General Medicine - in English

I am a proud citizen of my country Nigeria and came from a family of 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls. Since childhood I've been passionate about a future career in medicine which is the reason why I am here in Russia, to fulfill my ambition. I heard about Russia from different people in my country and I always wanted to be here someday.

It is a great opportunity that not everyone is privileged to have - to be at NSU. When I started studying at NSU I was a bit lazy at first but after a while, I got into the habit of regular reading and hard work, this is the impact that NSU has made in my life.

Furqan Sarper Ozkurt a student who came to study in Novosibirsk fr om Turkey!  

Why did you choose NSU?  

— To work as a doctor in Turkey, I have to graduate from a foreign university whose diplomas are accepted in my country. The list of such universities is very limited, and they must be ranked in the top 1,000 in at least two specific global rankings. In Russia, only 4-5 universities met these criteria. I took exams at all of them and received offers from each. In the end, after tests, interviews, and my own research, I realized that the education at NSU is the strongest and highest quality. I came here for a good education, and I didn't regret it.  

What cultural differences surprised you the most?  

— Surprisingly, I didn't feel a huge cultural difference. The mentality, behavior, and lifestyle of people here are very similar to Turkish ones. Perhaps the biggest cultural difference for me is food. I still haven't been able to fully adapt to Russian cuisine. I often feel that the dishes lack flavor and the spices I'm used to.  

Have you developed any new habits during your time in Russia? If so, what are they?  

— Yes, and they're mainly related to the climate! I'm used to wearing warm socks, thermal underwear, and layered clothing — after all, it's cold most of the year here. And I've finally mastered the habit of using a wardrobe. In Turkey, wh ere you only dress warmly for a couple of months a year, there's almost no such tradition. We used to hang our clothes on hooks in the classroom. But here, when I enter any building, I automatically take off my coat, hat, and gloves and put them in the wardrobe.  

How did you deal with the language barrier?  

— I prepared myself well: before starting my main studies, I attended a one-year Russian language preparatory course in Nizhny Novgorod. It was an incredibly useful time. I not only learned the basics of the language but also got to know the country and culture better. To practice, I went to the ballet and the theater, watched basketball and hockey, and started exploring Russian literature. And, of course, I'm still improving my Russian now.  

What advice would you give to other international students applying to NSU?  

— First and foremost, they should realize that they've come to a university with a high level of education and be ready to study hard and diligently. A particularly important tip for future doctors: from the third year onwards, the education at the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies of NSU completely switches to Russian. All clinical classes and bedside practice take place in Russian. Therefore, it's absolutely essential not to delay learning the language. Regardless of whether you have a preparatory faculty, you need to start learning Russian right now — it's the most important step for your future.

Why did you choose NSU?

- To be honest, I always dreamed of studying at a university in Moscow or Saint Petersburg and never imagined I would study in Novosibirsk. However, I talked with my Russian friends in Saint Petersburg and my Iranian friends in Novosibirsk, and they told me that this is a modern and very good university that will help me become a successful and modern doctor. That’s why I chose the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies at NSU.

What difficulties did you face adapting to the new place, and how did you overcome them?

- On the day I arrived in Novosibirsk, it seemed to me that winter would never end. I also thought it would be very difficult to make friends with the locals. But after a few months of studying and living here, the sincere warm communication with people and the amazing atmosphere of the university campus proved to me that these fears were groundless. Now I am very happy with my decision.

Have you developed any new habits during your time living in Russia? If yes, what are they?

- Since I came to Russia, besides my clothes becoming much warmer and myself becoming more cheerful, I have started studying much more. Besides that, I haven’t noticed any special changes :)

Are there any features of Russian culture that you like?

- If I start talking about Russian culture, I won’t be able to express my feelings even in several hours. But briefly: Russia and Iran are very close geopolitically and geographically. There has been close interaction between our countries throughout history. It may be hard to imagine, but our cultures have striking similarities. This is seen in words like “samovar” and “chemodan” (suitcase), the first came from Russian into Persian, and the second — vice versa. This is noticeable in our cuisine and mentality as well. In Iran, as in Russia, the poems of great poets like Omar Khayyam and Rumi are very famous. And the works of Russian writers and poets, such as Pushkin, are sometimes even more popular than books by many European and American authors. This cultural closeness really fascinates me.

What advice would you give to other international students applying to NSU?

- I would advise other students to definitely consider NSU if they want to become the best in their field. This university is like a thief that steals hearts. It is so captivating that you simply cannot help but fall in love with it!