Search by tag «International Students Stories» 304 results

• Student Spotlight: Juan Pablo Sierra Useche, Colombia

  An almost spontaneous decision to pursue a Master’s degree abroad brought Juan Pablo from Colombia to St. Petersburg. Now a second-year information security student at ITMO, he is diving deep into cryptography, exploring interdisciplinary research opportunities, and discovering the city through Dostoevsky, running clubs, and new friendships. In this interview with ITMO NEWS, Juan shares why adapting to a new culture has become one of the most valuable parts of his experience abroad.

  15.10.2026

• Student Spotlight: Mohona Jahan Momy, Bangladesh

  Mohona Jahan Momy has just arrived in St. Petersburg from Bangladesh to begin her studies at ITMO. A winner of the Open Doors scholarship, she is joining ITMO’s Infochemistry program, which blends together her interest in chemistry and computer science. Mohona has already explored some of St. Petersburg’s most famous sights, settled in at her dorm, and started learning Russian. In this interview, she shares her first impressions of the city, the challenges of adapting to life abroad, and why she chose ITMO.

  08.10.2026

• Student Spotlight: Aris Septanugroho, Indonesia

  Aris Septanugroho came to ITMO from Indonesia to study the rapidly evolving fields of neurotechnology and programming. Quickly immersing himself in campus life, he has taken part in hackathons, startups, and other extracurricular activities. He also learned not to let the language barrier stop him from dreaming big and succeeding. Read on to learn more about his experience. 

  01.10.2026

• Student Spotlight: Kamran Munir, Pakistan

  For Kamran, environmentalism is not only about protecting nature, but also about finding solutions that are practical, affordable, and sustainable. Originally from Pakistan, Kamran studied environmental sciences before coming to ITMO to pursue a Master’s degree in industrial ecology with support of the Open Doors Scholarship.

  24.09.2026

• Graduate Spotlight: Tania Shokor, Lebanon & Russia

  For Tania Shokor, robotics, languages, and student communities all became part of her ITMO journey. Born in Lebanon to a Lebanese-Russian family, Tania moved to St. Petersburg to study robotics. After earning her Bachelor’s in robotics and a Master’s in robotics and AI, she discovered another passion at ITMO: helping people communicate.

  10.09.2026

• Graduate Spotlight: Subhrajit Barua, India

  For nearly five years, Subhrajit Barua combined his research career at ITMO with a very different kind of work: telling the stories of the university’s international students. As he prepares to complete his PhD and defend his Candidate of Sciences degree, we spoke about his biotechnology research, the lessons he learned as a doctoral student, and his experience conducting more than 270 interviews for ITMO NEWS.

  03.09.2026

• Student Spotlight: Afsar Uddin Sagor, Bangladesh

  Afsar remembers the moment his curiosity turned into a calling. It wasn't in a lecture hall or a lab; it was the simple realization that software engineering allows you to turn ideas into something real. Now at ITMO University, the Bangladeshi student is turning that realization into a career. Read on to learn more.

  27.08.2026

• Student Spotlight: Bahadir Artvin, Türkiye

  Meet Bahadir Artvin, a student from Ankara, Türkiye, who is pursuing his Bachelor’s studies in system and applied software at ITMO. In this interview, Bahadir shares his journey as an international student in Russia, discussing everything from cultural surprises and Russian cuisine to his passion for software development. He also offers honest advice for fellow Turkish students considering the leap to ITMO. Read on to discover his story.

  20.08.2026

• Student Spotlight: Ahmad Wakkaf, Syria

  For today’s interview, we caught up with Ahmad Wakkaf, a recent graduate who completed his Master's degree in information security at ITMO's Faculty of Information Security. Ahmad discusses his journey from Latakia to St. Petersburg, his passion for cybersecurity, and his experience adapting to a new educational system and culture. He also shares candid advice for prospective students from Syria considering higher education in Russia. Read on.

  13.08.2026

• Student Spotlight: Abedrahman Bay, Lebanon

  Hailing from Tripoli, Abedrahman Bay came to ITMO to pursue a degree in robotics and AI  – and to learn how to make a lasting impact. In today’s interview, he shares with us his vision for using technology to solve pertinent real-world problems.

  06.08.2026