🌐 MGIMO Integration Days: First Steps of International Students at University

On August 26-29, MGIMO hosted the Integration Days for international students. This annual series of events is designed for first-year students from around the world to help them settle into university life. During these days, students get to know MGIMO, receive useful tips on adapting to life in Russia, make new friends, and discover the history, culture, and diversity of the country.

📍 First Meeting

The programme began with a welcome meeting with Stanislav Surovtsev, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work, and International Relations. International students were also welcomed by Vyacheslav Sutyrin, Advisor to the Rector's Office and Deputy Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work, and International Relations.

📌 Start Smart

Following the official greetings, representatives of the International Office gave a presentation on the key aspects of staying in Russia, including migration regulations and mandatory registration procedures for international students.

🗓️ Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Students also learned about youth communities, volunteer activities, creative studios, sports clubs and other areas of student life that MGIMO offers.

Activists of the MGIMO Student Union and the MGIMO International Students Association introduced projects that can help first-year students quickly find like-minded people and explore extracurricular activities they enjoy.

🇷🇺 StudWay: Russian Culture Code

The next stop was an interactive campus quest that took freshmen on a journey across Russia.

The students became passengers on a train that travelled

from Moscow to Kamchatka

in one day. Each campus location was transformed into a station representing a particular Russian city or region. Participants discovered the

traditions and unique features of different regions

, while also learning more about MGIMO’s

academic, cultural, social and sports facilities.

🇷🇺 Discovering Moscow

To help students get to know their new city, they took part in the “Heart of Moscow” quest tour.

They explored the capital’s historic centre in a quiz format, answering questions and collecting cards featuring picturesque views of Moscow and quotes by Russian classics. The most knowledgeable participants received memorable

MGIMO merchandise

.

🇷🇺 A Journey Across Russia

At the National Centre RUSSIA, participants went on a “Get to know Russia” excursion  to discover the history, culture and traditions of the country’s regions.

There were also some pleasant surprises: students took part in a

giveaway of matryoshka dolls

featuring an image of the main MGIMO Campus.

❤️ The Integration Days have come to an end, but for MGIMO freshmen, this is only the beginning: lectures, seminars, student projects, and plenty of exciting experiences lie ahead!

Welcome to the MGIMO family!

Learn more about MGIMO on our website.

🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) | МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

Moscow City Day 2026

🇷🇺 This weekend, Moscow is celebrating its 879th anniversary! This is the perfect opportunity for international first-year students to explore the capital and dive straight into its festive atmosphere.

This year, more than 500 events are lined up, including concerts, guided tours, workshops, sports activities, and film screenings. In our new #MoscowForStudents series, we have prepared a list of spots for an unforgettable weekend.

📍 State Historical Museum

Do you want to see what Moscow looked like centuries ago? The museum’s holiday programme features guided tours of Red Square, stories about Moscow under Ivan the Terrible and the first Romanovs, and accounts of the events of 1812.

📍 Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Visitors can enjoy jazz and classical music concerts, as well as choir and solo performances. There will also be creative workshops where you can craft your own souvenir.

🎼 This is the perfect option if you want to take a stroll through a picturesque park, enjoy live music, and soak up the atmosphere of a major city celebration.

📍 Luzhniki

If you’d rather spend your weekend staying active, head to Luzhniki. There is something for everyone: you can play padel, join a SUP tour, tackle the climbing wall, go roller-skating or karting, test your skills on an obstacle course, or join a speed Rubik’s Cube challenge.

❤️ We hope this weekend will be a great opportunity to feel right at home in this vibrant city and experience its festive spirit!

See you in Moscow!

Learn more about MGIMO on our website.

🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) | МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Opens New Academic Year at MGIMO

On September 7, MGIMO hosted the traditional meeting of Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, with students and faculty of the university, timed to coincide with the start of the new academic year.

🌐 MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov welcomed the students and congratulated them on the beginning of the academic year, noting the impressive results of the 2026 admissions campaign:

➡️ The university admitted a record number of winners of the All-Russian School Olympiad;
➡️ 57% of MGIMO first-year students are gold medalists;
➡️ The number of international students has grown significantly — students from more than 90 countries are studying at the university.

🇷🇺 Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, congratulated the students, faculty, and staff of MGIMO — everyone involved in maintaining the high standard of the university, which consistently ranks high in Russian and international ratings.

➡️ In his speech, the Minister emphasized the importance of such annual meetings with students:

This always gives a very good boost to me and to my colleagues who regularly interact with the university.

🌐 Sergey Lavrov spoke about key events on the international agenda and the main aspects of Russia's foreign policy.

He paid special attention to the importance of finding a balance of interests, the transformation of the system of international relations, and the development of Russia's relations with the countries of Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East.

An important part of the meeting was the session in which the Minister answered students' questions on international relations, world trade, and the role of diplomacy in the modern world.

🔖At the end of his speech, Sergey Lavrov once again congratulated MGIMO students on the start of the new academic year.

In a changing world, there is

a particular demand for specialists with deep knowledge in international relations,

capable of professionally addressing a wide range of foreign policy and economic challenges. I am confident that the quality of education received at your alma mater will enable you to achieve great success in any endeavor and contribute to strengthening Russia's position on the international stage.

We join in the congratulations and wish MGIMO freshmen success in the new academic year!

🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) | МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)