Why Foreigners Want to Study in Russia

Results of the poll involving students from 65 countries have been published.

The Russian Language and Literature Teachers Society looked into the key factors behind foreign nationals’ drive to get into Russian universities. Experts questioned 380 Preparatory Department students at 37 universities including Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University, ITMO University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kazan Federal University, Unieversity of Tyumen and South Ural State University. The respondents were students from different continents. The largest group comprised Chinese, Vietnamese and Turkmen nationals. Students form Mongolia, Egypt, Colombia, Ghana, Cameroon, India, Brazil, Afghanistan, Turkey, Indonesia and other countries also took part in the poll. The respondents filled out a questionnaire in Russian or English. Most of them wrote in Russian showing that they were proficient enough to take a foundation programme.

According to the study, 80 percent of the respondents chose Russia as their study destination from the beginning and did not consider other options. Others chose Russian universities from among higher education centres in America, Europe or Asia. Career prospects were the main factor influencing the international students’ choice. More than 50 percent of those polled were confident that they would land a good job after graduation. Other important factors were affordable tuition fees and good testimonials by relatives or friends. Unique education programmes are another advantage of Russian universities. Information technology was the most in-demand field of study. Respondents said that Russia was a world leader in the field of computer sciences. Other popular fields are international relations, public administration, medicine, geology, translation studies and journalism. The quality of Russian education was praised by 98 percent of students.

Many respondents mentioned good campus infrastructure, a high security level and comfortable living conditions. As many as 82 percent of international students are accommodated in dormitories, 12 percent rent apartments and 3 percent live in dormitories of other universities, hostels or hotels. Respondents also said that they were happy with their extracurricular activities arranged by the university (sightseeing tours, shows, National Culture Days etc).