first day of freshmen at RUDN – MIL Translation Engine 1

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

In hand is a university map, the goal is to visit all the places marked on it, complete tasks and get rewards. The first day at RUDN for first-year students was held in the style of a quest or a computer game-walker in reality. 21 locations and three hours of time – on your marks, get set, let's go!

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body!

The students had to go around more than one building, and for this they needed to warm up well and get a boost of energy after the first September classes. The newcomers were helped with this at the location of the Druzhba physical education and health complex. The girls were given mats and given the task of doing abdominal exercises for 30 seconds, the exercise could be replaced with squats. The guys demonstrated the strength of their arms by doing push-ups.

"Everyone is so athletic! Come on, sign up for the sections!" the FOK trainers said with a smile.

But not only the athletic first-year students of RUDN, but also masters of humor. This was confirmed at the Interclub at the KVN location. The newcomers discussed the topic: "There are many ways to lose money, but how to increase income?"

The girls jokingly suggested finding a guy for this. But the answer to the question of what to take with you to another planet would please the creators of the MAX messenger. According to one of the first-year students, it must definitely catch and provide communication with Earth there.

After joking around, the students went off to sing karaoke songs and dance Russian folk dances.

The smartest new kid

However, music was also played at the location where one could get acquainted with communities from Lebanon, Vietnam, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Columbia and others. Foreign students from RUDN University led first-year students in dancing to the sounds of their national melodies. Representatives from Lebanon taught the dabka dance to the sounds of the drum.

"It's great, it's so much fun here! They even let us try on national costumes! We also liked the KVN location, we even thought about trying ourselves in humor. We entered RUDN in the "Journalism" program. I did it because I dream of working in television, and my friend followed in the footsteps of her mother, a photojournalist. We chose RUDN because of the good reviews, especially about the internship, interesting education. In addition, it is a point of attraction for different cultures, an unusual university!" – Elizaveta Smirnova and Alisa Makarova, bachelors of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of RUDN.

Literally next to this atmosphere of an oriental holiday, students answered questions on a test about digital literacy. The answer options made everyone smile. For example, to the question: "Why do you need Excel?" you could answer that it helps to count the stars in the sky or keep track of train schedules. But, of course, everyone chose the right option – to calculate the project budget. But the guys really wanted to call Pavel Durov the creator of the Internet, because there is a grain of truth in the joke if we are talking about popular social networks in Russia. However, the father of the World Wide Web was still the British scientist Tim Burners-Lee.

At the admissions office location, students were also tested for erudition, but here many questions concerned facts about the university. For example, how many countries do students come from, do they give a car for excellent studies, and what are the corporate colors of RUDN. Future historian Karina Zhumagalieva had no trouble completing these tasks.

"I really like the atmosphere of the university, it's so beautiful and green here! And today is such a wonderful holiday, I've already managed to sing my fill and have fun. I entered the History program because I've always loved this subject and I'm especially interested in the history of the Soviet Union. Therefore, I hope to delve deeper into the study of this period," Karina Zhumagalieva, Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences at RUDN University.

Friends from 170 countries

Three hours of the RUDN University quest flew by unnoticed, and now the students began to gather at the stage on the square in front of the main building in anticipation of a welcoming speech from the RUDN University rector. The first-year students held posters in their hands with support for their faculties and institutes. Here and there, guys and girls began to chant: "Philology department-philology department!", "IMEB-IMEB!"

And here is the culmination – the flags of Russia and RUDN were brought out, and Oleg Aleksandrovich Yastrebov appeared in front of the first-year students.

"I congratulate you, you really have a very important day today. Knowledge Day at your new alma mater, this is your second home, which, believe me, will stay with you for life. I congratulate you on entering one of the best universities not only in Russia, but also in the world, whose graduates are in all countries without exception. You opened these doors with perseverance, talent, knowledge. We have a university of opportunities – use them! You will have amazing teachers. Do sports, volunteer. Meet – in your address book there will be friends from 170 countries of the world. I wish you success, good luck, guys!" – Oleg Yastrebov, Rector of RUDN.

After Oleg Aleksandrovich's warm words, our university's anthem began to sound, which was immediately picked up and sung by new RUDN students, who turned on the flashlights on their phones. On this touching note, the first day of the first-year students' journey came to an end. But ahead of them are many educational and career roads, achievements and victories.

"I entered RUDN University for "Foreign Regional Studies" because I dream of becoming a diplomat and a specialist in relations with China in the future, as this is a promising direction, which is confirmed by the foreign policy of our country. Relations with this state will play a big role. The university attracted me because it has high positions in the rankings, and in general it impresses with the level of education and the international scale of its activities," Roman Petrov, a bachelor of the RUDN University Institute of Foreign Languages.

"And I will study in the direction of "Innovation Management in Industrial Sectors". This is a promising direction that combines both the humanities and the exact sciences. I think it will be interesting for me to study. I liked RUDN because there are many activities here, and it is also international, there is an opportunity to make friends with guys from different parts of the world," – Victoria Merinova, Bachelor of Engineering Academy of RUDN.

About the results of the admission campaign

In 2025, 9,642 Russian students at all levels of preparation joined the RUDN family, of which almost 7 thousand were in the bachelor's and specialist's programs. 1,635 people were admitted to the bachelor's and specialist's programs on a budget. In total, the university processed 193,073 applications from applicants – 77,108 more than in 2024.