South Ural State University is the most famous university in South Ural and no wonder international students choose it to get their education. It offers various programs including International Relations, Philology, Linguistics, Economics, Mechatronics and Robotics, Power Engineering and many others. Also a student can choose a Bachelor’s or Master’s program taught in English.
Lea Michaela Deutscher, a SUSU student from Germany, chose the university for getting her Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics and Robotics in English. She agrees to answer the questions about the reasons for her choice, the weather in Chelyabinsk and amiability of Russian people.
- Why did you choose Russia to study?
- I knew surprisingly little about Russia though Germany and Russia have many historical and cultural connections. But as I still had really no idea what Russia was like, I thought that I should see for myself how this country works.
- How did your family feel about your moving to another country?
- My family was very supportive of my choice. It’s not the first time I left the country. I moved abroad since I became 16, and then never really came back. So they are already used to my it. However I think they were surprised by my moving to Russia, because it’s very cold and very different from the countries I went to before.
- What do you like and dislike most about university life?
- What I really like about college life is the community of students. Of course it is limited because of Corona, but people tell me that normally there are a lot of activities and opportunities to get together. And even in the short time I have been here, there were some activities I could participate in, and I really enjoyed it. We are social beings, and it’s great to get to meet so many different people. The thing I dislike most is online classes, which is obviously not the universities’ fault. I miss socializing and seeing people in real life.
- Do you have any free time and what do you do if you have it?
- I’m trying to explore as much as I can in my free time. I want to learn Russian as fast as possible, so by being active it’s easier to get into contact with people from here. The university offers a lot of different sports you can just try out and I started Kickboxing here, for example. And I went ice skating once, which is harder than it looks by the way. Sometimes the Association of International Students and Alumni organizes activities for the international students to get together, so they are always very fun. Often I just go to meet friends. People have been incredibly nice to me. I feel as an international student it’s easy to make friends, since locals are often very interested to talk to you.
- Who helped you to get used to living in another country and overcome the language barrier?
- When I first got here, my classmates helped me a lot to get around, and for example do all the insurance paperwork and other documents they need at the university. As an international student, there are a lot of administrative staff in the university that can help you with any issues you have. My biggest problem was probably the language. Not everyone speaks English, so it was especially helpful to have friends who speak Russian. I always bother them when I have to do something, like opening a bank account, to go with me and translate. I’ve never felt alone, many students have gone through the same things when they arrived, so they are glad to help when they are able to.
- What company would you like to work after graduation?
- If I’m dreaming big, I would love to work for a company like Mercedes or Airbus. But honestly it’s not about a company specifically. I want to work somewhere that gives me the opportunity to grow, to develop new skills and make new connections. If possible, I’d love to work at a company that sends me abroad from time to time.
- What perspectives does a specialist with a Russian diploma have in your country? Do you plan to come back home after graduation or do you want to stay and work in Russia?
- The Russian Bachelor is easily recognized in Germany. The South Ural State University is in the governmental databank of recognized higher education institutions (the database is called Anabin), so it’s an easy process. Depending on the major and the current job market the perspectives on finding a job are quite good. I think especially technical majors won’t have a problem. Personally I neither plan on going back to Germany nor do I want to stay in Russia. I’d like to keep my life interesting by moving to a new country. Everything I’ve learned will be helpful when adapting to a new environment, and connections made here will be a good network once I become a professional.
- What kind of science do you work in? Why did you choose that?
- I chose my field for various reasons. The most important one is that I think it has a lot of perspectives for the future. Everything we see now is automatic or semi-automatic. Technology plays such a big role in our everyday lives and is constantly developing, that it will be a dynamic work field in the future. I also wanted to challenge myself. We often look at technologies and the science behind them as some kind of inexplicable magic, and I wanted to prove to myself that it can be understood by logic just like anything else. Additionally, I think it is important that more women go into engineering and other traditionally male-dominated fields. Nearly all of my classmates are boys. So I hope by being here, I do my part to debunk the myth that women don’t know how to science.
- Are there many international students studying with you in the group? Where are they from?
- I study in English language, so all of my classmates are international students. Most of them are from Egypt, but we also have some people from India, Nigeria and Cameroon. But even if you study in Russian, there’s quite a lot of international students from all parts of the world. There’s a lot of people from the old USSR countries, like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, China, Arabic countries, India or Sri Lanka. My roommate is from Cuba, for example.
- What do you advise an applicant who only chooses a university in Russia?
- Try learning a bit of Russian before you come here. I only knew like two words in Russian, when I arrived, and I was quite lost in the beginning. The Uber driver that was supposed to pick me up from the airport, canceled because he didn’t understand me. Also get prepared for the cold weather, maybe by thermal underwear, and something to cover your ears. It isn’t as bad as you might think, it’s getting cold but slowly, so your body has time to adapt. Just don’t barricade yourself inside. 5 minutes outside everyday go a long way to not feeling as cold. And lastly, don’t worry too much. It’s very exciting to study here, but it can also be scary to leave everything and come to a new country. It doesn’t have to be. People here are very welcoming. You can always ask for help, either from people working in administration, from the student organization AISA or just from other students that you meet. They will all be glad to help you. If you decide to study here, you will be well taken care of. So just enjoy the experience!
Let us remind that foreign citizens who have some questions connected to visa procedures can learn all the details regarding the documents by calling 8 (351) 267 93 30 or asking a question on Facebook.
If you want to get a prestigious degree at SUSU in English you may read about English-taught programs by clicking the link.
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Or just contact us:
International Student Support at the SUSU International Office
Email: applicant[at]susu[dot]ru
Tel.: 8 (351) 272 30 86