also used this time to study languages and learn new skills, like taking some business English and basic economics classes. Essentially, I took this time to find a good path for my future. After all, one year right now is worth much more than one year in the future — I’ll never be this young again.

How did you come to a decision to study in Russia, especially given the current perception of Russia in Europe? Did that influence your decision in any way?

Ultimately, I chose Russia because of my interest in its culture and history. I’ve always had a connection to Russia due to my family’s background — they’re from the GDR (East Germany), and some relatives even worked in Leningrad, now St Petersburg. So, there’s always been a little connection.

Political tensions didn’t affect my decision negatively; in fact, I have always been a stubborn person who forms my own opinions and I believe you need to experience a country first-hand before judging it. This was especially true for my travels to Russia and China, because people tend to hold preconceived notions about both of these countries — backwardness, dictatorship, lack of freedom, and so on. The reality turned out to be not as black and white and this is what I want to portray to people when I talk about Russia. Russia isn’t just about vodka, heavy accents, or pelmeni. To break these stereotypes, more people need to come here, live here, and experience the culture for themselves. 

While I haven’t been to Russia before enrolling into the course, I visited Pridnestrovie, which, although not a recognised state, has strong Russian cultural influences. I even studied Russian for about a month and a half in Tiraspol. It was my first real cultural exchange with Russian people. At the time, I had to pause my studies due to other commitments, like preparing for university and travelling, but now, I can continue my Russian journey here.

Learn more about SPbU Preparatory Course

I made the decision to come to Russia in January or February 2024, after returning from my travels. I took a look at the University’s website and watched some videos by international students from different Russian universities, which introduced me to the idea of a Preparatory Course to study Russian intensively. St Petersburg’s rich cultural and historical heritage was also a factor — it’s a city with a dense concentration of museums, universities, opera houses, and I wanted to experience that.

Did you face any difficulties during the application process or your first weeks here?

German bureaucracy is just as tough as Russian bureaucracy, so that wasn’t new to me. I did not have any issues with the visa—I paid extra for a fast visa in Germany. However, I did have to take a layover in Turkey on my way here, which was a bit annoying, and I also ran into trouble at the Russian customs because I had too much cash on me. The Russian embassy in Germany told me I could bring €10,000, but the border patrol said the limit was $10,000. Since the euro is slightly stronger, I exceeded the limit. I had to fill out about 20 forms in Russian, and since I didn’t speak the language, I had to wait for at least four hours for a translator. In total, I was detained for seven or eight hours. It was exhausting after a long flight, but at least I got free coffee. When I finally arrived, the dormitory was already closed for the night, so I had to book a hotel. I remember telling myself to just go to sleep and that things would be better tomorrow.

The process of moving into a dormitory was fine. I was initially placed in a provisional room over the weekend, and on 1 September I got my permanent room. Since everyone, including Russian students, was moving in that day, it took about over six hours of queuing to sign the contract, get a pass, register my passport, pay for the dormitory, etc. The line stretched outside the building, but I met some cool people there. I’m an extrovert, so I just started conversations with strangers — I don’t care what they think of me.

The most frustrating part of the process was dealing with the MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subsidiary — the Federal Migration Service) because it consumed a huge amount of time and was pretty chaotic. At the time, I didn’t speak Russian, and the staff didn’t speak English, so it was hard to get help. The process itself was very non-transparent — go here, apply for that, wait in line there, pay for this. It was stressful, but once that was over, things at the university were quite fine. You always feel lost for the first week or so in any new country, but that’s normal. It’s like a test for international students — if you can survive the first two weeks, you’ll be fine.

What are your impressions of the Preparatory Course so far?

The course is quite good. The first week was mostly about getting to know everyone. I’ve made some great friends in my class. We’re all international students, far from home, and I’ve grown close to some of them and they’ve become a bit like family.

We have Russian lessons five to six days a week, for five to six hours a day, plus homework. It’s intense, and sometimes I skip homework because I’m just too tired. Every week, we have tests, and before the winter break, we had a mock B1 exam just to see how far along our Russian is. The real exam will be at the end of the academic year in June or July. I’m already in the B1-B2 course, which, I’m told, is the most advanced level the Preparatory Department has ever offered.

My Russian has improved significantly. It’s hard for me to notice, but my Russian friends comment on my progress every time we meet up. I can now speak more fluently and handle everyday situations on my own.

That said, the course focuses heavily on formal language, which isn’t how Russians speak in daily life. They don’t care as much about grammar as we’re taught to. Even our teacher warned us that Russians often speak "incorrectly", but we need to learn the proper way for exams and future studies. After the exam, it won’t matter as much.

This semester, we’ve started specialisation courses, focusing on thematic vocabulary. There are tracks for humanities, economics, natural sciences, medicine and biology, and engineering. This is important because it prepares us for our future studies, where understanding specialised terminology is crucial.

Learn more about the Preparatory Course specialisation tracks

My biggest criticism is the textbook, which is very dry — just grammar and short texts. There’s no video, audio, or interactive elements like role-playing dialogues, and it’s hard to focus on grammar all day. I really appreciate when our teachers ditch the textbook and just talk with us in Russian. It’s a nice break from grammar.

Do you think that some of your classmates might find it difficult to connect with Russians and use the language actively? 

Yes, I see that problem. Many international students only socialise with other international students. This isn’t unique to Russia — I’ve seen it in Germany and other countries too. For me, connecting with locals is crucial because it helps you understand the culture and learn everyday language and slang, which you won’t get from textbooks.

For example, one of my classmates has excellent grades but struggles to speak in real-life situations. My test scores are lower, but I can communicate better because I learn differently — by engaging with locals.

How are you finding life in Russia?

Life here isn’t too different from Germany. St Petersburg is a major European city, though I live in Peterhof, which is quiet and peaceful — more like a village. I enjoy the nature here, especially the English Park, which is beautiful. That said, it is a bit disappointing to live in Peterhof after seeing pictures of St Petersburg’s historic centre on the university website. I’ve adjusted by making trips to the city centre whenever I can.

Peterhof is a mix of Brezhnevka and Stalinist architecture, with some older classical buildings. The Soviet city design is fascinating — it’s like a 15-minute city, where everything you need is within a 15-minute walk: supermarkets, pharmacies, pubs. It’s very convenient compared to Germany, where even in small towns, you might need to walk 30 minutes or drive to reach a store.

The people here are great. There are many old folks here, and they’re really sweet and helpful. They often strike up conversations on the bus, train, or in shops, so you get to practice Russian often.

How expensive or cheap is it to live here?

I spend around €300 a month, sometimes more, sometimes less. You could survive on less, but I want to enjoy my time here — going to the city centre, eating out, visiting museums, and attending theatres. If you avoid expensive activities, you could live on €200 a month, I think.

The dormitory costs about €75 a month, which is very reasonable, compared to Germany. International students are automatically placed in higher-priced rooms, but you can opt for cheaper accommodation if you want to save. I chose the better room. You can always shell out over €200 for an apartment on Nevsky Prospect, but then you won’t much money left for things like food. Most SPbU dormitories are back in Peterhof, which could be inconvenient for students studying in the city centre. The good news is that I’ve heard that foreign students are guaranteed dorm rooms in the city once they enrol in a degree programme.

My advice for international students is to always bring cash. It’s safer than credit cards and you won’t get stranded in a foreign country without any money. Euros, dollars, or RMB are the best options, but check the limits—you don’t want to end up detained at customs like I was. I brought €10,000 with me because I’d rather have too much money than too little — it’s way more than enough for one year, a very safe amount.

What are your plans for the future education and career?

Going forward I’m planning to apply for a Bachelor’s programme in International Relations or Business Management — something in that direction. The application window for Russian government scholarships is closing soon, but I’ve already prepared most of the documents — I just need to renew my medical certificate. I’ll likely do my Bachelor’s at SPbU or another Russian university with a strong economics programme. For my Master’s, I’m considering Germany or China.

Learn more about the SPbU application process and necessary documentation

In the future, I’d like to work in Business Communication or International Relations, as I’m good at connecting people and cultures. Economics is one of my strengths, and I’m interested in diplomacy, politics, and economics. I hope to work in Russia or China, as both countries have had a significant influence on me.

Any advice for future SPbU students? 

Russian people may always look angry, but they are not. They just have a non-smiling face — don’t be intimidated. 

Prepare your documents carefully and learn a little bit Russian small talk before you come here, it’s not that hard. Just a week or two is enough and really helpful for making friends. Bring cash with you because cash always is more reliable than credit cards, online payments or cryptocurrency. Check the limit on the amount you can bring with you. 

Don’t be demotivated by the Russian books if they seem boring. Make Russian friends and actively ask your teacher for more creative assignments. Enjoy life in Peterhof and try to go to the city centre often, visit the ballet, theatres, and museums. 

And don’t be demotivated by the grey winter weather, it can still be a lot of fun. Enjoy Russian food and connect with people from all over the world. I really believe that we are all part of one big family, and it’s important for us to look beyond prejudices. It’s the most important piece of advice I can give to anyone studying abroad.