Outline: Rector's Meeting With International Students

09:31, February 25, 2021

International Students Adaptation Center issued a memo answering most frequently asked questions

Last week UrFU Rector V. Koksharov met international students both offline and online to answer their questions to the university administration. Here is the compilation of the most frequently asked questions.

1. How to come back to Yekaterinburg?

Deputy Vice-Rector for International Relations Sergey Tushin, with reference to the recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor, provided up-to-date information on the order of arrival of foreign students. In particular, he noted that arriving students must report their arrival at least 10 days in advance. The purpose of entry in the migration card, arrivals must indicate "Study".

Students are obliged to make a PCR test for COVID-19. Namely: not earlier than three calendar days before arrival to Russia, and upon arrival - within the next three days. Next step is submittal of the test results to the International Students Adaptation Center (adaptation@urfu.ru).

Sergey Tushin drew attention to the fact that on the website of the university, as well as through other Internet resources, foreign students will be offered a memo on the procedure for students to take when organizing their return to Yekaterinburg.

2. How will the educational process be organized if a foreign student is the only foreign citizen in his academic group and at the same time is abroad? How is the learning process in the spring semester organized in general?

Deputy Director for educational activities for the organization of the educational process Galina Kvashnina said that if there are less than five foreign students in the academic group, then they will be offered an individual training plan through their personal account. If there are more than five people, then these foreign students will be offered to study on a separate schedule. In all cases, a fairly loyal individual approach is used in relation to foreign students.

If the study involves the conduct of laboratory work by a foreign student, then even a "virtual" laboratory practice can be organized. There are various options for organizing the educational process, the main thing for our foreign students is to be active and be patient.

University staff members also advised students, on all issues related to training, to contact the Directorate for Educational Activities for the organization of the educational process, information about which is available on the university website.

3. Is it possible for foreign students to be vaccinated with a Russian-made coronavirus vaccine while in Yekaterinburg?

Rector said that the Russian government is currently studying the issue of providing foreign citizens with the opportunity to vaccinate with a Russian-made anti-coronavirus vaccine. As soon as a positive decision is made, Russian universities will also receive the opportunity to vaccinate their foreign students. To date, only those foreign citizens, including students, who have issued a temporary residence permit, have the right to be vaccinated. If there are such guys among the foreign students of UrFU, then they can apply to the polyclinic of the University with the appropriate documents of title, where they will be given the opportunity to vaccinate.

4. Is it possible to reduce tuition fees for those who are abroad, or recalculate?

Viktor Koksharov noted that this is one of the painful questions for our respected students. At the same time, he said that the University is taking all possible measures to ensure that the quality of education does not decrease, even for those students who are abroad. And in this regard, UrFU is one of the Russian leaders in the provision of educational programs using distance learning technologies.

The rector also drew attention to the fact that the University does not increase the cost of education, which in modern realities makes the study of foreign citizens at UrFU quite acceptable in comparison with other higher educational institutions. The conditions for training under contracts do not change, obligations to foreign students are fulfilled in full.

Thus, in the short term, the issue of reducing the cost of training or recalculation is not considered. At the same time, taking into account the financial situation of students, the educational institution can provide support in the form of payment by installments for tuition fees, if there is an appropriate request.