MGIMO International

🇹🇲 A MGIMO delegation recently visited Turkmenistan — and this is a great occasion to continue our #successstory series with a conversation with someone who very recently went from applicant to student. Today we spoke with Kerim Dovletov — a 1st-year student of the School of International Law from Turkmenistan. He told us how one trip to Moscow determined his path to MGIMO, why it is worth joining the International Applicants Club, and what helped him settle into a new country quickly. 🎓 Kerim started thinking about studying at MGIMO while still in secondary school: Back in the 8th grade, I realized that I wanted to devote my life to law, politics and international relations. And in 2025, thanks to a happy coincidence, while taking part in the "Train of Memory" project in Moscow, I learned about MGIMO — one of the world's leading humanities universities, known for its strong language training. Choosing a school was fairly easy for me: law was what interested me from the very beginning. 🔹 Even before enrolling, Kerim became a member of the MGIMO International Applicants Club: Joining the Applicants Club was one of the best decisions I could have made before enrolling. I gained the opportunity to attend lectures by the best professors, get to know university life, and stay up to date on current events and activities. The Club opened up a whole world of opportunities for me and helped me feel like part of the MGIMO community even before I became a student. 💭 What turned out to be the most interesting in the first months of studying? My first impressions of MGIMO can be described in two words — a pleasant shock. I was struck by the scale of the university, as well as the level at which the events here are organized. As for the studies, the rumors are true: the language training here really is very strong, and not only language training — the university provides a serious academic foundation in other disciplines as well. What also surprised me were the students themselves: how well-educated, ambitious, intellectual and results-driven they are. Another distinctive feature of MGIMO is its truly international atmosphere. Here you can meet and become friends with people from anywhere in the world. This makes the university not just a place of study, but a space where different cultures, opinions and life stories come together. 📍About life in Russia and Moscow: Before moving, it may seem that getting used to life in another country and finding common ground with new people will be difficult. But my experience at MGIMO turned out to be completely the opposite. From the very first days I felt like part of one big family. Other students are always ready to help, support and give advice if any difficulties arise. Thanks to this, my adaptation to life in Moscow was much easier than I could have imagined. I realized that the most important thing is to be in the right environment, where you are accepted, supported and helped to move forward. At MGIMO, such an environment truly exists. 📌 What would you advise applicants from Turkmenistan and other countries who are just starting their path to enrolling at MGIMO? I would definitely advise joining the International Applicants Club. As I already said, it is a sea of opportunities that are definitely worth taking advantage of. I would also advise paying special attention to learning foreign languages, because they open many doors and play an important role in admission to MGIMO. We thank Kerim for the inspiring conversation and hope that his story will help you choose MGIMO as the first step toward your international career! ➡️ You can join the MGIMO International Applicants Club via the link. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)