Learn Russian in Russia for International Students

Russia ranks among the first universities in the world, regarding the high-quality of education. So, it is not surprising that many students are willing to travel to Russia to study.

The latest researches indicate that more than 500 million people speak Russian, which puts it in third place among the widely-spoken language after Chinese and English.

The Russian language comes as one of the official working languages in many international organizations.

Moreover, most of the scientific books were issued in Russian. Also, many university students study Russian as a third language. Despite the increase in the courses specialized in teaching the Russian language all over the world, still, the best and most popular way of learning is in Russia.

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Best Way to Learn Russian

As we know, the best way to learn a language is by visiting the country speaking it.

Thanks to the direct and continuous communication with Russian speakers, you will be able to learn it normally and easily.

Currently, there are many foreign schools not only in Russia but also in the Soviet republics, such as Belarus and Ukraine.

However, it is still better to take Russian language lessons in Russia and join a Russian university to be able to learn the language well and explore it accurately and deeply. That is why the best way for the student to learn Russian is in Russia.

Courses Offered at Russian Universities

It is not a requirement to have previous knowledge in the language to study Russian, you can benefit from the study program available in English. You can also learn Russian by registering on the preparatory departments or the language courses for beginners.

As for international students, the educational course consists of two phases: phonetics and grammar.

Universities offer specialized courses to fulfill the needs of certain categories of students, according to their language proficiency.

Before starting your studies in the field you choose, you can join the preparatory studies to learn Russian. The duration of these studies is one year, and they include 20 preparatory courses that take 36 hours weekly.

Preparatory Courses at Russian Universities

Russian universities offer the international students who wish to learn the Russian language preparatory lessons in the language.

They also offer them training options, according to their different educational levels. There are preparatory courses for university students, graduates, and postgraduate students in the academic fields.

It is important to put into consideration that the Russian educational standards are different from the international ones. Students can extend their study period in the preparatory departments to get used to the educational system in Russia.

As for the total duration, you can learn Russian in one academic year, which is the duration of the preparatory courses for international students in Russia.

For English-speaking students, the first lessons on general subjects could be conducted first in English and later in Russian.

Most of the Russian teachers assure that students can master Russian in one year. Concerning the cost, the preparatory courses are free only for the students who enroll under government scholarships.

Check also our article about Studying and Living costs in Russia

Russian language courses in Moscow

Moscow is the capital city of Russia and one of the most popular cities of the country. Being one of the favorite places of international students, it is full of Russian language courses to choose from. Here are a few you can check:

Institute of Russian Language and Culture at the Lomonosov Moscow State University

The institute offers Russian language programs at multiple levels for international students. You can choose between programs taking place during the academic year and summer courses. Classes are dispensed to small groups of 8 to 10 students, and for elementary and beginners level students, they offer a full-time tuition program of 26 hours per week, where students learn the basics of Russian language. For intermediate and advanced level, students have the choice between a full-time study of 26 hours per week or a part-time program of 18 hours per week.

Learn more at the Institute of Language and Culture in Moscow

Russian Language Centre at the Higher School of Economics

This center offers Russian language courses for all levels in the form of standard, intensive or summer study programs. They last from 4 weeks to 1 year, depending on the program you choose. Moreover, the summer courses’ duration is 160 academic hours, with the opportunity for students to enjoy excursions around Moscow during the weekends. The center also offers free of charge Russian language courses for 1 semester to students already enrolled in HSE full-time programs.

Learn more at the website of HSE Moscow

Ruslanguage, Russian language school in Moscow, Russia

This language school cooperates with the Lomonosov Moscow State University. It offers along with the language learning an opportunity to get deeper understanding of the Russian culture. Students can choose between a full academic year program of 32+ weeks and long-term courses of 12 weeks. Classes take place 4 days a week with a small group of 5 to 9 people with teachers from Moscow State University.

Learn more on the website of Ruslanguage.

Learn Russian in St Petersburg

Being the cultural capital of Russia, St Petersburg is the perfect place to learn the Russian language for international students. If you have decided to move to St Petersburg for your studies in Russia, here are some language schools you can check.

Educa Language School

Educa is one of the leading Russian language centers not only in St Petersburg, but also in Russia. Since 2003, the institution offers courses to all levels and according to the students’ needs. You can choose between individual classes, group classes and online classes. They also offer expatriate courses, summer courses and business Russian courses.

Learn more about Educa Language School

Russian language programs at the University of St Petersburg

To learn Russian in Russia, you can also directly enroll in university’s language programs. In the case of the University of St Petersburg, you can learn Russian through full-time or online classes. You can also choose between summer classes, winter classes and programs that take place during the academic year. The standard program for international students consists of group classes of 20 academic hours per week, from Monday through Friday.

Learn more at the Russian Language and Culture Institute of the University of St Petersburg.

Derzhavin Institute

At the Derzhavin Institute in St Petersburg, you can learn the Russian language individually or in group through long-term and short-term programs. The institution also offers a few specialization modules, exam-preparatory courses or internships among its programs. Group courses are taught by qualified teachers to a group up to 10 students per class.