New Record for IKBFU: 171 International Students Graduate

This year, international students from 26 countries (among them Brazil, Ecuador, Iraq, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Yemen) graduated from more than 45 educational programmes. The largest number of students came from China, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Latvia.

The programmes most popular among international students were “Education and Pedagogical Sciences” (Postgraduate Studies), “Pedagogical Education” (Master’s Programme), “General Medicine” in English and Russian languages (Specialist Programme) and “Philology” (Bachelor’s Programme).

This year marks the end of the “Russian as a Foreign Language” joint pilot programme between IKBFU and Shandong University of Technology in a unique 1+3 format. This is the second successive year of graduation from the English-language Medicine programme, which has become even more numerous this time around.

The graduates shared their impressions of their studies, memorable moments from their student life and plans for the future, as well as why they chose IKBFU.

Arina Startseva, a Master’s graduate from the Higher School of Philosophy, History, and Social Sciences, shared some happy memories of her student days, spoke about her plans for postgraduate studies, and highlighted, how the University helped boost her career:

I am from Almaty, Kazakhstan, and I never expected to find myself at IKBFU. My parents always emphasised that a federal university offers great opportunities, but I was mainly interested in the nearby sea! I enrolled in Philosophy in 2018 and quickly dedicated myself to university life — studies and research, Association of International Students, extracurricular activities (there my passion for intellectual games fully flourished). Here I met new friends and found love. Since my second year I have been working at the Academia Kantiana research institution. I am a multifaceted person: a teacher, a student, an activist, a team player — and it’s all at IKBFU! I am now part of something big, part of the university community. I wish to continue my academic journey by applying for postgraduate studies, perhaps to my Alma Mater. The neo-campus is due to be completed soon and I want to check out the new facilities! What’s coming next will be even better — the future does live here!

Aisha Kimelbayeva, Higher School of Linguistics graduate, told us about her profession and returning to her alma mater this autumn as a Master’s student:

I am from Kostanay, Kazakhstan, and I have always dreamed of studying abroad. I had known about IKBFU for a long time, as my aunt studied there and loved it. In 2020, I enrolled in Linguistics because of my passion for foreign languages, cultures, and literature, as well as desire to work in a multicultural environment. My academic journey began online. Once in-person classes started, I bonded with my classmates and discovered that IKBFU is a place for friendship, trust, love, and respect. Extracurricularly, I immersed myself in the world of dance and science. Participating in conferences and publishing a research paper allowed me to showcase my abilities and realise that science can be both fascinating and exciting. I plan to continue my studies at the Baltic Federal University in the Master’s program “Translation for International Business and Diplomacy.” I believe this path will open even more opportunities for me in fields such as international relations and business.

Sayara Aga-Tagiyeva, came to Kaliningrad from the sunny Turkmenistan and graduated from the Higher School of Living Systems with a degree in Chemistry:

First of all, I would like to thank my parents for letting me study here. I fell in love with the Baltic Federal University for its geographical location, its European charm, its rich history, and its stunning beauty. The curriculum was fascinating and met my expectations. I now work in the best laboratory! I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in technical physics. I loved how the University supported me in attending conferences. I went to Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg and Moscow, with travel and accommodation covered by the University. My specialty is right at the intersection of maths, chemistry, and physics. I now work in a physics laboratory, for which I was prepared excellently. Our studies were intense, and I appreciated mutual support among students. I made friends from all over the world: Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, and, of course, Russia. It’s so cool! I highly recommend IKBFU to everyone because it is the best university I have ever attended.

Almuatsem Mohammed Ahmed Abdullah came to the Baltic Federal University from Yemen and chose the Traumatology and Orthopaedics residency programme after completing his Specialist degree in Volgograd. After graduation, he plans to return to his home country, and continue working as a trauma surgeon:

found the education system and internships particularly valuable. I had the opportunity to work in various hospitals, including the Cardiac Centre, Emergency Medical Care Hospital, and Central City Clinical Hospital. I highly recommend IKBFU to everyone, especially international students. The people are incredibly friendly, and the education is excellent! I enjoyed my time in Kaliningrad immensely! Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to visit the sea yet due to my workload, but I plan to go soon.

Wang Haofei came to Kaliningrad from China. After her Bachelor’s, she decided to stay. Following her postgraduate programme, she intends to remain in Kaliningrad and work towards strengthening relations between Russia and China:

Our professors encouraged us to do everything on our own without relying on the internet. I studied Russian culture, history and am quite well versed in these topics. I really want to improve my Russian, for this I need to read, socialise and work. To future students, I advise not to worry about the distance from home; reaching the University via Moscow by plane is easy. The people here are friendly, and Russia, in general, is filled with friendly people.

Trương Ngô Minh Thư, graduate of the Higher School of Communications and Creative Industries, with a degree in Philology:

As a school pupil, I won a contest which led to the Vietnamese Ministry of Education sending me to Kaliningrad. I greatly appreciated the support from our teachers throughout the learning process, and I enjoyed the academic experience itself. Kaliningrad is a charming city — beautiful, calm, and peaceful. This year, I intend to return to my home country, and next year, I will continue my studies in Russia at the Moscow Pedagogical State University.

Some came to study at the IKBFU with their families. Ma Haoran and Luo Yafang came to Kaliningrad from China to complete their postgraduate studies in Education and Pedagogical Sciences.

Luo Yafang:
I opted for Baltic Federal University because I believed it to be among the best, and it exceeded all my expectations. I deeply appreciated the professors; they were incredibly supportive. Studying here was exceptionally comfortable. I wholeheartedly recommend this university to everyone — it’s excellent!

Ma Haoran:
After graduation, I plan to stay in Kaliningrad for two or three years and return to China afterwards. During my time here, I also pursued vocal and music, which was a fantastic experience! To prospective enrollees, I strongly recommend coming to IKBFU; everything here is pleasant, comfortable, and beautiful! Studying at this university was truly one of my life’s greatest experiences.

40 students from Brazil, Ecuador, India, Iraq, Mexico and Peru graduated from the English-language higher education programme “General Medicine”. Three students graduated with honours. In the coming months, they will undergo exams and tests for employment in their home countries.

Shraddha Ashok Narode came to IKBFU from India to pursue a degree in Medicine. In her opinion, coming to the Baltic Federal University was one of the best decisions she made together with her family:

I have a friend who studied in Kaliningrad, and said that IKBFU is the best federal university. I studied medicine for 6 years. Of course, it was difficult, but very exciting. Moreover, everyone was always very supportive. The people here are very kind. When I interned at a hospital, Russians were very friendly if they were treated by a foreign doctor. In general, Russia is one of the safest countries. I feel very comfortable and relaxed here. Russians are very positive, kind and love the people of India. They were so pleased when we came to give them medical help. I also tried soda for the first time here! It’s delicious! We used to buy it all the time. Within a month I plan to return home to India, I haven’t seen my family for a long time and I miss them. When I return, I am thinking of becoming a paediatric surgeon.

Tuklia Nirzara Rakesh chose IKBFU because, according to her, it is the best of the federal universities:
My parents helped me choose a university. I chose the federal one, the best one, IKBFU. The education here is excellent, and the professors were very helpful. Learning Russian was challenging, but I persevered to talk with Russians, who are exceptionally kind. Graduation is a highly anticipated and joyful event for me. Afterward, I plan to return to India to further my studies.