As Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University continues to strengthen its global reputation, international students from nearly 50 countries are arriving in growing numbers. What draws them to Kaliningrad, and how does the university support their journey? To mark the upcoming admissions campaign we spoke with Head of the International Office Daria Gerber in order to learn more about the university’s vibrant international community, the role of the International Office, and the unique opportunities that make IKBFU a top choice for students from across the globe.
— What exactly is the International Office?
— The Office serves as the central hub for all international activities at IKBFU. It plays a vital role in fostering a globally engaged academic community and aiding international students. Key areas of support include assistance with visa procedures, coordination of students’ arrival and stay in Russia, academic integration, and adjustment to the university’s multicultural environment. The International Office also organizes cultural and social events, including national holiday celebrations. In addition to student services, the International Office manages collaborations with partner institutions and facilitates academic mobility programmes for both students and staff.
—Why do international students choose Kaliningard and IKBFU?
— Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University has steadily earned the trust and admiration of international students. Many graduates go on to recommend IKBFU to friends and peers in their home countries. As a result, the University’s international community continues to grow year after year. The International Office plays a vital role in ensuring that students feel welcome, supported, and integrated. We organize a wide range of programmes designed to help students adjust to life in Kaliningrad and become familiar with Russian culture and traditions. International students participate in events that mark significant national holidays, Russian language and culture workshops, and community volunteer initiatives.
The IKBFU community embraces multiculturalism. Russian students and staff eagerly join international peers in celebrating traditions such as the Lunar New Year, Turkic Navruz, and Indian Diwali. In recent years, the university has hosted major cultural events, including a large-scale International Cultural Festival in 2022 and the KANTeen Food Festival in 2023 and 2024, which showcased different cuisines and traditions to the university community and residents of Kaliningrad. Language clubs led by international students offer an additional platform for cultural exchange.
We take great pride in the talents of our international students, their academic accomplishments, and the valuable contributions they make to University life. In the past year alone our international students have achieved remarkable success across a wide range of fields. They have secured victories in major sports competitions, won top prizes in academic Olympiads in medicine, linguistics, and entrepreneurship, and earned recognition in high-level vocal and dance contests. And this is only a part of their accomplishments. At IKBFU, we believe that one of our key responsibilities is to help unlock the full potential of our international students. This support not only enhances academic performance, but also fosters personal growth — helping students become true ambassadors of Russian education. In the long term, our goal is to help shape globally minded professionals who will contribute meaningfully to their home countries and to the international community.
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— How many international students are enrolled at IKBFU?
— As of today, approximately 1400 international students attend Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, and the number continues to grow each year. The largest student groups come from India, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Belarus, and Latvia. In addition, the University welcomes students from a wide range of countries, including Brazil, Germany, Colombia, Vietnam, Guinea-Bissau, and the Central African Republic. In total, students from nearly 50 countries are currently enrolled at IKBFU.
The first international students from India arrived at the University eight years ago. Since then, their numbers have grown steadily, reflecting the increasing popularity of the university's academic programmes in the region. The majority of Indian students are enrolled in the English-language General Medicine programme. This year marks a significant milestone, as the third wave of Indian students is set to graduate, returning home as qualified medical professionals.
Many international students choose to pursue their studies in Russian. To support them, the University offers a Preparatory Department — a dedicated programme for foreign students, where they can study Russian for ten months. Thе intensive course equips them with the language proficiency needed to succeed in Russian-taught degree programmes, prepare for entrance examinations, and gain full access to all resources available to IKBFU students.
Over the past five years, IKBFU has seen a significant increase in the number of students from China. Many of them enroll in Russian Philology, a field that has grown increasingly popular in the country. Other in-demand programmes among Chinese students include Russian for Business, Russian for Translation, and Modern Trends in Sports Education.
IKBFU is also a popular destination for Russian-speaking students from the Baltic States—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. These students often apply as compatriots, which allows them to study on a tuition-free basis, provided they successfully pass the entrance examinations. To support applicants from the region, the University operates a dedicated representative office in Latvia.
— Does IKBFU have representative offices in other countries?
— Yes, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University operates several international representative offices. Currently, the University has established full-fledged offices in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Riga (Latvia), and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), as well as a specialized Centre for Russian Pedagogy in Ludhiana (India).
These offices serve a wide range of functions — provide guidance and support to prospective international students, including information on admissions and joint educational programmes offered in collaboration with partner universities. Additionally, they play an important role in promoting the Russian language and culture, hosting academic events, and offering methodological assistance to foreign educators. The presence of representative offices reflects the high level of trust and cooperation IKBFU enjoys with its international partners.
— Are there academic mobility programmes at IKBFU?
— International academic mobility refers to students studying at a university outside their home country for a limited period of time. This can take the form of short-term mobility, typically lasting up to three months, or long-term mobility, which involves studying abroad for more than three months — often for a full academic semester. Each year, around 25–30 international students come to study at IKBFU as part of long-term exchange programmes. Similarly, approximately the same number of IKBFU students travel to partner universities for semester-long study experiences. These exchanges are most commonly held with institutions in Belarus, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
In addition to semester-based exchange programmes, IKBFU actively hosts a wide range of short-term academic mobility initiatives. During the 2024–2025 academic year, over 6,000 international students participated in various short-term events organized by the University. These initiatives include international conferences, academic forums, subject-specific Olympiads, seasonal schools, and a number of large-scale online projects. Among the most notable are our recurring virtual events: "Online Russian Dictation", "Online Crash Course in Russian Language", and the "Russian Auditorium".
We take particular pride in prestigious events such as the International Kant Congress “The World Concept of Philosophy’” and the International Student Olympiad in Philosophy, which highlight the university’s rich intellectual tradition in the field of philosophy—especially significant given that Immanuel Kant, a prominent philosopher, serves as the symbolic patron of our University.
— Does IKBFU offer joint educational programmes?
— Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University offers a range of joint educational programs in collaboration with foreign partner institutions. Among these, three programmes are double degree programmes, developed in partnership with universities in Belarus and Uzbekistan.
In 2024, IKBFU launched joint Master’s programs in Linguistics and Chemistry with Belarusian State University, a leading academic institution in Belarus. Currently, 20 students are enrolled in these innovative programmes. Upon successful completion of the program and defense of their Master’s theses, students will be awarded two degrees—one from IKBFU and one from Belarusian State University. This unique opportunity allows students to gain academic experience at two distinguished institutions, establish professional networks in both Russia and Belarus, and significantly enhance their career prospects in the job markets of both countries.
— Any closing remarks?
The success of IKBFU’s efforts is evident in the achievements, growth, and diversity of its student body. Thanks to the dedicated work of the International Office, students not only receive a quality education but also experience a welcoming, supportive, and multicultural environment. As they return home or continue their careers abroad, these students carry with them not just a degree, but a deep connection to Kaliningrad and a lasting appreciation for Russian education—becoming ambassadors of IKBFU across the world.
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