Demberelbanzai Enkhjargal (Mongolia), graduate of the Pedagogical Institute:

I graduated from ISU Pedagogical Institute and was awarded a Bachelor’s degree under a Russian Federation scholarship program. I started learning Russian on my own when I was in 7^th grade, which is why I didn’t really have any difficulties during my studies. My main goal isn’t learning Russian and reaching a low or intermediate level, but to study the language in depth at a high level. I want to learn all about the culture, history and peculiarities of the people of this great country. I also chose this profession because I wanted to be even more connected to the Russian language throughout my life, so I don’t lose my knowledge.
I am proud of our university. During these 5 years, I have received support at the university and the opportunity to live an excellent student lifestyle. Whatever your interests are, at ISU, you can find a huge selection of hobby clubs and communities, as well as a diverse social life.
Choosing a place to study is a really difficult task. There are several reasons why I chose my university. Some people choose a place of study only based on the general rating, but I prefer to look not only at the general one, but also at the rating of the direction in which I want to study. For example, the direction of pedagogical education with two profiles at ISU PI is among the best in Russia. Social life was also important to me. Our university has a large university campus with various institutes and faculties, which facilitates communication with students, unlike other universities. I also want to note that Irkutsk is actually a very good place to live. It is very quiet and peaceful here, I would say that Irkutsk is one of the safest places in the world. Irkutsk is incredibly historical and famous for its beautiful architecture, this city is one of the most visited places in Russia, which attracts many tourists, especially in winter and summer.

Wang Xinyao (PRC), graduate of the Institute of Philology, Foreign Languages and Media Communication:

This month I finished my Master’s degree studies at the Faculty of theoretical and applied philology of the Institute of Philology, Foreign Languages and Media Communication. Time flies, I had been studying at ISU for 7 years.
When I just arrived in this city, I didn’t know a single word in Russian. Seven years passed in a blink of an eye, I am now a Master’s degree graduate, I have Bachelor’s and Master’s degree diplomas with honours. Someone may think I must be a good student, who studies hard, but I wouldn’t say so. I was a lousy student at school, all the teachers thought I should really think if I need to continue studying or just go and start working. But then I arrived in Russia and enrolled at ISU, that’s when I realized it’s time to change. In my studies, I don’t just listen carefully during classes, but I also watch videos to study Russian, and thanks to the help from the teachers, I become better and better at it. During my studies at the Institute of Philology, Foreign Languages and Media Communication, I always had fun thanks to my teachers and classmates.
Now I am a graduate. I am very grateful for those changes that happened to me during these seven years of studies at ISU, and I am grateful to each of my teachers for giving me the knowledge. I am also grateful to all of my friends and classmates that I met in Irkutsk. I am going to work for the society now that I’m a graduate. And I will probably always miss my life in Irkutsk!

Meng Weihang (PRC), graduate of the International Institute of Economics and Linguistics:

As the relations between China and Russia are developing, more and more Chinese students come to Russia to study at universities. I enrolled in the department of Linguistics at ISU IIEL in 2020 and graduated in 2024. We have learned a lot during our time at the university. From the very beginning, when we were too timid to speak Russian and did not understand the language at all, and until the end, when we could already speak and understand Russian, it wasn't easy for us as foreigners. Teachers conduct lectures in the classroom in a very responsible way, encouraging students to actively interact and communicate so that each student can learn the material. Outside of the classroom, cooking is an important skill for international students. Russian cuisine is something that international students had to learn how to cook because not everyone is used to eating Russian food, although some Russian dishes are very unique and delicious. In my opinion, one of the important positive aspects of life in Irkutsk is a large number of attractions and tourist sites. Lake Baikal, the world’s largest freshwater lake, is located very close to Irkutsk. In addition, there is the Kazan Cathedral, the Angara River and many other special places. In conclusion, I want to say that I enjoyed living in Irkutsk and studying at ISU.