Guide to Live and Study in the Heart of Siberia

0.1. Scan everything and translate

Create high-quality digital scans (PDFs, not photos) of all your documents (passport, educational certificates, transcripts, etc.). You will need them repeatedly.

You may need notarized translations of everything (done in Russia).

0.2. Prepare funds

Ensure you have funds for initial costs: flight, visa fee, medical insurance, initial accommodation payment, and living expenses (see 4.3.2 expenses approximation).

0.3. Understand financial logistics

Common services like Wise, PayPal, etc., are often not operational in Russia. Research alternative methods before you leave home, such as:

• Cryptocurrency: a common but volatile method.
• International bank wire: can be slow and expensive; confirm with your bank and a Russian bank.
• Carrying cash: bring enough USD or EUR in cash (declare if over $10,000 equivalent) to exchange for rubles upon arrival to cover initial costs. Keep it secure.

Please be advised that Russian banks don’t accept old, stained or torn dollars/euros.

1.1. Main programs

1.1.1. Register applicant account

Create your personal account (admission starts from June 20^th):

• https://enrollee.nstu.ru/en/ for English medium
• https://enrollee.nstu.ru/ for Russian medium

1.1.2. Choose majors

Up to 5 majors for a Bachelor's degree, up to 4 majors for a Master's degree. Arrange the list of programs from your application in the priority order. Put the most desirable major in the first place (priority 1).

1.1.3. Submit your documents

• Passport (should be valid for a minimum period of 18 months from the issue date of the new visa)
• Notarized translation of the passport into Russian (done in Russia)
• Educational document (school certificate, diploma of secondary vocational or higher education) and its transcript
• Legalization of foreign documents on education (in case of previous education received abroad)
• Notarized translation of the document on education into Russian (done in Russia)
• Application filled out in the personal account (generated automatically). In case of submitting the documents in person, the application is filled out by the manager of the admissions committee

1.1.3.1. Legalization

Legalization is the process of authenticating your educational documents for use in Russia. This is typically done via an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or through Consular Legalization at the Russian Embassy/Consulate.

1.1.4. Take entrance tests

You can take entrance tests offline at the university or online. To register for online entrance tests and choose the most suitable time for you, follow information in the personal account.

1.1.5. Sign an enrollment agreement contract

If you pass the entrance tests successfully, sign an enrollment agreement contract. Education contract is concluded in the Center for International Education (1st building, room 338) upon the applicant’s arrival to NSTU NETI.

1.1.6. Contact NSTU NETI Center for International Education to come to Russia

In order to get an invitation to enter the Russian Federation and obtain a visa, contact NSTU NETI Center for International Education (inter@nstu.ru).

1.1.7. Fill in the entrance pass application in your personal account in order to get the campus card instantly after arrival

It is either an entrance pass card and your bank card.

1.2. Preparatory programs

1.2.1. Submit your documents to inter@nstu.ru

• Passport (should be valid for a minimum period of 18 months from the issue date of the new visa)
• Notarized translation of the passport into Russian (done in Russia)
• Educational document (school certificate, diploma of secondary vocational or higher education) and its transcript
• Legalization of foreign documents on education (in case of previous education received abroad)
• Notarized translation of the document on education into Russian (done in Russia)
• Application Form filled in (please use only Adobe Reader for electronic filling!)

1.2.1.1. Legalization

Legalization is the process of authenticating your educational documents for use in Russia. This is typically done via an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or through Consular Legalization at the Russian Embassy/Consulate.

1.2.2. Wait for the positive answer

After your documents are considered, you receive either positive or negative feedback.

1.2.3. Contact NSTU NETI Center for International Education to come to Russia

In order to get an invitation to enter the Russian Federation and obtain a visa, contact NSTU NETI Center for International Education (inter@nstu.ru).

2.1. To enter the Russian Federation with a visa issued by a Russian Consulate you should have an official invitation for studying

While planning your visit to NSTU, please check whether you need a visa to enter Russia. International students from visa countries can be enrolled to NSTU NETI only under a student visa issued by the NSTU NETI invitation. Invitations to Russia are issued by the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and it takes 1 month. Then the invitation for the student visa will be e-mailed to the applicant by an admissions officer from the NSTU NETI Center for International Education. You will need the printed copy of the invitation to submit the visa application.

2.2. While waiting, explore Russian culture, language, national holidays, and traditions

We strongly recommend that you begin learning the Russian language, alphabet, and basic phrases in advance.

2.3. Plan your flight route

Plan the route from your city to Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo Airport) and review maps of Russia, Novosibirsk and the university.

2.4. Find information about the costs

Search for the costs of living, food, accommodation, expenses during studies and medical insurance in Novosibirsk (medical insurance can be purchased after your arrival at NSTU NETI).

2.5. Learn trivia

Learn about the geography, climate and necessary autumn/winter clothing (we recommend preparing your clothing before arrival in Novosibirsk).

2.6. Gather accommodation documents

For the dormitory accommodation you will need:

• Vaccination certificate and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• Chest X-ray (fluorography) and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• HIV negative test and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian

Show this in the NSTU NETI hospital (5^th dormitory) to receive accommodation approval. You can have a chest X-ray taken in the hospital.

3.1. Receive an invitation and submit it for a visa

An invitation for the student visa will be e-mailed to the applicant by an admissions officer from the NSTU NETI Center for International Education. Print it and visit the Russian Embassy in the country of citizenship.

Recommendation on filling in the visa application form: NSTU NETI Telex is "614636 NSTU SU", TIN is 5404105174. Your invitation number should start from "2J..."

3.2. Receive the visa in the embassy

A single-entry visa allows you to enter Russia once (received in the Russian embassy), while a multiple-entry visa permits you to enter and exit Russia multiple times within its validity period (received after the extension).

3.3. Make sure to legalize your educational documents (if needed) in the Russian Embassy in the country of the documents issuing

4.1. Check all the documents

Once you have obtained your student visa and legalized your educational documents, check the list of required documents that you must bring with you to NSTU NETI:

• Passport
• Notarized translation of your passport into Russian (done in Russia)
• Legalized original of your educational document with transcript (all pages)
• Notarized translation of your educational document with transcript into Russian (done in Russia)

For the dormitory accommodation you will need:

• Vaccination certificate and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• Chest X-ray (fluorography) and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• HIV negative test and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian

It is essential to bring the originals of all documents with you to NSTU NETI.

4.2. Buy a ticket and come to Novosibirsk

You must buy plane tickets and arrive in Novosibirsk 50 days before the visa expires. Otherwise, the visa will not be extended and you will return home. Once you have obtained your student visa to Russia and purchased your tickets to Novosibirsk, please send a scan of your ticket to inter@nstu.ru at least 7 days prior to your arrival in Novosibirsk. In your email, please include the date and time of your arrival at Novosibirsk Airport (Tolmachevo).

4.2.1. Pick up arrangement and layover

The university will arrange the airport pick-up only at Novosibirsk Airport, accompany you to the university dormitory, and assist you with check-in. If you are flying to Novosibirsk with a layover in another city, such as Moscow, the university will not meet you in the transit city. Please take this into account when planning your route to Novosibirsk, as well as the time difference (Moscow time is GMT+3, Novosibirsk time is GMT+7). Information about your route and arrival in Novosibirsk (sent to NSTU NETI) is necessary for your comfortable and convenient airport pick-up in Novosibirsk and your accommodation in the university hostel.

Please keep in touch with the university. Please note that the time difference between Novosibirsk and Moscow is 4 hours (Moscow GMT+3, Novosibirsk GMT+7).

4.3. Prepare for a flight

4.3.1. Item list

We recommend preparing the following items before your arrival:

• Electronics: power adapters for Type C/F plugs (220V); a reliable power bank; a good laptop.
• Essentials: multiple copies of all important documents (passport, visa, invitation, educational certificates).
• Basic first-aid kit with familiar, legally permitted medicines.
• Several 3x4 cm photos for administrative forms (white background).
• Sturdy backpack.
• Food: a small supply of familiar non-perishable snacks or spices from home.
• Bedding: while dormitories provide bedding, you still need your own sheets and pillowcase.

Essential mobile applications:

• Yandex Go or Uber for taxis and food delivery.
• Yandex Maps or 2GIS for navigation and public transport.
• Yandex Translate or Google Translate for language assistance.
• Sber Online or Tinkoff for mobile banking.
• Avito for buying and selling second-hand items.
• Wildberries or Ozon for online shopping.
• Telegram is the de facto standard for communication in Russia, used by everyone from student groups to university departments for announcements.
• VPN. Many Western services (Google, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) are restricted. You must install a reliable, paid VPN on all your devices before you leave home. Free VPNs are often unreliable and unsafe. This is critical for accessing academic resources, communicating with family, and general internet use.

4.3.2. Money

We recommend exchanging a small amount of money into rubles before arriving in Russia to be able to purchase food, water and a ticket (if necessary). When you arrive in Novosibirsk, you will have the opportunity to exchange money at banks in the city (dollars to rubles) with a better exchange rate. You will need your passport to exchange currency.

4.3.2.1. Reserves

Please find out in advance how you can transfer money from your country to Russia. If it is not possible to transfer money, save some money and make financial reserves in cash (dollars/rubles) that will be necessary for you to live on during your studies at NSTU NETI. International students are prohibited from working during their studies on preparatory courses (students on the main programs are able to work).

Please be advised that Russian banks don’t accept old, stained or torn dollars/euros.

4.3.2.2. Approximate outline of expenses

Tuition fee (depending on the program; should be paid for 1 semester after arrival)

Invitation fee: 9,000 rub

Accommodation: starting from 1,100 rub per month for the main programs; 3,500 rub for the preparatory programs (should be paid for 1 semester after arrival)

Living expenses: 30,000-40,000 rub per month

Medical insurance: 3,500-5,000 rub per year

Visa extension: 1,920 rub

NSTU NETI dormitory hospital (5^th dormitory) chest X-ray: 1,500 rub

NSTU NETI dormitory hospital (5^th dormitory) accommodation approval: 500 rub

Medical examination: 4,500-6,000 rub

Fingerprinting: 1,500 rub

Recognition of educational documents (if needed): 9,000 rub

4.3.3. Health insurance

While you can purchase it upon arrival, it is highly recommended to have at least short-term travel health insurance that covers you from the moment you land until you can buy the Russian policy. If you take any prescription medication, bring a sufficient supply and carry the original prescription and a doctor's note translated into Russian to avoid issues at customs.

4.3.4. SIM cards for tourists and students

Having a working mobile connection upon arrival is critical for safety, navigation and contacting the university. Your home country's SIM will likely not work. For long-term stays, Russian law requires full identification for a SIM card. This process involves getting a SNILS number, registering on the Gosuslugi portal and submitting biometrics, which can take 1-3 weeks. During this time, your new Russian SIM will have limited functionality.

Tourist eSIM is the most convenient and immediate solution. You can arrange it before you leave your home country. An eSIM is a digital SIM embedded in your phone. You purchase a plan online and receive a QR code to activate it. It can be activated the moment you land, giving you instant access to data for maps, translation and contacting the university volunteer. This avoids the stress of finding a physical SIM at the airport.

4.4. Receive information about the pick up

After sending tickets to NSTU NETI Center for International Education, a volunteer should be dispatched to pick you up. Receive the number of the volunteer.

4.5. Cross the border

At the border you will be given a migration card. You must fill out two identical parts. The border officer will keep the Arrival part and stamp the Departure part, then return it to you. Do not lose this card. You must keep the original part (with the stamp) for your entire stay in Russia. You will need it for registration, visa extension and when leaving the country. Take a picture/scan of it immediately as a backup.

The purpose of the migration card entry should be Education only!. Otherwise your migration registration cannot be done.

Your migration card will be taken upon leaving the Russian Federation and you will receive a new one after crossing the border into the Russian Federation again.

5.1. Do a migration registration

Once you have arrived in Novosibirsk and are accommodated into the university, you need to visit the International Office of NSTU NETI to register and receive instructions on visa extension (not later than 2 days after arrival). Upon arrival to Russia all international students must perform registration with the Federal Migration Service, if the duration of stay in Russia exceeds 7 calendar days. Please submit the below-listed documents within 2 working days to the Center for International Education:

• Passport first page copy
• Copy of the single-entry visa
• Migration card and its copy

Should you stay in a hotel/hostel in Russia or move from the dormitory to a private apartment, or leave Novosibirsk or the territory of Russia, your registration will become invalid. Every time you re-enter Russia or change your permanent address (even moving to a different dormitory), you must re-register within 7 days. This is a strict migration rule. Failure to do so results in fines or deportation. When you travel, take your passport, migration card and visa with you. Inform the International Office immediately upon your return.

Take a picture/scan of your registration after receival as a backup.

5.1.1. Private address registration

NSTU NETI does not register students at private addresses. Registration must be done at the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) migration office or at Gosuslugi website with the apartment owner. A list of required documents (including the owner's passport and proof of property) must be provided. NSTU NETI will supply you with the registration request (ходатайство) and enrollment confirmation (справка об обучении).

5.2. Check-in

5.2.1. Sign the educational contract

Visit the Center for International Education (1st building, room 338) to sign your contract and fill in all papers.

5.2.2. Receive your class schedule

Visit the Center for International Education (1st building, room 338) to receive your schedule or to find out the group number for the main program (you can check your schedule here: https://www.nstu.ru/studies/schedule/schedule_classes).

5.2.3. Purchase medical insurance for the academic year

All international students arriving at NSTU NETI must have a medical insurance valid for the period of stay in Russia. Health insurance for international students must include:

• Emergency ambulance and medical care
• Emergency inpatient care
• Emergency outpatient care
• Laboratory tests
• Medical examination
• Medical transportation and repatriation services.

The amount of insurance coverage must be not less than 100 000 roubles. If your medical insurance expired during your studies at NSTU NETI or you did not purchase it in advance, you may order it from the insurance companies that cooperate with the NSTU NETI clinic (visit 1st building, room 338).

5.2.4. Pay the invitation fee

If your invitation was issued by NSTU NETI (not by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation), you need to pay the invitation fee.

5.3. Dormitory

5.3.1. Receive dormitory contract

Receive the accommodation contract and further instructions (visit 1st building, room 338). International students may get accommodation in the NSTU NETI dormitories or rent apartments.

For the dormitory accommodation you will need:

• Vaccination certificate and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• Chest X-ray (fluorography) and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• HIV negative test and its notarized translation (done in Russia) if it's not Russian
• It is essential to bring the originals of all documents with you to NSTU NETI.

5.3.2. Life in the dormitory (Obshchezhitiye)

Dormitories are a classic Russian student experience. They are functional and a great way to meet people, but they come with rules.

Curfews. Often exist (e.g., 11 PM or later). Find out the rule for your specific dorm.

Komendant (Commandant). The dorm manager is a key figure. Maintain a good relationship with them.

Shared facilities. Kitchens and bathrooms are often shared by a floor or wing. Be clean and respectful.

Roommates. You will likely have 1-3 roommates. Be open-minded and establish clear communication from the start.

Security. You will need your entrance pass (temporary, if the permanent one hasn’t been received) to get in and out.

5.4. Receive NSTU NETI WiFi login and password (visit 1st building, room 338)

6.1. Main programs educational process

6.1.1. While waiting for the registration, get to classes

The university follows the Russian higher education system, which includes lectures, practical classes, laboratory work, and independent study. Below are key components of the academic process.

6.1.2. Types of classes

Lectures (Lekzii, Лекции): theoretical classes where professors present course material. Attendance is often mandatory.

Seminars/Practical Classes (Seminary, Семинары and Prakticheskie zanyatiya, Практические занятия): focus on problemsolving, discussions, and applying theoretical knowledge. Active participation is expected.

Laboratory Work (Laboratornye raboty, Лабораторные работы or simply Laba, Лаба): hands-on experiments or projects conducted in labs. Students must complete lab reports.

Independent Study: Self-paced learning, including homework, research, and preparation for exams.

6.1.3. Assessment system

Zachot (Зачёт): a pass/fail assessment for non-core subjects or practical work. No grade is given; the student either receives "pass" (зачтено) or "fail" (не зачтено). Requirements: attendance, completed lab work, a small test.

Exams (Экзамены): Graded assessments (on a 5-point scale & ECTS scale) for core subjects at the end of each semester.

Format: Oral, written, or combined (e.g., written test and oral defense).

6.1.4. Key academic terms

Session (Сессия): exam period held twice a year (winter and summer). Students must pass all exams to advance.

Academic Debts (Академические задолженности or simply Dolgi, Долги): failed exams or missed assignments must be retaken within a set period.

Coursework (Курсовая работа or simply Kursach, Курсач): a research or practical project submitted annually in most programs.

Auto (Автомат, Automatic Pass): some professors grant a pass (zachot, зачёт) or exam grade without a final test if a student attends all classes and performs well during the semester. Ask your professor about this possibility.

Bilet (Билет, Exam Ticket): in oral exams, students draw random "tickets" with 2–3 questions to prepare a short answer on the spot.

The Record Book (Зачетная книжка, Zachotnaya Knizhka or simply Zachotka, Зачетка): this is a small paper booklet where all your passed exams and zachots are officially stamped and signed by the professor. You must present it to the professor after each exam to get your grade recorded.

6.1.5. Defense of graduation qualification work

The ВКР (VKR – Final State Attestation) is a mandatory research or applied project required to complete a bachelor’s, specialist’s, or master’s degree at NSTU NETI. It demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct independent work in their field.

6.1.5.1. Preparation

Topic Selection: assigned by the department or chosen by the student (approved by a supervisor). Topics are usually finalized by the start of the final year.

Supervisor (Научный руководитель or simply Nauchruk, Научрук): a professor or PhD from the department guides the research, reviews drafts, and approves the final version.

Structure: follows strict formatting (GOST standards). Typically includes: title page, abstract (in Russian/English), table of contents, introduction, theoretical/practical chapters, conclusion, bibliography, appendices.

Plagiarism Check: ВКР must pass anti-plagiarism review (typically ≥65-70% originality).

6.1.5.2. Submission deadlines

Draft submissions to the supervisor occur 2-3 months before defense. Final version must be submitted 1 month before

defense for review by the department and external evaluators (if required).

6.1.5.3. Pre-defense requirements

Review (Рецензирование): an external reviewer (often a professor or industry expert) evaluates the ВКР and writes a review (retzenzia, рецензия).

Defense Materials: printed copy of ВКР (bound), presentation slides (10–15 min, covering: relevance, goals, methods, results, conclusions),. handouts (optional but recommended for the committee).

6.1.5.4. Defense procedure

Committee (GAK, ГАК – Государственная аттестационная комиссия) composed of professors, industry experts, and department heads.

Steps:

Presentation: student presents key points (strict time limit). Questions: committee asks about methodology, results, or

theoretical foundations. Reviewer’s Feedback: the reviewer’s evaluation is read aloud. Supervisor’s Remarks: supervisor may

comment on the student’s progress. Closed Deliberation: committee votes on the grade (5-point scale & ECTS scale).

6.1.5.5. Grading criteria

Scientific rigor: depth of analysis, originality. Practical significance: applicability to real-world problems. Defense performance: clarity, ability to answer questions. Formatting compliance: adherence to GOST/university standards.

7. Entrance pass and transport card

Medical certificate

Medical certificate

Fingerprint card (dactyloscopy)