Outgoing students

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I don’t have the proper words to explain how grateful I am for this experience.
I saw so many beautiful things this summer, met new friends, gained new knowledge, and got acquainted with a new country – one that is so different in many ways from the countries of the Western world.

China, for me, is about diversity – about the word “many.” Many people, many cultural differences, many emotions, many technologies, and so much more. I’m glad my first exchange was exactly the way it was. I wouldn’t wish for any other, but I’m so excited about the ones to come, because I hope to keep exploring the cultures and knowledge of other countries.

So, what I wanted to say: China is a destination 100% worth visiting. Zhuhai – the city I’ve been studying in – is a point on the map I will definitely mark as “return again.” AI program, which was my main course this month, was structured so good. The companies’ experiences we have visited were truly inspiring for me. Professors, volunteers, students and the people, not only Chinese but from all over the world, whom I’ve met during this program, are now closest to my heart and mind. I truly hope we’ll meet again.

Also, I want to highlight Study Campus – such a beautiful place, not only for studying but for living in general. It’s peaceful and colourful, with so many lovely spots to spend your time in a meaningful way. I’ve been playing tennis, going on evening runs across the campus, watching swans and other birds swimming in the lake on my way to morning lectures. The dorms also deserve a mention – accommodation is really important to me, and this month went incredibly smoothly. Even if I tried to find something that went wrong, I honestly couldn’t – for me everything was just perfect.

China now holds a part of my heart - and I’m so glad it does.

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This past month in China felt like a whole new life – rich, intense, and unforgettable. I truly believe these memories will stay with us forever.

I took part in the Aesthetics of Chinese Culture program, where we studied Chinese, joined master classes, and went on different inspiring excursions.

Together with my friends, we visited the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and many more interesting places.
But I’m especially happy that I managed to explore not only Beijing, but also Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. And also, Disneyland and Universal Studios!

There wasn’t a single boring day – each was filled with its own unique and warm atmosphere!
Now I have friends from all over the world – Poland, England, Italy, Korea, Germany – and our Innopolis team grew incredibly close too. Without them, this month wouldn’t have been the same.

And, of course, I’ll never forget the everyday joys of living in China – bubble tea from MyShare, spontaneous shopping on Taobao and Poizon, cozy street shops, and our daily trips to pick up Taobao parcels. Life there is so affordable and convenient, it surprised us in the best way.

I already miss it so much… This is truly an experience everyone should live through! This was my first exchange experience – but hopefully not the last!

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Studying. Despite UPM being very high on university rankings, studying there was rather easy. All of my courses had at most 3 contact hours per week and very little homework. On top of that, Malaysia has a lot of Muslim holidays when you don't have classes, and on top of that, around half of the remaining classes were held online. If you really care, you could specifically go there during harder semesters to pass harder courses with ease (e.g., 1st semester of the 2nd year). There is just one catch: you must attend 80% of the classes to pass a course.

Accommodation. While university can theoretically provide dormitories, it is rather rare, and conditions there might not be very good. I, as well as all of my exchange friends, lived off campus. Expect to pay 14k-20k rubles (700-1000 Malaysian ringgit) a month for a half-decent room and be ready to spend 30+ minutes to get to the university. On the bright side, condominiums usually provide free swimming pool and gym.

Friends. Each semester UPM accepts around 150-200 exchange students. From my observations, the most popular countries where students come from are: France (40%), Germany (20%), Kazakhstan (8%), Korea (8%), China (8%). Most probably you will be the only ones from Russia proper.

Activities. Every 2-3 weeks university organizes trips and events. For trips we visited historical cities of Malacca and Georgetown, as well as some pretty nice beaches. Events are somewhat similar to the ones at Inno like the International Fest. Those events and trips are a great opportunity to meet new friends! Personally, I met most of my friends this way.

Traveling. UPM is conveniently located less than an hour away by metro from downtown Kuala Lumpur. And trust me, there is a lot to do in KL: stunning skyscrapers, great museums, huge parks. But once you have explored most of KL, it might be time to travel around South-East Asia. Luckily, KL is a major transport hub and you can directly go to any country in the region for pretty cheap. I highly recommend using this opportunity and visiting countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore (probably through transit), and Thailand.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed the experience of staying in Malaysia – a country with a very unique culture. I'd especially recommend going there if you're Muslim (but it's fine if you aren't, I'm not).

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Hey-hey, Selamat pagi!
I’d like to briefly introduce you to the country where I spent six months.


Indonesia is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a poor country, and some travel reviews might scare you – even warning against brushing your teeth with tap water. Yet, this is fully offset by its incredible nature: pristine seas and oceans, volcanoes, mountains, and flying foxes instead of familiar pigeons! But most importantly, it’s the people. It was there that I realized travel and new places are, above all, about meeting new people, from whom you gain invaluable experience. The locals are among the happiest and most open-hearted I’ve met, even in the smallest villages. This experience gave me a powerful boost for personal growth.


Regarding education, the quality in Indonesia is lower than what I’m used to. The workload is lighter, there’s little strict control, and professors often don’t motivate students much. During long Muslim and Buddhist holidays (religion holds a primary place in Indonesian society), we could be off to islands for weeks at a time. This freedom pushed me toward self-learning – I completed many courses and explored various IT fields and beyond. Honestly, I found this way of studying very effective and would gladly repeat it.


Indonesia captured my heart and showed me that one can live openly and happily, even if spending a lifetime on a small island.

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Last spring semester, I spent 5 unforgettable months as an exchange student at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Türkiye. It was a short period, but it was full of life-changing memories and amazing friendships.



To be honest, I didn't know anything about Türkiye or METU until I met a guy from METU who was doing his exchange at IU. We became friends, and he introduced me to the idea of studying at METU. That’s how I first heard about the university and the exchange program. I applied, got accepted, received my visa, and on February 6, 2025, I landed in Türkiye.


Here are some things I really liked about METU:

The Campus
METU has a massive campus – about the size of 6,300 soccer fields! It was designed as an innovation hub, with all the dormitories and departments located inside the campus. I stayed in the dorms. While the buildings may be a bit older compared to IU, fans of brutalist architecture will find them charming.

The Cafeteria
The food was one of my favorite parts – affordable, healthy, and filling. You could get a full meal for about 70 rubles, and it really kept me going during the day.

Diverse People and Disciplines
Every day, I was meeting students from all kinds of majors – politics, chemistry, industrial design, and more. The international community was also very active. I had conversations with people from Japan, Singapore, Peru, Mexico, Italy, Pakistan… you name it. I really enjoyed the diversity of perspectives and the cultural exchange.

Traveling Around Türkiye
This was the highlight of my exchange experience. I swam in the Mediterranean Sea in Antalya, explored ancient Roman cities in Izmir, admired the green lakes and waterfalls of Bolu, and wandered through the lively, history-filled streets of Istanbul. Every trip added something special to my journey.


As for academics, METU has a strong focus on theory, and some courses were quite challenging compared to what I was used to at Inno. If you’re planning to go on exchange, I recommend doing it during your 1st or 2nd year – it's easier to match courses. During the 4th year, you can just take electives or courses that don’t need to be matched.


Going on exchange was the best decision of my life. It changed how I see the world, helped me grow as a person, and gave me lifelong memories and friendships.


If you’re considering it – go for it. You won’t regret it.

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Hello! My name is Aleksei Antipov, and I took part in a student exchange program where I studied at the Beijing Institute of Technology. It was an unforgettable journey, but let me tell you everything step by step. I’ll start with the learning experience.

The education system there is quite different from what I’m used to at Innopolis University. For example, in Innopolis, each subject usually includes a lecture where the professor explains the theory, then a tutorial to go deeper into the topic, and finally lab sessions where teaching assistants help with practical tasks.


At the Beijing Institute of Technology, there are only lectures, but they happen more frequently. For practical work, we were given homework that included both the necessary materials and the tasks themselves. Despite the differences, there were also some similarities. Sometimes, AI professors in both Innopolis and Beijing used the same examples during classes.


But the exchange program was not only about studying – it was also about making new friends. The Chinese people were very friendly and always willing to help. Just as we were curious about their culture, they were also interested in learning about ours.


There were also participants from other countries like France, Mexico, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, and many others. Each country has its own unique characteristics. This made it a great opportunity not only to communicate with people from different backgrounds, but also to have fun together.


Of course, I can’t forget to mention the traveling. During my stay in China, I visited some of the most famous cities like Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. In Beijing, some of the most memorable places I visited were the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Calligraphy Street, the electronics market, and the popular shopping streets of Sanlitun and Wangfujing.


Tianjin is known for having the largest Ferris wheel built on a bridge. The Italian-style district is also worth a visit. In Shanghai, I walked along the Bund, which offers a beautiful view of the city’s business district. I also went up the Shanghai Tower to see the city lights at night.


Another highlight of the trip was visiting the Avatar Mountains. I explored Zhangjiajie National Park (which inspired the mountains in the Avatar movie), walked across a glass bridge, visited a village near waterfalls, and climbed Tianmen Mountain. This trip happened in winter, so it was a bit cold, but it was still unforgettable – although my legs were very tired afterward!


One more thing that impressed me about China was its developed bicycle culture. In Beijing, there is a dedicated bicycle lane on each side of the road, as wide as a regular car lane. Along the main roads, there are even two-lane bicycle paths on both sides, which means four lanes just for bicycles. Renting a bicycle only costs a bit more than 200 rubles per month.

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My name is Sofia and I participated in an exchange programme in China. It was an unexpected and quite inconvenient decision, but it turned out a very successful, valuable and exciting journey. 



The BIT campus is huge, you might even get lost, and many people move inside of it on bicycles. In general education is different from Innopolis - there are only lectures and assignments like tests, projects and exams. Especially memorable was the canteen - 3 buildings of 3 floors with both Chinese and foreign cuisine. The most difficult part of the trip was probably finding a place to eat outside the campus - often the food is spicy or unknown.



The dormitory for foreigners was small, but there was a lot of students from Russia, so the adaptation was not so painful. Moreover, all Chinese people are extremely friendly and will try to help, even if they don't know what to do. However, few people speak English, and even fewer speak Russian; I had to use a translator and it was convenient enough. In order to use some well-known applications like google, you will need a VPN, preferably a paid one, but Vk and Yandex worked without it. 



Since I was a 4th year exchange student, I chose my subjects just for the interest – I only need to close practice online. So, in September-October I explored Beijing and did my subjects at the university, and in November I travelled around China:
- Loyuang, including Shaolin temple and Longmen grottoes 
- Xi'an with its terracotta army and evening bell towers in the centre 
- Chengdu, including a panda reserve, an opera with changing faces and fire
- Jiuzhai, including Jiuzhaigou valley, Huanglong valley and the ancient city of Songpan 
- Chongqing metro ride with a stop at a living building
- Zhangjiajie, including the national reserve, glass bridge and Tianmen Mountain
- Shanghai with Disneyland, free walks beneath skyscrapers, and the water city Suzhou



Finally, the exchange programme widened my worldview, strengthened my relationships, enhanced my CV and gave a good holiday. I want to thank Mezenova Veronika, who helped throughout all stages - from expressing my wish to the last document after homecoming. 



Best wishes for you to make a big decision and go for an exciting adventure!

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My trip to Indonesia was an incredible experience! Everything there felt so different — the culture, food, climate, and people. I’ve met not only local students but also made friends from Japan, China, Thailand, and other Asian countries. We spent so much time together, sharing stories about our culture and learning from each other.

Even though the program was short, it was full of unforgettable moments. We explored every corner of Surabaya (the city where we stayed) and even hiked up a VOLCANO on our island to watch the sunrise.

During the weekdays, we had classes on SDG technologies and worked on group projects.

But I also faced some difficulties, such as unfamiliar food and… well, the heat and humidity were one thing, but the giant cockroaches and all sorts of creepy crawlies were a whole different challenge.

Be ready for that!
But what made this experience even more special is the opportunities it brought along the way. I also visited a few neighboring countries, which added even more adventure to my journey. And after the program ended, some of us even decided to go to Bali together.

I'm beyond grateful to Innopolis University for making this happen, and for free! This wasn’t my first exchange trip, and I really hope it won’t be the last.

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Hello! I spent 4 months in China, and I'll tell you about my most amazing experiences there.

The most amazing thing about China is people. First of all, the Chinese are very friendly. There were situations when I was confused and didn't even ask them for help, but they still tried to assist me. The Chinese love Russians and become even friendlier when they find out that you are from Russia. Also, it may sound a little weird, but the Chinese are also human beings. They live like we do. They experience emotions in the same way as we do. They use the same behavior patterns and have similar problems. They also like to drink beer in the evening! The only things that distinguish us are language, appearance, and place of residence. That’s it. Otherwise, they are exactly the same as we are.



The fact that I like the most is that the Chinese are very sporty. Some parks have special zones with public exercise equipment connected to screens. For example, there are two bicycles and a screen in front of them with a bike racing game. So, you can play games while doing sports. Why don’t we have this? Almost every evening, I went to the outdoor playground to play volleyball with the students. Surprisingly, the Chinese are very good at volleyball, and it was enjoyable to play with them. I made a lot of friends there. They even invited me to visit other universities to play volleyball. On one of these trips, I was able to observe the training of a player from the Chinese national volleyball team. It was super cool. Another trip was to UIBE - University of International Business and Economics. There we played with guys from Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, the USA, Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa, France, and other countries.



Now, let's talk about Chinese food. In most cases, you can choose the level of spiciness of the dish. There, I tasted meat-flavored chips for the first time, and honestly, I wish I hadn't tasted them. But what I liked was the caramel strawberries on a stick. They are very tasty!



Another topic that I must mention is trains. They have several prices for the same train. The cheapest ticket allows you to be present only in the vestibule. You cannot enter the carriage! The second price ticket allows you to enter the carriage without the ability to sit. The third type of ticket allows you to sit in an empty seat if it is not occupied; otherwise, you should stand. The fourth ticket allows you to sit in your designated place. Often, in such trains, you can see people lying and sitting on the floor in all available spots, both in the carriage and vestibule, and you will literally not be able to find a free place to step. However, these tickets are quite cheap (especially the first-price tickets) and allow you to travel spending almost no money.



I was lucky to visit a Russian resort in China, Baidaihe. It was very nice to see the inscriptions in Russian. We also visited a Russian restaurant called "Maxim" and tasted Russian-Chinese borscht and chebureks, which turned out to be quite good.

I didn't know that the Chinese don't sunbathe or swim in the sea at all. They just come to the sea in their clothes, take pictures, and leave. When we came to the beach, we were the only ones who swam and sunbathed. The Chinese looked at us as if we were some kinds of savages.

What did I gain from the exchange program?

Unforgettable experiences and memories for a lifetime. Friends from China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. An understanding that our world is much wider than I thought. The desire to participate in the exchange program again. Despite the difficulties at the beginning, I do not regret participating in the exchange program at all.

Here are my top 10 experiences: Climbing the Great Wall of China. Playing volleyball with BIT students. Visit to UIBE. Participating in the BIT Culture Festival. Visit to the Russian Embassy in China. Disco at the local bar. Visit to the Beijing Olympic Park. Visit to Dragon Gorge. Trip to Tianjin. Trip to the Russian resort of Baidaihe.

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July in Beijing

This summer, we had a unique opportunity to participate in a summer school program at BIT. Until the last minute, we couldn't believe we were actually going to fly to China — but it happened! It turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives.

To start, when we arrived, we quickly realized that English wouldn’t be very helpful for communicating with the locals. We only knew two words in Chinese: "thank you" (xièxie) and "hello" (nǐhǎo). However, thanks to the "Chinese Language and Multicultural Practice" program we chose, we began learning Chinese and immersing ourselves in the life of Beijing. We also received support from BIT volunteers, teachers, and fellow students who attended the summer school with us. During our classes, we learned about the Chinese language and culture. We also participated in a "Cultural Experience" format, which included activities like Calligraphy, Lacquer Fan making, and Paper Cutting, where we practiced traditional Chinese techniques.

Exciting trips were organized as part of the program, including visits to the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, Olympic Park, and the Temple of Heaven. We also explored the city on our own, discovering places like Tea Street, Dragon Gorge, the Ferris wheel, shopping on Wafujing, the business center and Beijing Pants, the zoo with pandas, the 798 Art District, Chinese opera, the Lama Temple, the pearl market, and many other fascinating spots.

What stands out is that our most unforgettable experiences were the ones that cost us the least. Here are our top five:

1. Riding bicycles around downtown Beijing at night

2. Eating shrimp dumplings at a randomly found café

3. Playing football at 9:00 pm on the BIT campus with students from different countries

4. Catching a free concert by a Chinese man and listening to love songs in the 798 Art District

5. Running through the subway station with our international friends to catch the last train

This trip will always be memorable for us, and it will remind us of our time in Beijing for years to come. We are incredibly grateful that Innopolis University gave us this amazing opportunity to experience another country and culture.

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That time in my life was incredibly fun and full of entertainment. It wasn't just about studying; it was the complete experience of living in another country for six months. The living conditions were comfortable—we stayed in a typical Serbian dorm, which was quite similar to those at Russian universities. Interestingly, our dorm offers us Professors' rooms that felt more like the ones we’d find at Innopolis.

Belgrade itself is a true European city, meaning there’s always something happening. Every day, there were countless events to choose from: polyglot cafés, the KST studio (a nightclub and bar located right inside a faculty building), and comedy open mics. The people of Belgrade are friendly, with many speaking good English and being open to conversations, which made it easy for me to connect with locals. The word “Polako” which means “slowly” or “relaxed” in Serbian, perfectly captures the local vibe. Everything in Serbia “Polako”, but in a good way. Shopping malls stay open until the very last minute, but you never have to show your documents at the bar or to the police.

There were also plenty of opportunities for work and self-improvement. Labs and classes were in Serbian, and we didn’t have to attend them, so we were left only with exams and a lot of free time. This gave us ample opportunities to travel, work, or start new hobbies. I began practicing stand-up comedy and participated in many open mics and comedy events every week. I was also fortunate to discover a large community of Russian people in Serbia, around 150,000, making up about 5-10% of Belgrade’s population.

Overall, it was a really positive experience. My time in Belgrade has shown me that it’s not just a great place to visit but a truly wonderful place to live. It has become almost like a second home to me, and I genuinely look forward to returning someday to continue living here.

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This summer, I had one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life - an exchange trip to Beijing Institute of Technology for a 1-month Chinese Language and Multicultural Practice summer program.

The program was a delightful mix of cultural immersion, language learning, and travel. Our classes were a joy — we sang Chinese songs, practiced calligraphy, unraveled the intricacies of the Chinese language, and bonded over countless conversations.

But what I cherish the most are the people I met. I connected with students from all over the world — Britain, Spain, USA, Hungary, Poland, Belarus, South Korea, Germany, and even Australia! Together, we explored Beijing, ventured to nearby cities and mountains, went boating, shared stories, exchanged gifts, and continue to stay in touch.

I visited so many incredible places: the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Long Qing Xia mountains, Tianjin, and many more breathtaking spots.

And oh, the food! I’ve never had rice as delicious as in China. The variety of unique dishes, like duck blood, was fascinating. The food in China is so healthy - lots of vegetables, quality meat, and hearty portions. I fell in love with their cuisine!

Many thanks to Innopolis University for giving me the chance to experience a completely different, yet utterly amazing world!

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What exchange is for me? It's easier to say what it is not. I went in knowing that it would be a one-of-a-kind experience, and I ended up getting even more.

Did you know that Iranian people dry pancakes on lamps? (of course they are not) Or maybe it’s just my roommate. Regardless, what you truly gain is an amazing experience of meeting new people from completely different cultures and backgrounds.

The most amazing thing about China is the people. Not only are they extremely happy when they find out you are from Russia, but they are also generally very outgoing and talkative (though not in English, but there are exceptions). I exchanged gifts with one of my newfound Chinese friends; she sent me a gorgeous tea set. I even got introduced to modern Chinese meme culture, which is a little… unusual. It’s harder for Chinese people to learn English, which is why they a little disconnected from the outside world: they don’t follow trends, they create their own! This is something very special about China—they retain their own identity and culture.

As a foreigner, I often feel like I’m on another planet. There’s an ancient city almost in the middle of Beijing (the Forbidden City), a giant Buddha statue standing about 71 meters tall (the Leshan Giant Buddha), and mountains that Chinese Grandmas stroll up as morning exercise (there are many!). Each Chinese city I visit has something unique to offer.

Are you a lover of cute pandas? Chengdu is your place. Want to visit a city where skyscrapers grow instead of trees? Shanghai is ready to offer the highest observation point in the world. Want to get closer to Chinese history? Beijing, with its numerous parks, Ming tombs, and the Summer Palace, is a great choice.

Student life here is very dynamic. The Beijing Institute of Technology organizes many cool events. For instance, at the cultural festival, you have the opportunity to meet people from over 30 countries in just one day, taste their local food and drinks, play games, and more. How about an entire music concert? We had two—one in front of the lake where any student was welcome to perform. The second was much bigger; students filled the entire football field and enjoyed various Chinese bands.

You know that feeling when you’ve just watched something really good, and you want to forget it and watch it again and again? It’s the same here, but you don’t really want to forget it; you just want to repeat it because every time will be unique.

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I had a wonderful opportunity to experience studying abroad at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. The personalized approach to international students helped me successfully integrate into the studying and allowed me to complete the semester with ease. The stunning locations in Serbia, including Subotica, Novi Sad, and Belgrade itself, along with affordable flights and direct buses to neighboring European countries, diversified my entire study experience from start to finish. The exchange program provided me with a fantastic opportunity to change the scenery of my everyday life and studies at Innopolis University. The wide range of travel options and extracurricular activities filled me with enthusiasm and allowed me to make many heartwarming connections with other students. Obtained experience, with local cuisine, atmosphere, and breathtaking views of nature and architecture, will probably become some of the most cherished memories of my student life.

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China was like a new world for us: new language, new people, exotic culture, stunning infrastructure.

We studied in Beijing – in Beijing Institute of Technology.

The campus of the university is really huge! Everybody travels by bicycles around it (and by the way, not only on campus, but also all around the cities in China), and you can easily rent them.

The teachers and other students were very open and kind to us, but it's not just about the university environment, but about the Chinese community in general. We have made a lot of Chinese friends. And, of course, we had a great opportunity to practice Chinese!

Not only people are friendly in China, but also animals! Here you may have a chance to see peculiar lamas, 可爱的 pandas, and a lot of cats.

During our 4-month journey, we visited many Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Hefei, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Most of them are highly advanced and progressive. Each city has its own atmosphere and style.

China is unique for its electric cars, trains moving almost at the speed of a plane, and other fascinating things. In Shenzhen, we visited a huge center with every kind of electronics and gadgets you can think of.

Chinese food is a topic of a separate discussion, but to make it short, it will not leave you indifferent! Even though it has been over a month, I still really miss some of the dishes and think it was really tasty and healthy.

The history of China is ancient and diverse - there are a lot of different sights and most of them are really amazing. China is great not only for historical places or modern technological sights, but also for natural sights - there are a lot of picturesque places in China.

These outstanding places are worth visiting at least once - you must go and see and feel it for yourself!

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In terms of academics, the professors were distinguished and lectures were interactive. The campus is definitely bigger than what I was used to in Innopolis but it made the whole experience more adventurous. But outside the classrooms, the campus also had a huge library and a botanical garden that were such wonderful places to study. I even had the chance to take an Azerbaijani course for the duration I was there and learnt a bit of the language.

 There was also the Baku Jazz Fest that was absolutely incredible. I got to spend time with other exchange students from Japan, France, Italy, Pakistan, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Algeria and so much more. We created for ourselves a loving and supportive friend group and could study together, visit cultural sites and museums, as well as explore other regions of Azerbaijan together.

 I also had the support of the ESN (Erasmus Student Network), they organized lots of trips, events and much more. With ESN I made my first acrylic painting on canvas, watched my first live proper football match of Azerbaijan vs Austria, I attended a beautiful orchestra concert. All of these were free as a perk of being an ADA student.

 This community was even cooler because I lived in the univerium, a very safe facility that houses students from several universities, not just ADA. It has a sports hall inside, canteen, lounge zone, study rooms on every floor and much more. Although there were disadvantages compared to living in a proper dorm or an apartment. Univerium does not allow cooking, and I really wanted the chance to cook with my friends so we rented apartments some evenings :) You just need an Azerbaijani friend and the process will be smooth.

 I will definitely miss doner and azerchay but not Baku wind :) If you thought Innopolis was windy, wait till you go to Baku!

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“I always wanted to go somewhere for an Exchange programme, but I was not sure where to go. Couple of weeks before the application deadline a new university was added - the university I have chosen as my first option - The ‘Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember’” - Adela Krylova 

 “Until the very last moment, I was not sure if I would go for an exchange. Initially, I chose 2 universities where I would like to go for an exchange. After the deadline for the forms came and all documents were submitted, I realised that I did not like my choice of the second university, so I was only left with the first one - ‘Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember’ or ITS.” - Roman Makarov

 In several months we learnt that we are the first students from IU, who will take part in the Student Exchange programme at ITS.

 Right after our arrival we understood that Indonesia is not only Bali, and Surabaya is far from a tropical paradise. We spent most of our time in Indonesia on Java Island. The International relations Office organized numerous events for Exchange students, so that we could learn more about Indonesian culture and have a smoother adaptation process. For example, we spent 3 days in a local village, we saw a sunrise over magnificent Mt. Bromo and tasted many local foods. 

 In the eastern Java region foreigners are rare guests, so local people were amazed to see us. The university staff was very nice to us, they were interested about our university and life in Russia. Moreover, they wanted us to explore their traditions and culture, so we were often invited to join public events or just to try traditional food. One of ITS professors even invited us to join his family for dinner. 

 The studying process was well-organized, and we had numerous holidays due to several Muslim celebrations, so there was enough time to both study and travel in the course of this program.

 Overall, thanks to the Exchange programme we gained new experience in our study field, learnt a lot about Asian culture, different religions and met a lot of motivating people.

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I chose Seoul National University mostly due to its high rankings and high quality of education that is recognized in Korea and worldwide. It was the first time I was traveling outside Russia, so I was interested to check how people live in other countries.



SNU offers some courses in English, but not so many. Hence, you will most probably take some master`s courses. I found them much more difficult than Innopolis courses and that’s why I took 5 instead of 6. Nevertheless, I should admit that I gained lots of practice-oriented information from the courses.
As to the accommodation, the results of the dormitory application for the bachelors were announced two weeks prior to the semester; one needs to keep that in mind before travelling. It will also be useful to know in advance that usual apartments will be much more expensive than dormitory rooms.
Initially, COVID-19 restrictions affected me a lot, however by the end of the semester almost all of them were eliminated.
The places I would recommend visiting in Seoul are Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, Seoul Zoo, Cheonggyecheon Park, National Museum of Korea and any animal cafe you prefer.







About Korean cuisine: it is very spicy, so be ready for that.
Overall, I would say that it is a very nice country to visit for one semester. Education there is worth all the challenges I had before and during the exchange.

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I chose METU because of its reputation and high ranking in the area, as well as my will to visit Turkey and enjoy their food. Additionally, the university is entirely in English, so there wouldn't be too many communication problems.



The administrative process was extremely well organized. Everything was communicated on time and our emails get answered on the same day. The quality of education and its organization were great. It was under lockdown for most of the time I spent there, so I couldn't travel anywhere.



The most valuable part of the program was the new friendships I made in Turkey. The exchange program increased my self-confidence and made me feel I am capable of more than I thought.



My advice to the students who plan their exchange semester is to contact people from the receiving institute first because they can have important insights. Making friends with the locals will also help you a lot during your stay.

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I chose the University of Luxembourg because it was funded by an Erasmus+ program; also, I have a friend who lives there.



Though my exchange was affected by COVID-19, I would still say it was amazing. I met wonderful people, learned a lot of new things, visited a lot of places. I even did skydiving.
There are lots of events, sports classes, dancing classes and acting classes where you can meet new people. There is an event called "Ideation Camp". Here you can show your entrepreneurship skills.



 Students who apply for an exchange program need to be sure. I had to stay in Luxembourg due to COVID restrictions. Be prepared for any kind of problems or situations and always rely on yourself. 



Luxembourg has the best canteens that have a variety of food and it`s very cheap. Unfortunately, due to COVID, everything was closed during my stay in the country.”

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I had a chance to study with Korean students for a short term to see how hard they study in their university

I love traveling. Visiting a new country and meeting new culture always amazed me. So, the main reason for applying to an exchange program was to see the beautiful and technological city of Seoul. Moreover, I had a chance to study with Korean students for a short term to see how hard they study in their university. My choice of SNU was determined by its ranking and its prestige in the field of engineering.

SNU does not offer bachelor's courses in English, so you have to take a Master's course. Since SNU is one of the best universities in Korea in engineering, I found those courses too hard. That is why we took only 4 courses and decided to take the rest at IU.

Because of COVID19, I could not travel much. But during the summer, I tried to visit some popular places in Seoul.

The exchange program helps a student to come out from his/her comfort zone and embark upon new adventures. I encourage everyone to participate in an exchange program and have a chance to visit one of the partner universities of IU to exchange their knowledge with students all over the world. One more thing: be aware of Korean cuisine as it differs from what we are used to here.

I want to express my gratitude to IRO specialists for following my application process step by step and answering all my questions on time.

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It was a warm spring night with cherry blossom trees around, I and 20 more exchange students from all around the world met on the roof of the library to drink Korean soju and sing American songs.

The exchange semester at KAIST gave me an unusual experience of life in an Asian country. I and many other exchange students developed an amazing community in KAIST. United by common interests, we enjoyed travels, adventures, and parties together. I remember the brightest part of the exchange program. It was a warm spring night with cherry blossom trees around, I and 20 more exchange students from all around the world met on the roof of the library to drink Korean soju and sing American songs. COVID had its impact on the program but overall, everything else was great.

Do not go there only for knowledge, go for experience and new people!

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Lectures were engaging and containing complicated topics in an easy-to-understand form.

Sapienza University is one of the largest European universities by enrollments and one of the oldest in history, founded in 1303. The University is one of the most prestigious Italian universities and in the world, commonly ranking first in national rankings and Southern Europe. This was the reason for which I chose Sapienza University. The administrative process there was organized smoothly and easy to understand. Students of Sapienza have the platform for uploading all necessary documents for an exchange program. The International offices of both universities are ready to answer all student's questions. The organization of online lectures was amazing; all materials were available online. Lectures were engaging and containing complicated topics in an easy-to-understand form.

Because of the pandemic situation, I could not visit the county. Even though the communication with people was online, it remained in my memory as one of the most interesting moments. We had the team projects. We were making zoom calls with my teammates, first to get to know each other and the background of each person. Then we were working on developing MLP and RBF neural network with optimization of its training error function, for which we got the full point.

I would recommend students who wish to go on an exchange program to take part in all possible activities which partner university can provide, visit the county of exchange, and make friends.

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The brightest day of my exchange program was the day of Remembering Ataturk on 10th November at 9:05 AM when I met many people outside in a crowded street to see how the nation respects its father.

I chose METU for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it had the best-matched courses with my program at IU. Secondly, the climate is nice. Due to the pandemic, the Fall semester started on the 10th of October, and at that time the sea temperature and the weather could allow you to swim for around an hour in water and sunbathe after that. The sunshine gives you so much energy for routine things. 99% of the time in Ankara you have sunny weather.

The assignee from the international cooperation office keeps in touch with you throughout the whole period of your exchange. They take care of all the administrative issues and give comprehensive instructions on how to live in their country, how to obtain a residence permit (which is a must to stay) etc.

I had a chance to dive into the history of the foreign country. During the exchange, I lived with friends and one of them was Turkish. This guy showed the key places in Ankara and gave a short review of modern Turkish history.  The brightest day of my exchange program was the day of Remembering Ataturk on 10th November at 9:05 AM when I met many people outside in a crowded street to see how the nation respects its father.

Because of the pandemic, I could not interact with students. Most of the places were closed. 

The things I would advise one to be familiar with before visiting Turkey: to know about major historical facts of the Turkish nation and national holidays; to learn about Çiğ köfte and Pekmez, try them.