Some of our students stay in the Saint Petersburg State University Hostel "Kapitanskaya 3". The hostel is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland not far from the "Primorskaya" metro station.

To get to the Smolny campus you may use either the metro (the nearest metro station to Smolny is "Chernyshevskaya" one) or trolleybus 11.

Each apartment in the Hostel consists of two or three bedrooms. There are many students in the Hostel and only double occupancy (two people in a bedroom) is available. Each apartment has an entrance hall, a kitchen with a refrigerator and an electric stove, a bathroom and a toilet, a TV-set and a telephone (Internet connection is available for an additional charge). Bedding is changed every ten days. Kitchen appliances and utensils are not provided, but can be bought in the supermarket next to the Hostel.

There is a cafe and a laundry room on the ground floor in the Hostel.

The University Hostel Administrator is on the ground floor in room 8 (office hours are from 8:30 am till 7:30 pm). Duty Administrator's office is open 24 hours a day. It is located in the entrance hall of the Hostel.

Safety and security receive particular attention at the Hostel. Entrance is allowed to those with a Hostel guest card. The Hostel is secured day and night. Each student receives two keys: the first one is to the apartment; the second is to the bedroom. These keys are to be given to the duty administrator when leaving the Hostel. The Hostel is open twenty-four-hours, but guests must leave by 11 PM.

The Hostel address is
Kapitanskaya street, house 3
199155 St. Petersburg, Russia
Phone:+(812)352-4287, 352-4292
Fax: +(812)352-4287
E-mail:

Students may also choose to live in a Russian family. All host family apartments provide the student a private room with bed, desk and a wardrobe. A telephone is also available in each home. Inter-city and international calls are made only by using pre-paid calling cards. The host family provides bedding and towels and changes them regularly. Personal laundry is usually done either at local laundrymats or in the host family for an additional pay. Families are chosen taking into account special requests of students (allergies, desirability of pets, dietary needs etc.).

The Institute offers a pick-up service on arrival. For this we ask students to send us their arrival details (date, time and flight/train number) at least 7 days before arrival. Our staff member will meet the student at the airport or railway station with a sign with the student's name on it and drive him/her to the Hostel or a host family.