What’s it like to study in Russia as an international student?

Russia’s capital city Moscow, which is packed full of culture, history, majesty and architectural wonders, has plenty to offer as a study destination for students from all over the world.

Javier from Colombia and Khattiya from Thailand, both study at Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow. We spoke with Javier and Khattiya to find out more about their university experiences so far and what life is like as an international student in the mighty metropolis.

Why did you decide to move to Russia for your studies?

**Javier: **Initially, I came to Russia because I heard that the scientific education here is solid. After all, there’s a reason why so many Nobel laureates are Russian. The government scholarship programme also makes education here more accessible. I’ve finished my bachelor’s degree in Russia, and now I am completing my master’s degree at Skoltech.

**Khattiya: **Currently, there is a collaboration between Skoltech and Thailand which was signed during the Thailand-Russia Round Table 2018 to establish the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Scholarship. Scholarship applicants go through a rigorous selection process and, as a result, gain admission to Skoltech if they are successful. I was interested in this scholarship and also the excellent reputation in academic, research and entrepreneurship of Skoltech. So, I applied for it and got selected as one of the three finalists.

Had you visited Russia before? How did you come about to making the decision to study here?

**Javier: **No, I did not; my only contact with Russia before coming was some videos on YouTube. I wasn’t well informed when I decided to go to Russia. For me, it was an adventure.

**Khattiya: **I have never been in Russia before, but because of the intriguing curriculum at Skoltech it didn’t take long for me to decide that I wanted to pursue my master’s degree here.

How did you prepare for the big move?

**Javier: **It is a funny story; I focused so much on finding affordable tickets and getting from Bogotá to Moscow that only when I was in Sheremetyevo airport did I realise that I couldn’t remember the name of the university!

Also, nobody met me at the airport because the flight changed last minute. A lady saw how lost I was and decided to help me, so she offered me a place to stay and internet connection for my first night here. The next day after I learned the university's name, her husband took me there, not before giving me a sweater and a scarf which I still wear now!

**Khattiya: **I tried to learn basic Russian language because I thought that it could be useful to know at least some simple words. I also prepared both my hard and soft skills, so I was ready for my journey at Skoltech.

What were your first impressions when you arrived in Russia?

**Javier: **Well, Moscow is impressive, and it was one of those winter days when everything is covered in light snow that shine as it was full of glitter, that combined with the beauty of the city center, was like being inside a Christmas film. Also, I was delighted and impressed by the colossal size of everything and the winter months.

**Khattiya: **When I first came here, I was really impressed with the metro system because we can go almost everywhere in Moscow really easily and it only takes about 30-40 minutes. 

Can you tell us a bit about your experience studying atSkoltech? What is your degree programme like?

**Javier: **I’m studying the master’s in energy systems programme. For me, the whole experience has been full of surprises; starting from the innovation workshop – which I was skeptical about initially but ended up loving it – up to all the new knowledge I’ve gained, the atmosphere, the sea of opportunities. There is always something interesting happening.

I have liked almost every course I’ve taken as well, and I was allowed to do the research I wanted (even though it’s interdisciplinary and unusual). Because of the pandemic, I have missed out on many opportunities such as academic mobility, international conferences, and others, but I am also so happy with my studies that I’ve decided I want to stay here for my PhD.

**Khattiya: **I’m a second-year master’s student in data science in the track, Data-Intensive Mathematical Modelling and Simulations (DIMMS). In this track, we apply relevant mathematical and computational approaches to solve the real-world problems.

What have you enjoyed the most so far about living and studying in Russia?

**Javier: **It isn’t easy to choose between all the things. Still, in general, Moscow is full of discounts and free events for students. People love to interact with foreigners, so keeping an active cultural life is easy and pleasant, also traveling is safe, cheap and Russia is full of unique places.

**Khattiya: **Living and studying in Russia is challenging but also good. I enjoy learning new things and visiting places which are completely different from what I’ve seen and experienced before. I think I’ve developed a lot as a person by studying here.

What was it like to immerse yourself in the local culture?

**Javier: **It was difficult as Spanish-speaking people are a minority here, but once I learned Russian, the locals easily embraced me. I have some excellent Russian friends.

**Khattiya: **Immersing myself in new culture is always tough for me. Luckily, my Russian friends are friendly and welcoming and have taught me about their norms and traditions, and I think I’ve gradually been able to integrate myself and live here happily.

What was the most interesting thing you have learned about Russian culture?

**Javier: **The most exciting thing is that Russia is a multicultural country (which for me was unknown before coming), so in one country you can find people different from each other. Each region of the country is so unique that only seeing Moscow and St Petersburg is not enough to understand who the Russians are.

**Khattiya: **In my opinion, the Russian language is very interesting. It’s not easy, but it is one of the coolest languages that I really want to be fluent in. Skoltech provides free Russian courses for international students too, and I’m glad I took it. It was great!

What is one tourist experience that you would definitely recommend?

**Javier: **I would recommend coming for a long trip of at least two months and spending half of it in Siberia and the far east, and the other half in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. If you’ve got even more time then go to the Caucasus mountains.

**Khattiya: **Since people know several places in Moscow, I would like to recommend Yasnaya Polyana, the former home of the famous writer, Leo Tolstoy. It is in Tula, 200km from Moscow. I went there with my friends during summer. It holds both beauty and peace in its depths.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering moving to Russia for their studies?

Javier: Be active; Russia has a lot to give, but it’s possible to take all these opportunities only by being active. And travel a lot; Russia may not be the most popular destination, but I’ve discovered it is vast and beautiful. You will meet wonderful people and see unique places.

**Khattiya: **There is so much to do in Russia, and you will find out that people here are much nicer than you expected. So, get outside of your comfort zone and you may have another one of the best choices in your life.