OKA AGENCY

🎒 Happy Knowledge Day! The OKA Agency team extends its warmest wishes to students, teachers, parents, and educators as the new academic year begins! 🌟 Knowledge Day is one of Russia’s most cherished and heartfelt traditions. Across the country, schools mark the occasion with ceremonial assemblies: children arrive carrying flowers for their teachers, the first school bell rings, and first-graders embark on an exciting new chapter in their lives. It is also a special day for families. Parents gather at the school gates for photographs, present teachers with bouquets, and accompany their children to their very first lesson — traditionally, a Lesson of Peace, held in schools across the country. This year, 517 educational institutions across Nizhny Novgorod are welcoming children and young people: 180 schools, 314 kindergartens, and 23 institutions offering extracurricular education. Around 160,000 schoolchildren will take their seats in classrooms, including approximately 14,000 first-graders taking their very first steps into school life! 🎈 May the new academic year be filled with discovery, inspiration, meaningful learning, wonderful experiences, and new friendships. Here’s to a bright and successful year ahead! 🍂📚 ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #WeAreOka

Education is only the beginning. What comes next? 👩‍💻 The Nizhny Novgorod Region is home to a diverse and rapidly evolving economy, with new industries and career opportunities emerging every year. Whether you want to grow within your profession, develop new skills, or start an entirely new career from the ground up, there is room to find your path here. Throughout August, we have explored Russia’s education system and the opportunities for higher education in Nizhny Novgorod — including at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN). In this video, we take a closer look at how the university responds to the region’s evolving economy by developing programmes aligned with emerging industries and preparing graduates with the skills employers need today. In Russia, education and the labour market are closely connected. Employers play an active role in shaping educational programmes, while partnerships between universities and businesses help students gain relevant experience and transition into careers in the very industries they have trained for. But a degree is only the beginning. The real question is: where do you go from here? That is why, throughout September, we will turn our attention to working and building a career in Russia — from finding the right opportunities and understanding the recruitment process to exploring the professions and industries currently in highest demand. Stay tuned — your next chapter could start here! ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #UsefulToKnow

🎓 A place where you can study, grow and build your future We’ve introduced you to Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) before — one of Nizhny Novgorod’s leading universities and a prominent institution in Russia, featured in international rankings and attracting students from around the world. Today, however, we’re not going to tell you about it — we’re going to show you Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) is the largest university in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, with approximately 30,000 students from nearly 100 countries. In 2026, the university celebrates its 110th anniversary — a remarkable milestone that reflects more than a century of academic excellence, research, and innovation. Over the decades, UNN has evolved into a true academic city within the city. Its structure includes 13 faculties, six research institutes, a dedicated AI Research Center, the Advanced Engineering School for Space Communications, Radar and Navigation, a Military Training Center, and four regional branches in Arzamas, Pavlovo, Dzerzhinsk, and Balakhna. UNN is a classical university in the best sense of the word, offering an exceptionally broad range of academic disciplines — from the natural and exact sciences to the humanities, social sciences, medicine, and engineering. Its international outlook, regional branches, and flexible learning formats make a high-quality university education accessible not only to students from Nizhny Novgorod, but also to those coming from cities and countries far beyond the region. ▶️In this video, we take you inside the university. Explore the campus, its facilities and infrastructure, and the environment in which students live, study, and build their academic careers. See UNN for yourself — and discover why thousands of international students choose Lobachevsky University every year! ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #LifeInNizhny

📋 How can international students apply to a Russian university? We have already introduced you to the English-taught programmes at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) and the opportunities available to international students. Now, let’s look at the admissions process step by step. ▫️Prepare your documents Start by preparing the documents confirming your previous education. Requirements vary depending on the programme and level of study. ▫️Take the entrance exams Applicants must complete entrance examinations. The subjects and format depend on the chosen programme and field of study. ▫️Preparatory programme — if needed Planning to study in Russian but need to improve your language skills? A preparatory programme combines Russian-language training with relevant academic subjects. Students applying to English-taught programmes do not need to complete this stage. ▫️Apply remotely or in person You can start the admissions process online from anywhere in the world and travel to Nizhny Novgorod after being admitted. If you are already in Russia, you can complete the process in person. ▫️Gain practical experience while studying The university supports international students with career guidance and access to employers. Partnerships with companies, universities, and other organizations give students opportunities to gain real-world experience while still studying. 🎓 And there’s more to come! In our next post, we’ll take you inside the university and show you the campus, infrastructure, student accommodation, and the environment in which students live and study. Stay tuned! ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #UsefulToKnow

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From Medicine to AI: What are international students choosing to study in Russia? 📚 In our previous video, we explored how Russia’s higher education system works and the opportunities available to international students. Today, we take a closer look at the English-taught degree programs offered by Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) in Nizhny Novgorod. UNN is one of the few Russian universities with a long-standing commitment to English-medium education, having developed English-taught programs for nearly two decades. Today, students can choose from a diverse portfolio of disciplines — from medicine and information technology to international relations and cognitive science. The university offers programs across all major academic levels — Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD — making it possible for international students to join the academic journey at virtually any stage. Of particular interest are joint programs with international universities. This distinctive format allows students to gain valuable international academic experience while continuing their studies in Russia. Explore the available fields of study in the slides above 👆 And this is just the beginning. In our upcoming posts, we’ll break down the admissions process step by step — from the required documents and key considerations to where to start. Follow us for the next update and discover how to begin your academic journey in Russia! ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #UsefulToKnow

📚 Higher education in Russia for international students: what you need to know In our previous overview, we explored the Russian education system from school through postgraduate studies. Now, let’s look at how international students can apply to a Russian university and where to start. Nizhny Novgorod is home to more than 20 universities offering programmes in fields ranging from medicine and engineering to law and linguistics. Many offer programmes in English and other languages, so language does not necessarily have to be a barrier. A great example is Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN), the largest university in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Around 30,000 students from nearly 100 countries study there, and the university offers around 20 English-taught programmes across disciplines including economics, humanities, natural sciences, and medicine. In a new interview, Alexander Bedny, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and International Affairs at UNN, explains the opportunities available to international students. Watch the full interview above! 🎥 Students with a strong command of English who successfully pass the required entrance examinations may be able to start their degree programme directly, without a preparatory year. Russian is taught throughout the programme, allowing students to graduate with both a university degree and valuable language skills for building a career and life in Russia. And in the upcoming posts, we’ll take a closer look at each of the English-taught programmes at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) — exploring the fields of study, what you’ll learn, and who each programme is best suited for. Stay tuned! ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #LifeInNizhny

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🎓 How does the Russian education system work? Recently, we explored professional retraining programs — an effective way to quickly acquire a new profession, expand your expertise, or build on your existing skills. Today, let’s take a broader look at the Russian education system. The system is structured, comprehensive, and designed as a clear progression from one stage of education to the next. School education consists of three stages: primary, basic secondary, and upper secondary education. After school, students can either pursue higher education at a university or choose a college or vocational institution to gain practical, profession-specific qualifications. From September 1, 2026, Russia’s higher education system will enter a new phase. The traditional bachelor’s and master’s structure will gradually be replaced by a three-tier model: basic higher education, specialized higher education, and postgraduate education. We explain the key changes in the slides above 👆 One important point: higher education in Russia is open to people of any age who have completed secondary education. Students can choose full-time, part-time, or distance learning, with programs available in both Russian and English. They can also study at public or private universities and receive an officially recognized diploma upon graduation. The system also offers considerable flexibility. You can earn your first degree in one field and later pursue another specialization or completely change your professional direction — allowing you to build an educational path around your goals, circumstances, and career ambitions. Want to learn more about higher education opportunities in Russia? Submit an inquiry through our website and follow our upcoming content — we’ll continue exploring the Russian education system and the opportunities it offers international students and families. ✔Subscribe to the OKA Agency: We make you fall in love with Nizhny Novgorod More information on our website! Follow us on: 📱 Instagram* 📱 X 📱 YouTube 📱 TikTok *Owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation #UsefulToKnow