International Students Testimonials

Feyzullah Hadisov, Azerbaijan

National Research ITMO University

Progress and research in Cyber Security is strong in Russia

I was born in Germany but spent most of my life in Azerbaijan. I studied at an English speaking private school and actually even though many people in Azerbaijan speak Russian, I learned very little, so I’ve been improving it since I arrived in Russia. I had a desire for education and I researched a lot about where is best to study. I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. When I discovered this double degree program in Computer System Information Security and 2nd year at Aalto University, it has encouraged me to apply. I know that progress and research in Cyber security is generally strong in Russia and particularly at ITMO. The Russian Government invested in research centers in Russia and ITMO is one of the best in this research area. I am doing research in Big Data Security and Cyber security in Industry 4.0. Although all of my classes are taught in English, I have taken a Russian language course for improving my verbal skills.

I’ve always wanted to come to St Petersburg and experience the amazing culture of the city. St. Petersburg is not the capital of Russia but it is the cultural capital. The largest art museum is located in St. Petersburg, called Hermitage and it’s very amazing. There are many monuments and historical buildings here and the city is also located by the river. City life is quite intense, full of energy, there are plenty of opportunities to fill your free time.

My experience as an international student has overall been positive. I live in a dorm with many foreign students from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. There is a multicultural environment. Sometimes we cook something together and learn about each other’s cultures, and languages. We have been teaching each other little things, like how to say “hello”, and “how are you” in others languages. In the end, my advice for prospective students: "It is wiser to find out than to suppose." Come and you will see everything by yourself.