St. Petersburg is Russia's cultural capital. For students interested in the arts or literature, studying at St. Petersburg State University (SPbGU) is an easy choice. You’ll be surrounded by beauty and culture: canals that weave through the city’s impressive mix of architectural styles, the largest art collection in the world at the Hermitage, respected conservatories and theatres, the settings and inspiration for countless Russian literary classics, and some of the most cutting-edge music clubs in Europe.
Location The main SPbGU campus is located on Vasilievsky Island, about a 10-minute walk from Василеостровская metro station on the far western end of the green line. This main campus is also a 10-15 minute walk from the Hermitage and Nevsky Prospekt (both of which are on the main island – i.e. St. Petersburg's center.) However, the entire campus is spread out over a larger area, with the two dorms are each located a short bus ride from Приморская metro station, also on the far western end of the green line. See our google map for more details.
Campus/Student Life Because SPbGU is a large university, if you want to become involved in student life you will need to make a bit of an effort. The foreigners are separated from the Russians in the dorms (and sometimes even segregated by nationality). This means you may not have trouble finding a Russian-speaking foreigner, but if you're really looking to befriend Russians, you may want to look into joining clubs, finding and participating in campus events, and trying to make yourself feel approachable in general.
Dorm Details The dorms are not located close to campus. You will need to commute to school for 45 minutes to 1 hour, and will involve a bit of walking. Internet is available is a paid service in some dorm rooms (though its not always reliable, see our guide for alternatives). Many rooms are equipped with televisions. You will have 1 or 2 roommates. Conditions are livable, but they are not particularly well cared for. Each floor shares a kitchen and bathroom facilities, and rooms contain two desks, two beds, and wardrobes. Linens and towels are provided. The dorms have lockdown hours (curfews) like most Russian universities.
Home Stay For a more immersive experience (and additional cost), our more adventurous students often elect to stay in a Russian home. It's not for everyone, but it is an experience! Limited availability.
SRAS Support at SPGU Student support is carried out in St. Petersburg by a small team under the direction of Sergei Pshenitsyn, a long-time SRAS employee and a scholar of culture, languages, translation, and history. Several excursions (free with most of our programs) are organized throughout the semester. Upon enroling with SRAS, students receive a detailed guide with specific information about the university and surrounding area. All arriving students on SRAS programs are given a practical tour covering SPbGU, how to use the local public transportation, and where to find the nearby shopping center. Our St. Petersburg Coordinators are always available by cell phone (most programs come with free use of a cell phone) to answer any questions, discuss any concerns, or help in the event of emergency.
University Facilities Laundry facilities are available. If you like to work out, there are a few options not far from the dorms, including a small park to jog in and a new hip health club. There is a commercial Internet café not far from SPbGU. Internet is available in most dorm rooms.
Campus/Near-Campus Food There are several eateries and cafeterias on campus, and there are plenty of options for restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores nearby.
Nearby Attractions This section coming soon.
Summary: Pros and Cons Pros: the university’s central location, unique cultural/artistic setting.
Cons: dorms are off campus, relative lack of a strong sense of a university community (though there is a dorm community)
