The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Status of Foreign Students in Russia
The article presents the preliminary results of a sociological survey within the study of the status of foreign students in Russia and the issues they have encountered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For a full overview of the situation, the authors also analyze the results of a study by foreign organizations on the impact of COVID-19 on foreign students in other countries, Russian statistics on the number of foreign students in Russia, as well as legal acts regulating the legal status of foreign citizens in Russia. The results reveal that the vast majority of foreign students have remained in Russia after a university closure and transfer to distance learning due to the pandemic. The authors suppose that to some extent it can be driven by the inability to return home due to high ticket prices and subsequent closure of state borders. Many students have had financial difficulties either because of problems with work in Russia or the worsening economic situation in their home countries. In contrast to the results of foreign reports, the study shows that most students from Asian countries, including China, have not experienced discrimination in Russia. However, more than half of the respondents have mentioned the negative effects of the COVID-19 on their psychological conditions. Furthermore, the study indicates that a significant proportion of students have somehow had the problem of access to medical care, which may be critical in the context of the pandemic. The results can be used to better understand the situation and develop effective measures to support foreign students.