Russian cities for international students

How to choose a city

Russia is the largest country in the world. Its cities stretch from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, across many time zones. A flight from Moscow to Vladivostok takes most of a working day, and the clock there is many hours ahead of Moscow.

For most students, the program comes first and the city second. Start with the field you want to study, then see which cities have universities that teach it. Our list of universities by city can help.

When you compare cities, think about:

• Climate. Winter lasts several months almost everywhere. It is mildest in the south and harshest in Siberia.
• Size and pace. Big cities offer more of everything, but also longer journeys and a faster rhythm. Smaller cities are often quieter and easier to get to know.
• Distance from home. Check how you will fly there and how many connections you will need.
• People like you. Ask the university whether students from your country, or who speak your language, already study there.

Russian is the language of daily life everywhere. Outside the biggest cities fewer people speak English, so some Russian before you arrive makes a real difference.

Moscow and Saint Petersburg

Moscow

Moscow is the capital and the largest city in Russia. It has more universities than any other Russian city, a huge metro network and students from all over the world. You will find theatres, museums, parks and food from many countries.

The city is busy and fast. Journeys across it can take a long time, so living close to your university helps. Winters are long and snowy, and summers are warm.

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire for about two centuries. It stands on the Neva river and the Baltic Sea, with canals, bridges and palaces in the centre. For many people, museums such as the Hermitage make it the cultural capital of the country.

Winters here are damp, grey and windy, with very short days in December. Early summer brings the White Nights, when the sky never gets fully dark. Many students find the city a little calmer than Moscow, while still big and international.

Kazan and Yekaterinburg

Kazan

Kazan, on the Volga river, is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Russian and Tatar cultures live side by side: you will see Orthodox churches and mosques, and hear both languages. The Kazan Kremlin, the old fortress, is the heart of the city.

Kazan is a lively student city, home to Kazan Federal University and Kazan State Medical University. It uses Moscow time. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers are warm. Muslim students usually find mosques and halal food easily.

Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg lies in the Ural Mountains, close to the line between Europe and Asia. It is a big industrial and engineering centre with a busy theatre and music life, and the home of Ural Federal University.

The climate is continental: long, cold winters and short, warm summers. The city is already ahead of Moscow time.

Siberia and the Far East

Siberian winters are the coldest of all the cities in this guide. Frosts below minus 30 °C can happen, though the air is usually dry and buildings are well heated. A real winter coat and good boots are essential.

Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk, on the Ob river, is the largest city in Siberia and a stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Novosibirsk State University is in Akademgorodok, a science town in the forest outside the city centre, built around research institutes.

Tomsk

Tomsk is one of the oldest university cities in Siberia, with Tomsk State University and Tomsk Polytechnic University. The centre has old wooden houses with carved windows. The city is smaller and quieter than Novosibirsk, and students are a big part of its life.

Vladivostok

Vladivostok is a port on the Pacific coast, at the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, close to China, Korea and Japan. Far Eastern Federal University has its campus on Russky Island, linked to the city by a bridge. Winters are cold and windy but often sunny. Summers are humid, with sea fog.

The south

Rostov-on-Don

Rostov-on-Don is a large city on the Don river, near the Sea of Azov, and the home of Southern Federal University. Winters are shorter and milder than in central Russia and Siberia, though there can still be snow and frost. Summers are hot.

Sochi

Sochi, on the Black Sea coast, has some of the mildest winters in Russia and is a popular place for holidays.

Medical universities in Volgograd and Kursk also teach international students. You will find them on our universities page too.

Your next step

Once you have a few cities in mind, compare their universities on our universities page. Then read our practical tips about winter clothes, transport and money. Many international students start in a university dormitory: our housing guide explains how it works.

If you are not sure where to start, describe your plans in the Start Your Journey form. Our team will reply by email with next steps, in your language.