Study and accommodation
Russia provides opportunities to obtain high-quality higher education at affordable prices, and living costs in Russia are lower than in a number of European countries. However, when planning a move to Russia, it is worth preparing and studying the cost items.
How much does it cost to study in Russia?
The cost of studying at Russian universities varies from 122,000 to 880,000 rubles (1,300-9,700 USD) per year, depending on the region, university, chosen specialty and level of education. At the same time, prices for training in technical and natural sciences are often higher than in the humanities and social sciences.
Student Housing
Foreign students in Russia live in university dormitories, rented apartments or host families. It is important to find the best option - comfortable housing within your means. Before making a choice, weigh the pros and cons. After all, how and where you will live and relax largely determines how you will study.
Hostel
The most economical type of housing. Many Russian universities provide dormitories for their nonresident and foreign students. As a rule, these are buildings located near the university, with rooms for 2-4 residents. Furnishings usually include desks, chairs, cabinets, bookshelves, beds and nightstands. Dormitories often have a shared kitchen, gyms, lounges, dining rooms, laundries, luggage storage, rooms for bicycles, and a security service.
The rental price is determined by universities. It ranges from 500 to 5,000 rubles per month (depending on the university and city), which is much cheaper than a rented apartment. You can pay monthly, by semester, or pay the amount for the entire academic year. Some universities offer discounts in case of prepayment for a long period of time.
In dormitories, students must adhere to certain rules. The obvious ones are: do not damage the furniture, keep the rooms clean, do not make noise (do not play loud music or TV), do not smoke in living rooms and common areas, do not drink alcohol, and notify the commandant about departures. A detailed memo about the rules of the hostel will be given upon check-in.
According to the law, the following have the right to count on living in a hostel:
- full-time students enrolled in basic educational programs (during the entire period of study);
- correspondence students studying in basic educational programs (during intermediate and final certifications).
Узнавать, есть ли в вузе общежития и можете ли вы на них рассчитывать, нужно у представителей вашего университета на этапе подачи предварительной заявки на обучение или на сайте вуза.
Find out all the necessary information in advance:
- where is the hostel located
- types of rooms (double, single), availability of amenities
- cost and payment options
- only after making sure that everything suits you, send a request to move in
Remember, only representatives of the university where you are studying can accommodate you in a dormitory on the basis of a rental agreement. Firms or intermediaries offering dorm rooms are scammers.
Rented housing
If your university does not have dormitories or they are not suitable for you for some reason, then you need to look for a rented apartment or room. It will cost more, but you can choose the location, level of comfort and even neighbors (if you rent an apartment with classmates or live with a host family).
The most expensive apartments are in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The smaller the city and the farther from the capital, the cheaper the rent. For example, you can rent a one-room apartment in Moscow for 35-45,000 rubles, a room for 15-25,000 rubles, depending on the location and amenities (prices indicated are for 2023). In the regions it will cost less.
Some universities help their foreign students find housing, including selecting host families. Therefore, first of all, find out from the university representatives whether they provide such services. This guarantees you a quick and safe selection of housing. You can stay in a hostel while searching. If the university does not select housing, ask them to recommend real estate agencies or look for an apartment yourself on the websites cian.ru, irr.ru, avito.ru, etc.
Keep in mind that in addition to renting an apartment (or room), you will most likely need to pay a deposit (deposit up to 100% of the rent) and pay a realtor commission (50-100% of the rent).
