St Petersburg State University is the largest scientific and educational center in Europe and the world. The university has a rich history. This is the only university in Russia that has celebrated its 300th anniversary — only St Petersburg State University can deservedly bear the name of the first university in Russia. For three centuries of the University history, many scientific studies and discoveries have been made, more than 15 large laboratories and 26 resource centers have been created, which are nowadays part of the country's leading Science Park. Today, more than 25 thousand students from dozens of countries worldwide study here, and there are Nobel and Fields Prize laureates.
For the third year in a row, St Petersburg State University ranks first among universities in the Russian Federation according to the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). In 2020, 16,620 foreign citizens chose the University. If you want to become a part of the big history and join the scientific community of the oldest University in Russia, send an application form for training at the Preparatory Department.
Learning in a historic location
The best teachers of the University
Starter pack for students: products with the University logo
A voucher for a free testing in Russian as foreign Language
Assistance with visa processing and registration
The Preparatory Department has existed since 2018, and during this time more than 700 people from 90 countries have been trained at St Petersburg State University. Of these, 90% of students have successfully passed the TORFL at B1 level, which is one of the best indicators in Russia.
of candidates successfully passed TORFL
foreign countries
Full-time training in comfortable classes or remotely if it is convenient for you (on request)
Provision of modern textbooks from the St Petersburg State University Library
Accommodation in dormitories in the Petrodvorets Campus, together with Russian-speaking students
The opportunity to participate in all student events at St Petersburg State University: Olympiads, competitions, pretests, conversation clubs, etc.
Organization of free time leisure activities in St Petersburg: visiting museums, student clubs, leisure centers, etc.
The opportunity to join online courses at St Petersburg State University on the following sites: online.spbu.ru, openedu.ru
Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian Language for Humanities and Natural Sciences.
Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry.
He teaches the course "History" at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course "Social Studies" at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian Language for the Humanities and Natural Sciences of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Associate Professor, teacher of the course of Russian at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian Language and Methods of its Teaching, St Petersburg State University.
Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences. She teaches the course of Russian at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of Russian at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of Russian at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
He teaches the course of the Russian language at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
She teaches the course of Russian at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Scientific supervisor of the program (for foreign citizens), Candidate of Philological Sciences
Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Language for the Humanities and Natural Sciences of St Petersburg State University.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian Language for the Humanities and Natural Sciences of St Petersburg State University.
Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor, Senior Instructor of the Department of Russian Language for the Humanities and Natural Sciences of St Petersburg State University.
Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor. Expert of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Teaches the course "Biology" at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, Associate Professor. Head of the Ethics Department of the Institute of Philosophy. He teaches the course "Social Studies" at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Assistant of the Department of Russian Language for the Humanities and Natural Sciences of St Petersburg State University.
Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Modeling of Electromechanical and Computer Systems. He teaches the course of “Computer science” at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Modeling of Economic Systems. He teaches the course of “Economics” at the Preparatory Department of St Petersburg State University.
The studies are in full swing, and the foreign students of the Preparatory Department not only begin with Russian, but also get acquainted with the culture. Our traditional academic tours of Saint-Petersburg and its suburbs contribute to a deeper immersion of the students to the cultural environment.
The 2024/2025 admission to the Preparatory course (for foreign citizens) has been officially completed..
Here you can learn the competitive selection results.
Saltuk Aydemir is 20 year old student from Türkiye who came to Russia to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. For this purpose, he applied for SPbU’s Preparatory Courses to learn Russian and then he is going to study medicine at our University.
For many years St Petersburg State University has been a reliable partner for thousands of Russian and foreign companies, commercial and government organizations, scientific and educational institutions. The University cooperates with many major universities in Russia and abroad in the field of testing of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL). Every year more than 20,000 people take the TORFL in the Language Testing Center of St Petersburg State University. Therefore, if you are interested in mutually beneficial cooperation, fill out the form (link to the form - go to the modal window). You can also contact us by email: precourses@spbu.ru
To become our student, you need to fill out the application form. Our specialists will process it and give you further instructions.
Write to the email address precourses@spbu.ru.
Our experts will help you solve the problem.
Yes, you can apply. At the Preparatory Department, our teachers will help you improve your knowledge of the Russian language and raise it to the B2 level.
If your level is B2 or higher, we will recommend you to enroll in Russian as a foreign language courses.
The training only differs in the place of its organization. If you have chosen a distance learning format, then you will be able to study at St Petersburg State University without leaving your country. Therefore you will not need to leave your family, friends or work.
The full-time format of training is good because you will have the opportunity to plunge into the environment of the Russian-speaking population, get acquainted with the culture of the country and visit a large number of attractions.
Admission to the Preparatory course (for international students) 2024/2025 is over. The dates for the admission 2025/2026 will be announced later.
Ангола
В 2022-2023 годах я обучался на подготовительном отделении в Санкт-Петербургском государственном университете.
Я был поражен превосходством в преподавании. Подготовительное отделение стало моим новым домом, я был полностью погружен в интенсивные занятия, которые способствовали моему развитию речи, чтения, письма и аудирования на русском языке. Для меня это было настоящее приключение. Я получил яркий и незабываемый опыт.
Преподаватели были очень внимательны к студентам, в частности, я хотел бы воспользоваться возможностью, чтобы поблагодарить моего преподавателя русского языка Коврижкину Дарью за наше обучение. Она работала с большой самоотдачей, вниманием и терпением, благодаря чему я получил опыт, который навсегда останется в моей жизни.
На наших занятиях по русскому языку мы занимались интерактивными видами деятельности, играли в слова, рассказывали познавательные тексты, готовили презентации о своих странах и выступали с ними перед группой. Коврижкиной Дарьей было разработано много занятий по чтению и письму, которые помогли мне структурировать мои мысли и выражать их в письменной форме, это, безусловно, помогло расширить мой словарный запас. Во время занятий мы смотрели интересные видеоролики, которые помогли нам понять традиции и обычаи русских людей. Также мы участвовали в разговорном клубе, где все студенты обсуждали актуальные темы на русском языке.
Благодаря всему этому я научился лучше понимать русскую речь и быстро адаптировался к жизни в России. Я научился выражать свои мысли и аргументировать свою точку зрения на русском языке. Интенсивное и качественное обучение по русскому языку помогло мне успешно сдать тест Первого уровня (ТРКИ-1).
Отдел для иностранных студентов был очень полезным, как до, так и после того, как я приехал в Санкт-Петербург, он всегда был готов предоставить информацию и помочь мне решить все мои административные проблемы.
В целом, я могу сказать, что моя студенческая жизнь на подготовительном факультете в течение учебного года была очень интересной и полезной. Я смог значительно улучшить свою способность общаться на русском языке, что, безусловно, очень помогает мне в текущем обучении на медицинском факультете СПбГУ.
Турция
В 2022-2023 годах я обучалась на подготовительном отделении в Санкт-Петербургском государственном университете.
Моей самой большой удачей было то, что я являлась студенткой такого замечательного преподавателя как Дарья Коврижкина.
Мне было очень интересно изучать русский язык, весь учебный год я получала удовольствие от занятий, которые проводила Дарья.
В том, что я успешно сдала экзамен ТРКИ-1 и сейчас говорю по-русски велика роль образовательных игр, в которые мы играли на уроках. Разные интересные видео, которые мы смотрели как в качестве домашнего задания, так и в аудитории, помогли мне улучшить знание русского языка, а также подготовиться к сдаче таких аспектов речевой деятельности, как аудирование и говорение.
Общаясь с нами, Дарья Коврижкина помогала нам практиковать и развивать речь. В то же время она учила нас русской культуре. Иногда мы ездили на экскурсии. Это был самый приятный способ познакомиться с Петербургом и русской культурой.
Я боялась приехать в Россию в качестве иностранного студента и думала, что не смогу выучить русский язык. Однако благодаря вниманию моей преподавательницы я всегда чувствовала себя на занятиях легко и комфортно, привыкла к этому месту и смогла выучить русский язык.
Это был учебный год, который я всегда буду помнить!
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