How int’l students can find jobs & internships in Russia
Russian universities offer opportunities not only to obtain an education, but also to find your dream job.
According to the Ministry of Education and Science, 10% of all international students subsequently remain and work in Russia. Currently, according to a study by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, 45% of students (approximately one in two of the 3,300 respondents) are considering life in Russia after completing their studies.
International students are eligible to work without a patent or special work permit. They only need to meet a few requirements: study full-time at a state-accredited university and only work during free time, not including lectures and practical training. Upon completion of their studies and wishing to continue living and working in Russia, students will need to consider obtaining a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit. Failure to do so will require termination of the employment contract.
As a rule, a standard package of documents is required for employment:
- certificate from the university confirming that the candidate is studying there
- passport and a copy of the document with a translation
- work record book (issued by the employer)
- SNILS (compulsory pension insurance certificate) - the employer can issue it
- TIN (taxpayer identification number)
- registration and migration card
- voluntary health insurance policy
You can find almost any job, with the exception of professions related to accounting (for such positions, a residence permit or temporary residence permit is required), municipal and civil service and Russian security. According to current legislation, foreign students and graduates cannot hold such positions.
At a university
The shortest path to employment is to find a job at the university where you are studying. Many educational institutions offer such programs. For example, at the Higher School of Economics, you can find employment as a teaching assistant, a digital consultant for a teacher or an academic consultant (they provide assistance to special categories of students with their adaptation and academic progress).
You can inquire about available positions at your department or faculty, as well as at the university's career or competency centers.
Career Centers at Universities
Most Russian universities have dedicated career centers that help students find jobs and internships. To access their services, find their contact information on the university's website.
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) was one of the first to offer employment services to both Russian and international students. At the RUDN University Career Center, you can learn about openings, receive advice and receive assistance with resume writing.
It's best to research the capabilities of a particular university in advance, so you know what to expect during your studies and after graduation. For example, the Study in Russia platform offers a comprehensive directory of Russian universities at Study in Russia: simply select the one you're applying to and then click the ‘Graduate Employment’ tab, which provides comprehensive information on this topic.
Through Job Search Services
Moscow has a dedicated platform, ‘Start in Moscow’, that helps you find a job or internship. The service's specialists help you create or improve your resume, select suitable vacancies, and organize interviews. More than 100 companies and 17 universities partner with ‘Start in Moscow’. According to the service, the most in-demand professions are business analysts, data analysts, IT specialists and engineers. More than 600 people from 100 countries have already found jobs through the service.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Science is developing a list of recruiting companies that specialize in attracting international students to Russian companies. A special digital student profile will also be created, containing information about their place of study, academic performance, internships, employment with a particular company and place of registration. This will facilitate the exchange of information between universities and students.
You can also search for a job through job portals, such as facultetus, hh.ru, superjob, rabota.ru, expat.ru and others.
At language centers
Native-speaking teachers are also in high demand. And any language certificates are an advantage.
