Author (Subhrajit Barua, India): I had the privilege of staying in two different dorms at ITMO. So, let me begin with some first-hand information on their infrastructure and services.
Novoizmaylovskiy Pr., 16
Inter-campus student dormitory, also known as Межвузовский студенческий городок (МСГ). Photo courtesy of the author
This dormitory is unique, as it houses students from several universities. With over 800 students and 12 buildings, the inter-campus student dormitory, known as MSG (Межвузовский студенческий городок / МСГ), to the locals is arguably the largest student dormitory in St. Petersburg. ITMO students are usually accommodated in building 3, which has 10 floors. Luckily, there are two elevators! The discipline at this dormitory is top-notch as every floor has its own student leader and a student council head is elected every year. They not only maintain discipline at the dorm but also address the students’ needs and demands.
There is a big cafeteria that is open from 9 AM in the morning to 9 PM at night. Every floor has two bathrooms and a kitchen. There is a fully equipped gym, a beauty salon, a library, a basketball court, and a large swimming pool on the grounds. But the best feature of this dorm is its environment. It is surrounded by two massive parks, namely Park Pobedy and Park Aviatorov. You can enjoy their lush greenery during summer and fiery orange hue during fall. You can find every mode of transport such as metro, bus, trolleybus, and tram within a 10-minute walk from the dorm.
Karpovka River Emb. 22
An interior view of the kitchen at the dorm on Karpovka River Emb. 22. Credit: ITMO University
This dormitory feels more like an apartment building. The rooms are very spacious and equipped with large wardrobes. There are several showers and a kitchen on every floor. Cleanliness-wise, it is decent. The management team comprises three sweet elderly ladies (бабушки), who are very kind and responsible. It is located near the Petrogradskaya metro station, one of the busiest in St. Petersburg. You will find everything, from banks to malls, all at an arm’s length. The only con is – there is no elevator!
I hope that was helpful. To shed light on the other dorms, we’ve asked some of our international students to share their impressions. Here they are:
Alpiyskiy Pereulok 15
An interior view of a room at the dorm on Alpiyskiy Pereulok 15. Credit: ITMO University
Mina Hakim Maged, Egypt: My dorm is a very cozy place to live in. The building is clean and equipped with all modern amenities such as washing machines and Wi-Fi. We also have a gym in our dorm. Here you will have to share the room with one other person. I am a very lucky guy because my roommate is an old friend of mine from Egypt. We used to study at the same university. It is really great to share a room with someone I’ve known for years. He came here a few months earlier than me, so he knows the city better. He is my go-to person for everything.
Vyazemsky Lane 5-7
An interior view of a room at the dorm on Vyazemsky Lane 5-7. Credit: ITMO University
Mehmet Berkay Bulbuloglu, Turkey: For now, I am living in the dormitory located on Vyazemsky Lane. It is a good place. It is clean, cozy, and equipped with almost every modern amenity. It has a great indoor gym. One of the advantages of living here is that you get access to many KronBars activities and events under the same roof.
In my opinion, dormitories are not meant to be great places to live, but ITMO’s dorms did exceed my expectations. In the near future, I would love to rent an apartment. Not because of anything bad at the dorm but just as an upgrade to my lifestyle. Dorming is never comparable to living on your own.
Lensoveta St. 23
An interior view of a room at the dorm on Lensoveta St. 23. Credit: ITMO University
Rutendo Paul Midzi, Zimbabwe: Our dorm houses the majority of international students. It is located close to the Moskovskaya metro station. The location is extremely good. It is near Pulkovo airport. However, it is somewhat far from the city center. You can take the metro and reach ITMO in an hour.
There are many cool restaurants, parks, and supermarkets around the dormitory. The ambiance inside it is also really good. Everyone here is very friendly. We have a lot of parties and games on weekends. We also watch movies together. It is a great team-building practice. It makes all of us feel at home even when we are actually miles away from our families. My roommate is a great guy from Turkmenistan. Interestingly, he speaks Russian and not English, so I get to practice my Russian with him.
Belorusskaya St. 6A
An interior view of the kitchen at the dorm on Belorusskaya St. 6A. Credit: ITMO University
Aleksandra Ilieva, Macedonia: The only metro station in the vicinity of my dorm is Prospekt Bolshevikov. It is an approximately 15-minute bus ride to the metro station. Traveling to the university isn’t tough, though, as there is a direct metro line from Prospekt Bolshevikov to Dostoevskaya (the metro station near ITMO’s Lomonosova St. 9 campus).
The dormitory itself is very calm and clean. It is a block-type dormitory, meaning you live with 2-3 other people and share the bathroom with them. I live with two Russian girls. I am very glad to have Russian roommates: I get to learn a lot about the Russian lifestyle by observing them. The staff are also very generous and caring, especially the lady at the laundry.
As evidenced by these international students’ personal experiences, each dorm has its own features and its own pros and cons. However, at the end of the day, all of them serve their purpose of providing sufficient home-like comfort to students.
Learn more about the booking procedure here – and if you have any questions regarding dormitories, feel free to email the Student Services Office at campus@itmo.ru. Alternatively, you can also get in touch with the International Student Training Center (email: int.students@itmo.ru).
