It can get overwhelming when you plan on what college you’re going to be studying. You know how important your education is, and you don’t want to choose the wrong college for that. Many factors come into consideration. Such as the college departments, its academic reputation, and tuition. You want to find the best fit within each category.
Have you considered studying abroad? Studying abroad has its many benefits. For example, you’ll get to experience different cultures. Russia can be a good destination where you can pursue higher education. The country has a long-standing reputation in education. Russia has plenty of reputable universities you can choose. See the list of Universities in Russia here, and also cities with the best quality of life.
One of the recommended university to study is Volgograd State University (VSU). VSU is located at the city of Volgograd, the administrative center of an oblast with the same name. There are several reasons why you should consider this southern city of Russia for your future college life. Let’s check them out.
- Volgograd is a nice city
If you have never heard of this city, you might familiar with the bloodiest battle of World War II, Battle of Stalingrad. Yes, Volgograd is where the battle took place, once the city is still named after one of the Soviet leaders, Stalin. Russians called Volgograd the city of heroes, commemorating fallen soldiers who fought bravely in the battle.
Fast forward to the present days, Volgograd is a beautiful city you can live in. You’ll never get bored with sights you can explore here. One of the must-visit monument is Mamayev Kurgan or The Motherland Calls, which is a memorial for Battle of Stalingrad. The city also has many beautiful parks you can go in-between your classes in colleges, such as Tsentral’nyy Park Kul’tury and Park Druzhby Volgograd-Baku.
- Now, let’s move onto Volgograd State University.
Volgograd State University is one of many higher education institutions in Volgograd. The others being Volgograd State Technical University, Volgograd State Medical University, and Volgograd State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. However, Volgograd State University is the only classical university in town.
Volgograd State University is founded in 1980, so it’s only recently. However, it soars fast among other universities in Russia. Expert RA ranks it among the top 100 universities in Russia. VolSU ranks it among the best 150 higher institutions in Europe and Central Asia. So, if you’re looking for a reputable institution, VSU checks out your list.
- Many faculties and departments to choose from.
Don’t worry about not finding your favorite major. Volgograd State University consists of 48 faculties and research center in total. From humanities to political sciences, from Physics to Information technology, you can choose whichever your dream major is. There are 22 bachelors programs, eleven masters, and 42 Ph.D. programs. Whether an undergraduate or postgraduate, the university got you covered.
- A thriving international student community
Don’t be afraid of being the only international student in Volgograd State University. Because the university has a number of an international student from all corners of the world. Three are over 300 students among 9000 students in this university. The number is not a lot, but on the bright side, it will force you to make some Russian friends and develop your Russian language skill more.
- Well-developed infrastructure
A center of education in the region, you can expect Volgograd State University to be equipped with well-developed facilities. You will find any book you need at its research library, which is the largest in the region. there are 21 scientific centers, 10 institutes, dormitory, and a volunteer center. The technology faculties are provided with “3-D Modeling Laboratory” and engineering center for “Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials”.
- Qualified teachers and staff
Volgograd State University will make sure you are educated by qualified lecturers and professors. Many have received awards both national and international awards. Not only the university teachers, sometimes famous people or professors come to give a guest lecture. It’s interesting and important for students to gain knowledge from these people.
- Plenty of Student Clubs
College is not just about studying and racing with homework deadlines. You can join student clubs as an extracurricular activity. There are various of them in VSU. Whether you love arts, journalism, or activism, you’ll find a community here. It’s also a good way to socialize and meet friends, especially like-minded people. There are more than 50 clubs you can join here.
- Affordable Tuition and Living Cost
If the budget is one of your concern, Volgograd is the one you can consider. In term of cost, Volgograd is a more affordable city than Moscow or St. Petersburg, while is still located in the strategic part of Russia. It has a low cost of living, and so is the tuition fee for VSU. Check out other Russia’s affordable universities here.
- Interesting Exchanges Program
If you’re a student of a university that’s partnering with VSU, you can take a semester or two in Volgograd. The experience will be worth it, especially if your study connected to Russian culture and language.
So, that’s all the consideration you need. Don’t forget to prepare your Russian language skill. You also need to research beforehand about the climate and prepare accordingly. We all know Russia can be very harsh during winter. You also need to learn local custom and tradition, such as finding out what is acceptable, or offensive for Russian. With preparation, you can minimize trouble students usually have when they study abroad.