Testimonials

Summer School of Russian Studies in SPbPU was one of the best decisions I made this summer! Having the opportunity to visit Russia allowed me to learn the Russian language, culture and history.

I came away with a much greater appreciation for a country that doesn’t get much publicity. In particular, SPbPU was a great host university. From arranging to receive us from the airport to ensuring we are settled into our accommodation, SPbPU made us feel very welcome in a very foreign land. The White Nights programme was planned really well, as we had a very experienced language tutor in class, as well as a very knowledgeable guide who accompanied us for all the ‘field trips’.

We were treated to visits to places such as the Hermitage, Peterhof Palace, and they even arranged for us to see the opening of the iconic drawbridges at night! Lastly, for such a complete experience in St Petersburg, SPbPU ensured that it was all kept really affordable, especially so when compared to other summer study programmes elsewhere. Would definitely recommend this programme to others!

I followed the summer school "OPEN YOUR MIND TO RUSSIA" in 2013, it was a well organized mix of lectures and social program. The social program shows us the most important and famous historical and cultural heritage like Peterhof and the Hermitage, but also the life in St. Petersburg nowadays. The lectures gave me a good overview about the history and culture of Russia. Moreover I got a good impression of the develop of the Russian economy. The knowledge which I gain during this two week program was very helpful for my further studying, especially for my class in "International Business and Cultural Diversity". I really like to get in contact with people from other countries therefore it was a great opportunity and I could extend my international network.

I’ve been studying Russian for several years, and I needed practicing it with native speakers. Besides, I wanted to know more about society, politics, culture, and arts of Russia. I very much liked the practical and theoretical Russian Language classes; I also enjoyed the lectures on the history of art and politics, as well as the exciting trips we had during the program. It was wonderful to study in such a pleasant and friendly atmosphere, and our teachers are true professionals. We had lots of useful exercises and speaking clubs, and all this has helped me to significantly improve my language skills. In addition, I’ve got many new friends here, and the tutors helped us to know more about the city, I am extremely thankful for this experience!

My teacher told us about the Summer School of Russian Studies at SPbPU describing it as an outstanding experience. Frankly, I decided to take part in it out of curiosity. And then I really liked it! Russian language classes were very important for me to improve my speaking skills, also they helped me feel your language better. Apart from the Russian language course I have taken an elective Russian Business Culture course which I truly enjoyed too! I think, the module is very well organized, we had many lessons and field trips, we learnt a lot, but we also had the time to walk around the city, explore it and see lots of beautiful spots. Architecture of St. Petersburg is so inspiring! I would like to work with Russian language, probably to connect my future career with some international company, or to work in a Consulate, that is why I plan not to stop on what I achieved but to move further.

The Summer School gave me a great insight into the field of ERP Systems and SAP. I liked the small classes and cozy learning atmosphere. Moreover, I benefitted a lot from the intercultural atmosphere by communicating with the other international students attending the summer school program. A lot of great events and trips were planned by the university, so that we could experience St. Petersburg to the fullest. St Petersburg is a great and beautiful city with a lot of sights, restaurants, cafes and bars to visit. It's got an amazing culture and I will never regret my decision to have participated in the SPbPU Summer School Program. I can definitely recommend it!