Saint Petersburg University

Requirements for admission

In order to enter SPBU for bachelor's, specialty or master’s programs, foreign citizens must submit to the admission committee the results of admission tests held in the form of competitive selection of documents, or portfolio. All the requirements, evaluation criteria and minimum points are indicated on the official website for those applying on fee-paying basis and within the state-funded quota.

The application procedure consists of the following steps:

1. Register for a Personal Account through the SPbU Admissions Committee website;
2. Fill in print and sign your application for the chosen programs (no more than three);
3. Submit the required documents online, including the competitive selection of documents (portfolio);
4. Wait until the results are announced;
5. Sign a student contract (for those accepted on a fee-paying basis).

The order of admission to state-funded seats

The order of admission on fee-paying basis

How to prepare for admission to SPBU

St. Petersburg State university gives applicants from other countries the opportunity to prepare for admission in the Russian language and other subjects, depending on the chosen field of study (natural sciences, engineering, humanities, economics, medicine and biology). The duration of the preparatory course is 39 weeks, the cost of training is 3,256 USD.

Documents and tuition payments are accepted from mid-December to early July. To submit documents you should:

• Register your account;
• Fill in a questionnaire and an application form, print and sign the application;
• Upload documents to your account in PDF format (application, copy of identification document, copy of education certificate with supplements, photo 3*4).

International cooperation

The university participates in student and teacher exchange programs Campus Europae, Santander University, Erasmus+. Annually, more than 2000 foreign students study at St. Petersburg State University. Partnership agreements were signed with rating educational institutions in Europe, America and Asia (about 450 partner universities in total). The University is a member of major international associations, including the World League of Universities, the Association of European Businesses, the Global Education Management Alliance.

Double degree programs

Educational programs, after which a graduate can immediately receive 2 diplomas (St. Petersburg University’s and a partner university’s ones), are implemented only for master’s students. The first year of study takes place at St. Petersburg University, the second at a partner university. Training is possible both on a state-funded and paid basis.

One of the most popular double-degree programs of St. Petersburg University is Master in Management (MIM) takes 37th position in the international ranking of the best master's programs in management^[9]. Several foreign educational centers are partners of St. Petersburg State University in this program:

• The Global Alliance in Management Education CEMS;
• Business Schools of Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland;
• HEC School of Management, France;
• Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria.

In addition to the Management program, the university offers to undergo training with a double diploma in several areas:

Some specific programs appear each year. Check with the website.

Academic mobility programs. Selection process

St. Petersburg University cooperates with rating partner universities from Europe, the USA and China for its student exchange programs. Students have the opportunity to study at a foreign educational institution for 1 or 2 semesters without interrupting their studies at SPBU.

You can take part in several programs:

• The annual open competition of St. Petersburg University in the framework of the inter university agreement;
• The annual open competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation in the framework of intergovernmental agreements;
• Invitation from a foreign university received on an independent initiative;
• Grant for international academic mobility programs (EUF-Campus Europae, Erasmus Mundus Action 2, Erasmus+, etc.).

To participate in student mobility programs, bachelor’s, specialty or master’s students are allowed, with the exception of those who have to study at a foreign university for the final semester at St. Petersburg University. GPA 4+ for the entire training period is required.

The competition is held by the department of international educational cooperation. The participant must submit the following to the Commission:

• Application form, filled out on the site;
• Application form established by the university sample;
• Language certificate or other document proving the language proficiency in the language of study;
• Documents, certificates, scientific publications and other materials confirming the individual achievements of the participant.

Winners of the selection process should inquire instructions from the department of international cooperation, prepare a package of documents for admission to a foreign university and provide a curriculum form. The host university does not charge students with tuition and in some cases provide dormitory accommodation and monthly allowance. Program participants independently pay the costs associated with obtaining a visa, insurance, flight.

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Interesting facts about St. Petersburg University

• Mendeleev’s periodic system was created during the scientist’s work at St. Petersburg University^[10].
• Grigori Perelman, a graduate of the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics of St. Petersburg University, was awarded the Fields Medal for solving the Poincaré conjecture^[11]. Also, this award was given to another university graduate, S.K. Smirnov^[12].
• The first indoor sports facility in Russia, built in 1793, is located in the university courtyard and is called "jeu-de-Pom", in honor of the game of the same name (literally the translation is a ball game). Until the mid-19th century, this game was part of the system of sports education of the cadets, and was popular in the royal family.
• There is a traditional sport festival “Peterhof Olympic” at the university, the program of which includes futsal, volleyball, streetball, table tennis and arm wrestling. Also, a futsal championship is held at St. Petersburg University.

Famous graduates

• Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin — President of the Russian Federation from 2000 to 2008 and from 2012 to the present day. In 1975 he graduated from the Law Faculty of St. Petersburg University.
• German Oskarovich Gref — statesman, president and chairman of the board of Sberbank of Russia. Member of the Board of Directors of Yandex.
• Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev — statesman and politician, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia from 2020 to the present day. President of the Russian Federation (2008-2012), Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation from (2012-2020).
• Pavel Durov is a Russian entrepreneur, programmer, one of the founders of the social network VKontakte and Telegram.
• Konstantin Lvovich Ernst — Director General of Channel One (1999 — present), producer, screenwriter.
• Sergey Donatovich Dovlatov was a Soviet and American writer and journalist. He was an editor-in-chief of the New American weekly paper before he died in 1990.

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