Student ID and grade book
Upon enrollment, students receive a student ID and a record book at the Dean’s Office. Please have the student ID with you in all occasions — it allows both to enter SPbU’s campuses and to obtain discounts in many museums, theatres and cinema halls of St Petersburg.
You will also need your student ID and record book at tests and examinations.
The following grading scale is used in Russia’s schools and universities:
Pass/No pass
- 5 = Excellent
- 4 = Good
- 3 = Satisfactory
- 2 = Unsatisfactory
The students who got a 2 (“unsatisfactory”) or a “not passed” at an examination session are entitled to resit the failed examination or pass/fail test twice. Those students who failed to pass examinations and/or pass/fail tests in three or more subjects will be expelled.
Public transport
As any other city in Europe, St Petersburg has a well-developed system of public transport, with buses, trolleybuses and trams linking all parts of the city. Please learn the public transport routes beforehand.
Public transport stops only in authorized places. As a rule, there are special plates (with letter “A” for buses and “T” for trolleybuses and trams) that have numbers of routes. Public transport is available from 5.30 a.m. to midnight.
It is very convenient to use the underground railway system (metro) which has five major lines. There are also suburban trains operating from 5.45 a.m. to 0.40 a.m. The metro closes for entrance at 0.30 a.m. Please note that junction stations have two names—one for each line.
The public transport fare:
- metro — 70 roubles;
- buses, trolleybuses, trams — 65 roubles.
You can also purchase an electronic monthly ticket (smart card) for one or more types of transport.
There are over 30 canteens and cafes at SPbU’s premises that serve full-fledged lunches. The city also has a variety of bistros, cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy national cuisines, including Russian.
Living costs
The ruble is the national currency of Russia. One ruble is divided into 100 kopecks. There are the following notes: 10 rubles (also a coin), 50 rubles, 100 rubles, 500 rubles, 1000 rubles and 5000 rubles.
The exchange rates are available on Bank of Russia’s website.
In Russia, it not advisable to carry much cash, so we recommend that you open a bank account and obtain a payment card. It will allow you to use cash dispensers (ATMs). You could also use traveler’s cheques.
We caution you against exchanging money with strangers on the street. The safest option is to exchange money only in banks or official bureaux de change.
Bridges
St Petersburg is often informally called Northern Venice, since the city is located on over 30 islands linked to each other by over 300 bridges. The period of summer navigation is from late April to November, and drawing bridges are one of the most spectacular attractions for St Petersburg visitors.
The timetable of bridge openings:
- Aleksandra Nevskogo — 2:20 to 5:10 a.m.
- Birzhevoy (Exchange Bridge) — 2:00 to 4:55 a.m.
- Blagoveshchensky (Annunciation Bridge) — 1:25 to 2:45 a.m.
- Bolsheokhtinsky — 2:00 to 5:00 a.m.
- Volodarsky — 2:00 to 3:45.
- Dvortsovy (Palace Bridge) — 1:10 to 2:50 a.m.
- Liteyny — 1:40 to 4:45 a.m.
- Troitsky (Trinity Bridge) — 1:20 to 4:50 a.m.
- Tuchkov — 2:00 до 2:55 and 3:35 to 4:55 a.m.
Holidays
The state holidays are time off from studies for schoolchildren and students. Banks, business centres and some shops might be closed.
Public holidays:
- 1–8 January — New Year
- 7 January — Orthodox Christmas
- 23 February — Defender of the Fatherland Day
- 8 March — International Women's Day
- 1 May — International Workers' Day
- 9 May — Victory Day
- 12 June — Russia Day
- 4 November — National Unity Day
SPbU students especially love the following unofficial holidays:
- 25 January — Russian Student Day (Tatiana Day)
- 8 February — SPbU Foundation Day
- 27 May — St Petersburg Foundation Day
International student safety
When you are approached by the police:
You should do what a police officer tells you to do, be polite and respectful.
- If you are requested to show your ID, ask an officer to produce his warrant card. Write down the warrant card number or badge number as well as the officer’s name.
- Show your national passport, migration card with registration notes, and student card. If your passport has been collected for registration and has not yet been returned, show the ID certificate issued by SPbU’s Passport and Visa Support Department.
- If a police officer seizes your document, ask him to issue a certificate to that effect.
- If you have no documents with you, give the last name and phone number of your Dean’s Office employee who can confirm that you are an SPbU student.
- If you are detained for over three hours, ask the officer on duty to issue a certificate about that.
- If police officers are rude, refuse to show their warrant cards and give their names, you should write down the number of their badges, plate number and make of the police car, remember the rank and distinguishing marks of at least one of the officers.
- You should without delay notify SPbU’s Department for Foreign Students Affairs and your Dean’s Office international department.
A police officer shall always:
- give his name, position, and rank, communicate the reason for and purpose of request;
- handle your documents with care without making any notes on them.
A police officer may:
- check your documents;
- search you and your vehicle;
- detain you for the period of up to three hours to ascertain your identity, if you carry no documents with you
- stop your vehicle to check the documents and search it;
- prevent further use of a faulty vehicle; prevent you from driving further if you are under the influence of alcohol;
- seize documents that appear to be forged;
- use weapons and special equipment to prevent crimes and detain perpetrators.
It is always advisable to follow these recommendations
- Always have your documents with you: a national passport, migration card with registration stamps, and student ID;
- Do not visit places empty of people at night or alone;
- Change currency only in authorized exchange points;
- Do not leave your luggage, personal belongings and documents unattended;
- Carry cash and documents in an inner pocket of your jacket or coat. Do not use bags to carry cash and documents;
- Use only authorized taxi services;
- Park your vehicle at guarded areas. Do not leave valuables and bags in your vehicle so that they are seen from the outside;
- Do not give a lift to strangers;
- When making a payment, do not take out or show all your money.