Russian student visa is issued only for students who come to Russia for exchange or education (full-time or part time study, language courses, individual language or research training). This is the best kind of visa, but only applicants who were accepted and plan to study at a Russian university, school or another educational institution are eligible to apply for it. If you are thinking about studying in KSMU, you must submit all required information to KSMU, and the Centre of International Education and Cooperation (CIEC) will take care of the paperwork (read in Admission Rules). CIEC of KSMU is responsible for arranging the invitation form to you. CIEC will submit all your data to the immigration officials and have your student invitation form ready in about 2 to 6 weeks. After that CIEC will send you the invitation form by post or by fax. This invitation form is the document which proves your visit and study in Russian Federation. That is why it is a very important form to get your student visa in Russian Embassy.
2. LIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & THINGS TO BRING
Upon arrival at Kazan State Medical University, you will need the following documents:
- valid passport
- valid "educational" visa
- migration card
- medical certificate including AIDS test (if needed)
- 3. WAY TO KAZAN
There are two usual ways to reach Kazan: by train and by airplane. It is possible to reach Kazan by plane directly escaping the stop in Moscow. Direct flight from Western Europe to Kazan is run by Lufthanza from Frankfurt. Turkish Airlines also runs a couple of flights a week from Istanbul direct to Kazan. Or you can arrive to Moscow and change the flight to Kazan. The other option is to go to Kazan by train from Moscow, Kazanskiy railway station ("Komsomolskaya" underground station).
There are two major international airports in Moscow: Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. If you come from abroad you will arrive either to Sheremetyevo 2 international airport (all major international airlines and Aeroflot) or to Domodedovo international airport (Swiss Airlines, AirMalta, British Airways, Emirates, El Al, China Eastern, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and most of the Central Asian airlines, plus most domestic airlines, except Aeroflot). The flights to Kazan from Moscow are usually served by Domodedovo airport.
4. ACCOMMODATIONInternational students may live in the students' dorm or have an apartment or a room arranged for them by the University.
But the living conditions are rather Spartan: two or three persons to a room, eight rooms on each floor, one kitchen, two toilets, shower in the basement. Students cannot select their rooms. The number of rooms is limited, and, therefore, early applications will be given priority. In addition, some students may be uncomfortable with the rather strict dormitory rules.
- 5. HEALTH CARE
All individuals who plan to stay in Kazan for three months or longer must undergo a medical examination (including an HIV Blood Test) and obtain a certificate indicating that their health permits them to stay in the Russian climate. If health reasons prevent an admitted candidate from studying in the Russian Federation, he/she will have to leave Russia. The health certificate must indicate that the applicant has no contraindications for study abroad. The health certificate must be issued by an official medical institution of the visitor's country of residence. English or Russian translation of the certificate is required.
- 6. COST OF LIVING
Your expenses depend, of course, on your lifestyle. If you cook for yourself it will cost you about $100 a month to buy food. If you live with a family you spend less on food.
Stores and markets in Kazan provide a wide variety of familiar foods at affordable prices. Please note that the cost of living in Kazan is still lower than in Moscow or St. Petersburg.
- 7. MONEY
The official Russian currency is Rubles (RUR). One rouble consists of 100 kopeek. The exchange rate is nearly 35 roubles to 1 US dollar, 45 Rubles to 1 Euro. For exact rates you can use the online currency converters at http://www.xe.net/pca/ or http://www.oanda.com. It's not legal to use US dollars or Euro for transactions in Russia.
- 8. POST OFFICES & COURIER SERVICES.
If you want to send something by post from Russia, you can do it either through the government post offices or by courier services. The state post office is cheaper but slow. Even if you pay extra to send things by priority air mail, they can still take two weeks to reach Europe.
The Main Post Office (Address: Kremlevskaya Ul., 8. Open Mon-Fri 8:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 9:00-18:00) also has an ATM and offers faxing, photocopying, internet and telephone services for low prices. You can buy stamps and send your mail from here. There are many other post offices around Kazan which offer only mailing and sometimes telephone services.
- 9. TELEPHONE
The international phone code of Russia is "7", the code of Kazan is "843". If you call to Kazan from abroad, you should dial the international access number (usually 00 or "+"), then the code of Russia "7", then Kazan (843), and then the 7-digit city number. If you call to Kazan from any place in Russia, dial 8, wait for a tone, then dial the Kazan code (843), and then the 7-digit city number. If you dial a Kazan number inside Kazan, just dial the 7-digit number, without any prefixes.
- 10. INTERNET
There are dozens wi-fi hotspots in Moscow, St. Petersburg. Many of them are free, some charge $5-$10 per hour. In Kazan you can find free wi-fi in some cafes and restaurants. For example in Mcdonald's and Shokoladnica.
