Study in Petrozavodsk, Russia

About Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk is the capital of the Republic of Karelia, in north-western Russia. The city lies on the shore of Lake Onega, and Karelia has a 798 km border with Finland. Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) gives the population as more than 270,000.

For a student, Petrozavodsk is a quiet university city in a region of lakes and forests. According to the university, life there is quieter and cheaper than in the capital cities, while Moscow and St. Petersburg can be reached by train, bus or plane. Most students come to learn Russian or to take a degree taught in Russian.

Studying in Petrozavodsk

Higher education in the city is centred on Petrozavodsk State University, founded in 1940. It offers over 100 educational programmes and has more than 350 international students from over 40 countries. The university states that it is the only one in Russia that trains specialists in Finno-Ugric languages and culture (Karelian, Vepsian and Finnish). Its Linguistic Center has taught Russian to foreigners since 1992, in courses of 4 to 32 weeks, and holds the state test of Russian as a foreign language (TORFL).

Our directory lists one school in Petrozavodsk, a language school:

• Enjoy Russian, Russian language school has taught Russian since 2004. Its postal address is Gogolya street 7 in Petrozavodsk, but its courses are now taught online: live one-to-one lessons and weekly speaking clubs with native-speaking teachers.

Russian degrees follow their own structure. According to the official Study in Russia portal, a bachelor's degree takes 3 to 4 years, a specialist degree (an integrated programme in fields such as engineering or medicine) 5 to 6 years, and a master's degree 2 to 3 years after that. Teaching is mainly in Russian. Students without enough Russian can first join the PetrSU Pre-University Foundation Program, which runs from October to June.

Admission, visa and documents

For a degree at PetrSU, international applicants take two entrance examinations online, the first in Russian language. Foreign school and university documents must be legalised, and education from some countries has to go through formal recognition in Russia. The Study in Russia portal also explains how to apply for a tuition-free place under the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation.

According to the university, most foreign students need a student visa, which requires an invitation letter from the university; it asks for applications at least 8 weeks before arrival. The first student visa is a single-entry visa for 3 months and is then extended as a multi-entry visa for the whole period of study. On arrival every foreign citizen must register their address with the migration service and hold medical insurance valid for the whole stay. These rules come from the university's visa page, which was last updated in 2019, so check them with the university and the Russian consulate before you apply. Also check your own government's current travel advice for Russia.

Cost of living for students

PetrSU publishes a list of daily life figures for Petrozavodsk (updated in 2026): apartment rent from 15,000 roubles a month, a university dormitory from 1,000 roubles a month, an average meal about 270 roubles and a bus ride 50 roubles. The university has 11 dormitories. Fees for the Pre-University Foundation Program were 160,000 roubles for the 2025-26 academic year, with dormitory fees of about 1,000 roubles a month.

Getting around and daily life

Within the city, buses are the main public transport; a ride costs 50 roubles according to the university. A train to St. Petersburg costs from 2,000 roubles and a train to Moscow from 3,200 roubles, according to the same source; there are also flights to Moscow, from 8,000 roubles.

Frequently asked questions

Is Petrozavodsk a good place to learn Russian?

It is a quiet city where Russian is the everyday language. The PetrSU Linguistic Center has taught Russian to foreigners since 1992 and holds the TORFL test, and the Enjoy Russian school, based in the city, teaches online.

Which university is in Petrozavodsk?

The main one is Petrozavodsk State University, founded in 1940, with over 100 programmes and more than 350 international students.

How much does a month in Petrozavodsk cost for a student?

According to PetrSU's 2026 figures, a university dormitory costs from 1,000 roubles a month and an apartment from 15,000 roubles; a bus ride costs 50 roubles and an average meal about 270 roubles.

Do I need a visa to study in Petrozavodsk?

Most foreign students do. The university sends an invitation letter for the student visa and recommends applying at least 8 weeks before arrival.