– I like to take care of animals and during my studies I fell in love with Russia and Ekaterinburg. “I am ready to stay here, I know from the experience of my colleagues that you can start working as a veterinary assistant and earn 25-30 thousand rubles,” the young specialist shared about his plans.
The educational market lives on the general principles of “price-quality”. Ekaterinburg does not lose its attractiveness in comparison with large metropolises, where science is also developing: Tomsk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow. And this is facilitated by the international recognition of Ural universities in rankings that compare the best universities in the world according to many indicators: academic performance, citations of employees’ scientific works, reputation among employers, ratio of foreign teachers and students in relation to the total number, etc. The lines occupied by Ural universities in these lists are a kind of markers for applicants and their parents, including those who are abroad.
The interest of foreigners in Ural universities is growing every year. They strive to acquire knowledge here in a variety of fields, both in the humanities and natural sciences. The most popular specialties are biotechnology, food engineering, medicine, mining and geology, chemistry, psychology, tourism, finance, and law. According to UrFU Vice-Rector for International Relations Sergey Tushin, this year the number of applicants from foreign countries increased by 6-7 percent compared to 2023. This includes a large proportion of those who want to study in master’s programs. Currently, more than 4,000 foreign students from 101 countries study at the largest university in the region.
– First of all, applicants are guided by international qualifications, but Yekaterinburg also has a number of associated advantages, for example, direct flights to many countries, the presence of general consulates and representative offices. Together, these factors allow us to count on a high response rate, says Tushin.
514 foreign citizens study at the Ural State Mining University, who have chosen mainly specialized areas of training for the university. Most of them came from Africa, the Middle East and the CIS countries, which can be explained by business trends: industrial companies are increasingly willing to enter their mineral-rich territories, so the demand for miners in these countries is extremely high, while the level of local specialized education is lower than in Russia.
– Wealthy foreigners send their children to study in Europe and Canada. Representatives of the middle class come to Russia mainly. Every year, some foreign students graduate with honors from the university. Because of the language barrier, it is more difficult for children to study, but in engineering and computer science, where they mainly use formulaic language, foreigners have a chance to prove themselves, the press service of Gorny reported.
Another factor that brings Yekaterinburg closer to African countries is historical memory. As noted by Ilya Gorfinkel, deputy director of the Ural Institute of Management, a branch of RANEPA, many representatives of Asian and African countries studied in the USSR, graduates of Soviet universities still work around the world. Many of them have children and grandchildren.
“Thanks to developed communication and alumni communities, the reputation of Russian universities, including those in the Urals, remains at a high level,” Gorfinkel notes.
By the way, Antoine Hervé Gbilimu, a graduate in geological exploration technology, came to Russia from Guinea six years ago on the recommendation of his uncle, who also studied in our country. The young man is confident that he made the right choice of both university and profession.
– There are a lot of mining companies in Guinea, because our country is rich in bauxite, but there are not enough geophysicists, I will definitely not be left without work. For example, we studied magnetic prospecting and gravity prospecting – these are geophysical methods for searching for mineral deposits. It was very interesting to study, but I will not hide it, it was also difficult. Geophysics is a complex science. And in Russian too,” Antoine shared his impressions.
For Ural State Economic University, international activity is also one of the key areas of work. More than 2,700 foreign students from 68 countries study at the university. In recent years, the contingent from Uzbekistan, the Middle East and Africa has increased significantly. Two years ago, the university launched a master’s programme in International Business, where training is conducted entirely in English. There are now 45 students studying there and the next intake is underway as part of the admissions campaign.
– During their studies, foreign students undergo practical training with us. Thus, this academic year, students from Egypt, India, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan gained invaluable experience in the regional ministries of digital development and communications, international and foreign economic relations, the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Yekaterinburg CIT container terminal, Quantorium, in the Mayak corporation, the Uralelectromed, Uralkabel companies and other large employers. As for employment, most foreign graduates return to their home country and successfully find work in their specialty, says the rector of USUE Yakov Silin.
One of the countries that sends young people to study in large numbers in the Urals is China. Even from a purely economic point of view, studying in China itself is one and a half to two times more expensive.
– In each case, the applicant and his family make a decision based on many factors, of which I would not overlook the cost of living in the city of study. In this respect, Ekaterinburg wins over the capitals,” adds Maxim Gorfinkel, candidate of sociological sciences.
Meanwhile
Over the past five years, quotas for free education for foreign students have increased significantly: now 30 thousand budget places are offered in Russia. Moreover, in 2023 there were more than 58 thousand applications from foreign applicants. In total, more than 350 thousand foreign students study in the Russian higher education system.
