FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

VISA & REGISTRATION

1. What is registration?
Every foreign citizen coming to any city of Russia has to be registered at the place he/she is staying within two days after his/her arrival.
Coming to St.Petersburg with a student visa based on the invitation from the Conservatory you have to be registered at the Visa Office of the Conservatory. Fees and the documents required for registration please see in VISA & REGISTRATION section.

2. What if I want to leave Russia for holidays?
Undergraduate students can leave Russia for holidays twice during the academic year. In both cases on coming back to St.Petersburg they do not have to pay registration fees. Preparatory programme students and special training programme students can leave Russia for holidays only once during the academic year. On coming back to St.Petersburg after holidays they do not have to pay registration fees. All students have to come to the Visa Office of the Conservatory within two days after their arrival

3. What if I want to leave Russia for a concert/personal reason?
If a student is going to leave Russia for a concert/personal reason during the academic year, he/she has to inform International Students Office and Visa Office on the dates of his/her trip in advance. Then he/she needs to fulfill the leaving list (viz. to return books to the library and to have stamps from Medical Department, Libraries, Financial Office, Dormitory, and International Students Office) and to collect his/her visa from the Visa Office. On coming back to St.Petersburg student has to come to the Visa Office of the Conservatory within two days and to pay the registration fees.

4. What if I want to move i.e. from special training programme to preparatory programme?
The type of the study programme is indicated in the student visa as a goal of entry to Russia. Thus, it is not possible to simply switch from one programme to another. A student has to apply for a new invitation and then come back to St.Petersburg from a country of his/her residence where he/she applied for a new type of student visa with the correct type of the programme indicated in the visa.

5. Is there any general information I need to know before arrival?
To avoid problems with registration please inform us about the date of your arrival and arrive to St.Petersburg at least two weeks before the expiry date of your visa.

6. What if I arrive a couple of days before the expiry date of my visa?
Upon arrival you need to be registered at the City Migration Office. The process takes two weeks. If there is not enough time for this procedure, your visa expires, and you will have to leave Russia.

7. Is it allowed to travel within the Russian Federation and how do I do it?
Diploma students and post-graduate students are allowed to travel during their vacations. Upon the arrival in any town of the Russian Federation you are obliged to undertake the registration procedure. To do this you will provide a certificate stating your student status. The certificate is issued by the Foreign Students Office. The shortest issue period is 2 days.

8. When do students have vacations? Is it necessary to undergo another registration procedure after the return?
Students with multiple-entry visas are entitled to leave the country twice during the academic year – at the end of January and June. Prep students and non-degree students may leave the country once for the period of mid-year break (winter vacation). In this case they are entitled to free registration when they return.
Please, keep in mind that you are to come to the Visa office the very next day after your arrival.

ADMISSION

1. Is there any age limit for applicants?
We accept applications from applicants of 18 years old or over.
Basically, there is not any age limit for grown ups but in some cases it should be discussed with the members of the Department the applicant wishes to study at.

2. Is there a lot of competition for places?
In terms of admission to the Conservatory usually we do not speak about competition for international students. What is important for us is applicant’s general level of professional education, his/her musical background, ability to learn and to perform, and his/her professional skills.

3. As an undergraduate applicant what shall I do with my diplomas of previous education, i.e. High School Diploma?
There are two requirements for international Diplomas to be fulfilled in order that they are to be accepted by Russian schools:
• The Diploma has to be legalized in the applicant’s country of domicile, viz. has a stamp of “Apostille” (Legalization);
• The Diploma with “Apostille”(Legalization) has to be approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation.
For contact details of the offices where your diplomas of previous education could be examined please contact International Student Office of the Conservatory.

4. I have Bachelor’s degree in music. Can I continue my studies at your Conservatory and have Master’s degree?
Educational system in Russia is different. You can enter our conservatory and receive a Diploma of Specialist, which is recommended to be recognized equal to Master’s degree. The length of Diploma programme is five years. Having a Bachelor’s degree, you can be accepted as a first year student, and after a year, you can be transferred to the third year of studies, but it is necessary to pass a Russian language examination on the appropriate level, or submit a certificate “Russian as a foreign language” – level 2. To receive the Diploma, it is necessary to cover the whole Study plan of the appropriate department.

STUDIES

1. Do I have a chance to choose teachers?
Major teacher is appointed by Head of appropriate department. However, a student can write an application to Head of the department with a request to a particular teacher.

2. What if I want to move i.e. from special training programme to preparatory programme?
The type of the study programme is indicated in the student visa as a goal of entry to Russia. Thus, it is not possible to simply switch from one programme to another. A student has to apply for a new invitation and then come back to St.Petersburg from the country of his/her residence where he/she applied for a new type of student visa with the correct type of the programme indicated in the visa.

3. I do not know Russian. Will I be able to communicate during the lessons?
Students applying for a Diploma programme must pass two entrance examinations: in specialty and in the Russian language (Test of Russian as a foreign language – level 1).

Students without working knowledge of Russian can be accepted to Preparatory programme (which includes 20 hours per week of Russian language classes in Fall semester and 12 hours per week in Spring semester), or to a Special Training programme.
However, we recommend our prospective Preparatory course and Special Training course participants to take a general course of the Russian language before coming to St.Petersburg in order to be able to study effectively and to socialize in everyday life in St.Petersburg.

4. Are there any performance opportunities for international students?
There is Student Orchestra of the Conservatory. International students may join it on the grounds of successful special audition. Additionally, professor’s class concerts at which students perform and composition students can have their works to be performed take place.

5. Is it possible to extend the non-degree special training course?
The duration of the non-degree course is defined when the contract is done. It is strictly according to this period that the multiple-entry visa is issued. That is why it is impossible to extend the period of your training once you have signed the contract. Therefore we suggest that you decide on the duration of your stay beforehand.

6. Is there an Internet connection at the Conservatory / Student residence?
There are Wi-Fi spots at the Conservatory and Student residence. To use it, you need a special card, it can be purchased at the Conservatory.

PAYMENT

1. How fees are paid? What additional expenses might there be?
Semester/academic year tuition fees are to be paid within 14 days after the contract is made. Student can choose one way of payment: either via a bank transfer in EURO/ USD or in RUB at any office of SBERBANK, the Bank of Russia. Student must choose one and the only way of paying all the fees set by the Contract he/she signs with the Conservatory. All expenses as bank services, difference in currency rates etc. are covered by the student.
When planning your budget during your stay in St.Petersburg please take into account such expenses as leaving expenses, registration/multiple entry visa fees, medical insurance payment, fees for credential evaluation of your diploma.