Each student is provided with living quarters in a student hostel not far from the IUM.

There is a very inexpensive cafeteria in the main university building ($5 for lunch) and several accessible restaurants nearby, including Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks, MacDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts. For list of estimated costs of living in Moscow click here.

We meet the students upon arrival at the airport.(Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo or Vnukovo)

After the students arrive, before classes actually begin, several days are devoted to our orientation program, during which the students learn, among other things, to organize their lives in the new environment. We organize an extensive excursion around Moscow to help find one`s way around the city. You will get a "Moscow Guide" and detailed map of the IUM neighborhood.

A special person will help you with all everyday necessities, show you consumer services, shops, etc.

All students have access to Internet, e-mail accounts, the usage of xerox machines, etc.

Students are assisted in selecting a cultural program according to their tastes. We help to arrange excursions and short trips to the Golden Ring near Moscow and to Saint Petersburg. The IUM has modest sports facilities (ping pong tables and a small field where we hold our mini-soccer games), but we try to help our foreign students practice some other sport if they so desire.

Safety

Moscow is a clean city with no slums or high risk districts, generally quite safe. Public transportation is cheap and efficient. Some prudence, however, is required in Moscow as in any large city, particularly in special occasions (like soccer matches, night events, etc.). Pickpocketing still exists, especially in public transportation, night clubs, and pop-star concerts. Although racism is considered a crime both by the law and by public opinion, there exist extremist racist groups (like skinheads) one should be aware of.

The dangers of Moscow are no worse than those of a large city in the US or Canada. If a little caution is taken, students are highly unlikely to face any serious problems. Necessary safety instructions are provided to our students at the beginning of their stay.