Prep year grind: how an Iranian student earned her spot in St Petersburg University

Tell us about yourself. What kind of person are you?

I’m a very active and curious person with a wide range of interests: languages, literature, sports, and travel. I’m always eager to learn new things, no matter where I am.

How did you decide to study in Russia?

My family and I considered several countries but ultimately chose Russia. Relations between our countries are good, and although tuition fees here are slightly higher than in other CIS countries (like Kazakhstan), I really love Russia—especially St Petersburg. I only applied to St Petersburg University because I adore this institution! The paperwork took several months, so I’d advise anyone applying to the Preparatory Department to start preparing at least six months in advance. Unsurprisingly, studying abroad comes with many challenges, and sorting out documents is the first hurdle.

Why didn’t you stay in Iran for university?

To be honest, I failed to get into an Iranian university two years in a row. In 2022-2023, I also came to Russia for preparatory courses at the I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University but didn’t pass the entrance exams afterward. Back then, I also tried applying to SPbU but didn’t succeed. I have friends who graduated from Russian universities—one of them studied General Medicine at SPbU. After seven or eight years, he found a job here in Russia. I’m not thinking that far ahead yet; my main goal is to get in.

How different is life in Iran compared to Russia?

Adapting wasn’t too hard, but I’ll admit—it’s very cold here, and I’m often freezing! The cuisine, for example, is completely different. But in terms of leisure, people here enjoy similar things. I find the cultural differences particularly fascinating. I’ve also noticed that Russians treat foreigners who speak Russian much better than those who don’t.

Tell us about the preparatory courses. What are they like?

I really enjoy them! We have an amazing teacher, Natalia Rostova—I love her, and she’s helped me immensely with my Russian. The curriculum is well-structured: by the second semester, we were already studying specialised subjects in Russian to prepare for our bachelor’s degrees. I especially loved physics, chemistry, and biology—the teaching standards were high, and all lecturers were qualified, so I’ve done very well in these subjects. There are about 11-13 people in our group, but it’s hard to say because many don’t attend. Usually, only 3-4 show up—which is terrible, but it works in my favour since the teacher focuses entirely on us. My classmates are mostly from China, Kuwait, and Turkey.

Learn more about the Preparatory Course curriculum

If I had the chance, I’d spend a bit more time improving my Russian. I truly believe speaking Russian well is crucial here—it helps with communication and makes studying and adapting much easier.

How do you rate your progress in Russian? We’re conducting this interview entirely in Russian—very impressive!

I’ve always liked Russian, but now that I live here, it’s my top priority. I want to study Dental Medicine at SPbU in Russian. Since I’ve wanted to study in Russia (especially SPbU) for a long time, I’ve been learning the language for about three years in total. I still need a lot of practice—I feel my level isn’t yet sufficient for university. It’s important for me to speak and write without mistakes, and by my standards, I’m still not fluent. I plan to take the Russian as a Foreign Language test before enrolling. I’ve already passed B1 and B2 but want to reach higher.

Did you apply for a state-funded (budget) place?

Yes, getting a state-funded spot was a dream! I’m thrilled because I won SPbU’s Olympiad for international applicants and secured a place in my desired programme—Dental Medicine. However, it’s the English-taught programme; unfortunately, I didn’t get into the Russian one.

Are you living in a dorm or renting? How’s your daily routine?

I live in a dorm in Peterhof. It’s nice—I share a two-room unit with a shared bathroom, and my roommate is Russian. It only costs me 5,000 rubles a month. I attend classes, go to the gym three times a week (gym itself is not particularly exciting, but health comes first—I can’t live without sports), and work. Unfortunately, that means I rarely have time to go to the city centre. When I do, I love Dom Knigi (the House of Books) and Café Pyshki na Vosstaniya Square—I meet friends there whenever possible.

You’re balancing work and studies. How do you manage? Was it hard to find a job as a foreigner?

I work part-time at a restaurant. It’s official employment—there were no issues with the paperwork. Foreign students are allowed to work; I just provided my visa, passport, migration card, and a few other documents, and everything was sorted quickly. Juggling work and studies isn’t easy since I work weekends, meaning I don’t get days off. Once I start my bachelor’s, I’ll probably quit—I’ll need to focus entirely on my studies.

Do you live off your salary, or do your parents support you?

I spend around 30,000 rubles a month. While I earn that much myself, my parents do send extra money. They helped me with the paperwork, and we stay in touch—they might even visit as tourists soon. And of course, I’ll fly home in the summer.

Recommend us a book!

The Seagull by Chekhov! I saw it at the Mariinsky Theatre, which made me love the play even more. And, of course, Crime and Punishment—you can’t skip that. I’m drawn to classic literature, which is why I’ve fallen in love with St Petersburg—its historic architecture and unique atmosphere make it feel like home.