Frequently asked questions

If you stay with a host family booked through EducaCentre, your host family or our team will explain how to get to the school on the first study day. If you arrange accommodation independently, we will send you detailed directions before your course starts.

You should arrive at 10:15 on your first day of studies to be welcomed by our reception team and your teacher. You might also be given a placement test upon arrival, if needed. Our staff will be happy to show you around the school on your first day.

Please bring the following items on the first day:

• Your passport with visa and migration card which you get at the airport (for the registration)
• A photo for your EducaCentre student card (passport sized, either black-and-white or colour)
• A pen & notebook

Standard course, 20 lessons per week: 10:15–13:30, Monday to Friday, including breaks.

Intensive course, 30 lessons per week: usually 10:15–15:30, including breaks.

Combined 25: usually 10:15–14:30. Combined 30: usually 10:15–15:30. Combined 35: usually 10:15–16:30.

Exact timing can change around public holidays, level placement or special arrangements, and is confirmed before or at the beginning of the course.

Most current group courses run as mini-groups. The maximum group size for the main group-course format is 4 students, and many classes are smaller. We confirm level and availability before booking, so the group stays workable for speaking practice and teacher correction.

Complete beginners are welcome. All new students complete a pre-course questionnaire and placement check before arrival so we can place them at the right level, from A1 to advanced classes where available.

If you book a group course and there is temporarily no other student at your level, group lessons are replaced with individual lessons: 20 group lessons per week are compensated with 10 individual lessons, and 30 group lessons (intensive) with 15 individual lessons. As soon as another student at your level joins the group, the standard group format resumes. For combined formats the exact balance is confirmed before the course starts.

All our students receive a graded certificate at the end of their course indicating course type, course length, number of academic hours taken and level achieved.

Fee reductions do not apply where a course includes a public holiday when the school is closed. Classes missed as a result of the official bank or public holiday in Russia will not be refunded or made up. 

We strongly recommend students to choose host family accommodation when visiting St. Petersburg to study Russian. Not only does staying with a host family provide the perfect opportunity to experience real Russian life in friendly and welcoming company, it also gives students the chance to improve their Russian outside the classroom..

Our host families have been carefully selected according to the following criteria:

• The quality of accommodation as well as the warmth of hospitality offered
• The hosts speak standard educated Russian
• The hosts are genuinely interested in helping students to develop fluency in Russian
• The hosts are sociable and keen to make new friends and learn about the lives and cultures of students from other countries

The homestay accommodation is booked Sunday to Saturday. The minimum length of stay is one week. Extra days can be booked on request and are charged according to our price list.

All our host-families are either located in the historical centre of Saint Petersburg (25 minutes by metro to the school) or in a residential area within a walking distance from the school..

The student is welcome to choose their preferred provision — breakfast only or half-board. Please inform the school and the family about allergies and diet preferences. Also please be in time for your dinner and let your host know when you are planning to eat out. Lunch can be taken in one of the cafes near the school.

Your host family will let you do your washing and ironing usually once a week. Alternatively you use any of the launderettes/dry cleaning services in the city..

Most host families have Wi-Fi, but it is not guaranteed unless you add it as a special request in the accommodation booking. If your family does not have an internet connection, you can always use free Wi-Fi at the school or ask our staff to help you get a local SIM card with mobile data.

It is uncommon to invite your friends to your host family, but if you really need to do it, please ask your host for the permission first..

If you are unhappy with your family, please start by talking to your host to solve the issue. If the problem remains, inform our managers and we will offer a replacement family from the week following your request.

If you prefer to stay at a hostel or hotel, we will be happy to advise you on the best options based on your criteria and book the room for your stay. Please contact our managers for details.

Many foreign nationals need a visa or electronic visa to enter Russia, unless their citizenship is covered by a visa-free regime. Visa rules depend on nationality, travel purpose and length of stay. Please check official Russian consular information before making travel arrangements. You can also read our updated Russian visa information page.

The right visa route depends on your passport, course dates and planned length of stay. For some short visits, Russia's unified electronic visa may be enough. If an e-visa is not available for your passport, or if you need a longer stay or another visa type, you should apply through the Russian consulate or visa centre in your country. We can advise students on the documents normally connected with a course booking, but final visa decisions are made only by the official authorities.

Upon arrival in Russia every foreign visitor receives a migration card. Keep it safe until departure.

Arrival transfer can be arranged on request. The current one-way transfer fee from the airport or railway station is 50 EUR for all accommodation types.

Please send us your arrival details in advance. If your flight or train time changes, contact us as early as possible so we can update the transfer arrangements.

Foreign visitors must follow Russian migration registration rules after arrival. Please bring your passport, visa if applicable, and migration card on the first study day. If you booked accommodation through EducaCentre, we will explain the registration procedure for your stay. If you arrange accommodation independently, your host, hotel or apartment provider is normally responsible for registration.

We advise students to get a local SIM card for calls and mobile internet. Bring your passport — it is required by law to buy a SIM card in Russia. Our managers will help you choose an operator and a monthly plan on your first days, depending on your length of stay.

There are several public transport options in St. Petersburg, including metro cards and multi-ride passes. Fares and card rules change from time to time, so we do not recommend relying on old fixed prices.

Our managers will advise you on the best option after we know where you will be staying and how often you plan to travel around the city.

There is a lot to see in St. Petersburg. Our team can help you plan afternoon activities, book entrance tickets for museums, theatres or other places of interest, and suggest routes around the city. If you would like to explore the city with a personal guide, we can also arrange outdoor one-to-one Russian practice.

Peterhof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk and Kronstadt are among the most popular places to visit outside the city centre. Former imperial residences, parks and historic fortifications are usually best planned as half-day or full-day trips, especially at weekends.

A student card may help you receive discounted entry at some museums, parks and cultural sites in Saint Petersburg. Conditions are set by each venue and may change, so we recommend checking the current rules before visiting.

Our non-refundable administrative fee is 65 EUR. It covers enrolment administration and normally includes:

• Pre-course questionnaire and placement test
• Course booking administration
• Accommodation booking administration when accommodation is arranged through us
• Course and supplementary language materials
• Student card when applicable
• Use of computers and Wi-Fi at the school
• Certificate at the end of the course

Visa, invitation, postage or courier costs are not automatically included and are confirmed separately if they apply to your booking.

• Travel costs
• Accommodation and transfer costs unless they are included in your confirmed booking
• Visa, invitation, insurance, postage or courier costs if they apply
• Personal stationery and extra photocopies or books not included in the course materials
• Social programme and excursions unless they are advertised as included
• Bank charges on international money transfers and card payments

For short-term courses of up to 4 weeks, we normally require a prepayment of 20% of the invoice total at the time of booking. The remaining fees should be paid in full no later than two weeks before arrival, unless another payment schedule is confirmed in writing.

For longer stays or bookings that require additional official documents, payment conditions are confirmed individually before documents are prepared.

You can pay by bank transfer or by card online before arrival, or in cash or by card on your first day at the school.

Up to 30 days before the beginning of the course, the cancellation fee is 10% of the total booking. Up to 10 days before the course, the cancellation fee is 25%. Later cancellations are charged at 50% of the total fee. If official documents, visa-related services, courier services or other third-party services have already been processed, those costs may be non-refundable. Cancellations must be sent in writing to our booking office.

If you have booked your course through an authorized agent, the refund policy of the agent applies and your fees will be repaid to you by the agent and not by the school. Please check the booking conditions of your agent and contact the agent immediately should you wish to cancel the course..

- Punctual arrival is the student's responsibility. The school will not extend the teaching time due to late arrival. Absences without the notice in at least 24 hours prior will not be compensated with extra classes later on.

- Students are expected to behave in an orderly manner and any wilful damage to school property or personnel will be treated as gross misconduct. In case of such misconduct the student will be held personally responsible for rectifying any damage caused.

- Students will also be expected to behave respectfully towards other students and staff of EducaCentre. Extreme cases may result in expulsion.

- Students are expected to observe fire and safety rules displayed at the school.

- Alcohol or drugs consumption and smoking anywhere inside the school building or the host family house is strictly prohibited and may lead to the immediate expulsion from the school /accommodation without the refund.

A basic stipulation of the agreement/contract between students and EducaCentre, or its representatives, is that neither EducaCentre or its representatives are liable for refunds or damages, however arising, in cases where EducaCentre is unable to fulfil any services to which they are contractually bound because of labour disputes, insufficient demand for classes or other reasons which are beyond their control..

The school, its employees and its representatives accept no responsibility for personal injury and/or loss or damage to personal property on the school premises whether as a result of fire, burglary, theft or otherwise. This condition also applies to public and private places included in school trips and excursions..

Photographs of the students may be used in the school's promotional and publicity material unless the student specifically objects.  Students will not be paid for the time involved in the taking of such photographs and will assign to the school any rights to royalties they may have..