36 reviews
4.21 / 5 based on 36 reviews
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Stepan
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
There was a great pool bar right near the university, called "Desyatka" that was a lot of fun to hang out in. Plus, there's a great lake not too far from the city, easily accessible by train, called Kavgolovo. Beautiful virgin forests, especially great to hike in during White Nights!
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Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
It was amazing living with Russians and with students from all over the former Soviet Union in a dormitory situation. I would never give up that opportunity.
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Personal comments
We had a great apartment-style dormitory for International Students. It was in a great, safe part of St. Petersburg. It was conveniently located not too far from the city center, near a beautiful park and plenty of grocercy stores, etc.
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Stepan
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Family
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
Russia does not have a great economy, although it is improving. Everything there is a fraction of the cost of the price in Western Europe or in America.
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Overall, Housing, Food, Telephone, Nightlife, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Travelling within Russia is cheap, very cheap. To save money, and help the Russian economy, stay out of the expensive Western stores that only sell imported foods and buy at local markets and from kiosks. When Russian consumption goes up, so does the production, thus helping out.
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Stepan
Languages
Language of instruction: Russian
Was learning Russian a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Russian
How much did you improve your Russian?
My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Due to budget cuts and other factors, the Russian department at my home University is suffering greatly, with one professor of Russian for all four years. This lack of diversity in instructors is sorry. But the professors and administrators at the Russian university were amazingly kind, generous, and over all willing to help us out in any situation.
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Stepan
Overall
I wish I had known...
I only wish that I could have spoken Russian better before I went. But some advice, Russia is not as dangerous as Westerners make it out to be. Street crime in St. Petersburg, i.e. muggings, is comparable to any Western metropolis. Just use common sense and you should be okay.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I had been to Russia on a high school exchange twice before I studied there through my university. However, these exchanges were to Moscow. I chose to study in St. Petersburg, although I thought I would rather be in Moscow. I was wrong! I feel like St. Petersburg is my home and I hope to return one day for an extended amount of time. These feelings are in a large part generated from the staff at the university, as well as the friends I made there who were in my classes or in my dorm.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Look on the internet for ticket prices. Travel agents in America will rip you off!
If you don't speak Russian when you get there, don't worry. Try to speak in Russian, people will appreciate that more than if you speak in English. Many people don't speak English like they do in Western Europe.
Be careful at tourist traps. Like I said, it's not as dangerous as people might think, but don't be ignorant of your surroundings.
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Stepan
Academic
Course recommendations
The Russian Language teachers there are excellent. A few taught as exchange professors at my home University. The integrated classes, taught to mostly Russians in Russian were a lot to get used to, but worth it.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
There were certain aspects I liked a lot and others that I didn't like so much. But, I can speak Russian now, so I think that the academic life was just fine.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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