Problems of social adaptation of international students in Russia

Abstract

The article discusses a range of common problems faced by international students while studying in Russia, drawing on the example of Ural Federal University (Ekaterinburg). Analysis of the sociological data has shown that international students have to deal with the following adaptation barriers: organizational barriers which students face when joining the educational process; socio-cultural barriers which mostly stem from the lack of language proficiency; getting accustomed to daily routines of living on the campus; informational barriers caused by a low awareness of the conditions of life and studying in Russia (Russian cultural norms and values, the climate of the Urals, etc.). The article reveals a correlation between the specificity of the countries international students come from and the main stages of their adaptation, providing guidelines for improvement of international student support at Ural Federal University. © Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek Toruń 2015.