Vadim SKRYABIN / specially for NEFU Newsroom

This year 87 students from China study at North-Eastern Federal University within the frameworks of academic exchange and pre-university tutorial and quotas of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. According to Director of NEFU Institute of the East Nyurgun Maksimov, the university cooperates with 14 Chinese universities.

According to the director, it was achieved due to systematic work of NEFU with Chinese partners. "We have to understand that Yakutia is not the most attractive place by geographic location and climate for foreign students. It is more comfortable for Chinese students to study in Khabarovsk and Amur region, but they are attracted by the opportunity to get qualitative and accessible higher education at North-Eastern Federal University", he said.

"The Faculty of Philology and the Institute of Finances and Economics are the most popular among master’s students. They choose universal specialties and professions associated with the Russian language, because it will be easier to find a job in China", said Nyurgun Maksimov.

Foreign students are provided with the dormitory, students studying on government quotas receive scholarships. "The Institute of the East attracts students who speak Russian, so students do not have problems in communication, they quickly find a common language with the local students and adapt easily", said the department head.

In 2013, less than 10 students were studying at the federal university, now there are 87 students from China. "We hope to increase the number of foreign students up to 1% of the total number of students within the frameworks of the university performance indicators", said Nyurgun Maksimov.