For International Students

International Students Office (3rd floor, office 307)
Address: 2, Glinki ul., liter «А», St.Petersburg, 190000, Russia
Phone:
+7 (812) 644-99-88 , ext. 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355
E-mail: office@conservatory.ru, foreigndep@conservatory.ru

Dean for International Students Affairs: Saligat Surkhaeva
 

Admission to the conservatory

Bachelor degree programmes
Duration of studies: 4 years.
Fields of study:
Instrumental Music Performance
Vocal Performance
Choreography (Choreographer)
Choreography (Assistant Choreographer)

Specialist degree programmes
Duration of studies: 5 years. Master degree level.
Fields of study:
Concert (Instrumental) Performance
Composition
Symphony Conducting
Choral Conducting
Vocal Performance (Opera Singing)

Magistracy
Duration of studies: 2 years.
Pre-requisite: Specialist Diploma / Bachelor's degree in music
Areas of training:
Musical and instrumental art
Vocal art
The Art of Conducting
Choreographic art
Musicology and music-applied art

Post Graduate Performance Course (Assistentura-stazhirovka)
Duration of studies: 2 years.
Pre-requisite: Specialist /Master degree
Fields of study:
The Art of Instrumental Music Performance
The Art of Vocal Performance
The Art of Conducting (Symphony Conducting, Choral Conducting)
The Art of Composition

Doctorate course (Aspirantura)
Duration of studies: 3 years.
Pre-requisite: Specialist/Master degree
Fields of study:  Musical Art, Theory of Music
All doctoral students are expected to complete a creative scientific work by the end of the third year.

Special Training Non-degree Course
Duration of studies: 3 months in the limits of academic year: September-October-November, October-November-December, February-March-April, March-April-May. Deadline for the next academic year applications is June 30 of the current year.
Pre-requisite: Bachelor degree/ Master degree/ Specialist degree (Music, Dance).
Individual program. Applicants should submit a study plan (min.8 academic hours per week).

Preparatory Course
Duration of studies 10 months (September - June).
Foundation Course (Ear Training, Music Theory, Instrument/ Voice/ Dance, Russian Language)

 

Admission process for International Applicants
(Preparatory course, Bachelor degree programme, Specialist degree programme,
Post Graduate Performance Course (Assistentura-stazhirovka), Doctorate course (Aspirantura)

Admission process for international applicants is a three step process:

1. Submitting the documents and video recordings for entrance examinations

Specialist degree & Bachelor degree programmes, Preparatory course programmes:
We accept applications from May 11, 2022 to June 01, 2022 (till 04 p.m. Moscow time)

Master degree programmes:
We accept applications from June 20, 2022 till July 07, 2022 (till 04 p.m. Moscow time)

Post Graduate Performance Course (Assistentura-stazhirovka), Doctorate course (Aspirantura):
We accept applications from June 01, 2022 till June 18, 2022 (till 04 p.m. Moscow time) via email;
from June 16, 2022 till June 29, 2022 (till 04 p.m. Moscow time) by person


Please submit your documents to email address of the Conservatory Admissions: admission@conservatory.ru
You should send the following:

  • Application for admission, filled in and signed by the applicant (download).
  • Copy of Passport (passport must be valid at least 1,5 years from the date of arrival to the Russian Federation)
  • Copy of Diploma (complete secondary education/ university education) and a transcript (list of subjects and marks/grades) – both documents (diploma & transcript) with apostil seal/ legalization
  • Russian translation of the diploma and the transcript certified by the notary
  • Photo of the applicant, taken in the current year (size not less than 800 pixels vertically and 600 pixels horizontally)
  • Applicant’s programme for examination (composer, name of musical composition) and links to the video recording (any video hosting or internet cloud). Access to the materials by link must be open (including unregistered visitors) within 6 months.

Electronic image of a document in the format of a cross-platform open format of electronic documents (PDF) must provide visual identity to the original on the scale 1:1. The quality of the submitted copies must allow to read the document in full and recognize the all the details of the document. In case the document includes two or more pages, the electronic image must be formed as one file. For the scan process it is recommended to use 300 dpi scanning mode. The copies with unreadable image or with loss of significant parts of the document (parts of text, signatures, stamps, etc.) are not accepted.


2. Distance-based entry examination

Entry requirements

Preparatory course, Bachelor degree programme, Specialist degree programme

Entry examinations dates: 07.06.2022 – 30.06.2022 according to the entry examinations schedule.

Master degree programmes

Entry examinations dates: 08.07.2022 – 25.07.2022 according to the entry examinations schedule.

Post Graduate Perfomance Programme (Assistentura-stazhirovka) and Doctorate course (Aspirantura)

Entry examinations dates:  01.07.2022 – 10.07.2022 according to the entry examinations schedule.


3. Submitting full package of documents

International applicants from visa-required countries, who successfully passes entrance examinations and wish to make a Tuition agreement with the Conservatory, must order an official invitation from the Conservatory in the International Students office: foreigndep@conservatory.ru

If you have any questions on the admission process, please contact the Conservatory Admissions: admission@conservatory.ru

Step 1. Choose the programme and review the requirements and application deadline dates.
Step 2. Submit the following via e-mail:
 

  • Application for admission
  • Video recording of your performance* (2 or 3 pieces in avi/ mp4/ fvl format) for preliminary presentation. Composition applicants are required to submit a copy (sheet music) of two compositions.

Scan copies of the following documents:

  • Passport valid 1,5 years from the date of arrival
  • Diploma (complete secondary education/ university education) and a transcript (list of subjects and marks/grades) – both documents (diploma & transcript) with apostil seal/ legalization
  • Russian translation of the diploma and the transcript certified by Russian notary
    / Russian consulate in your home country

In the case your preliminary presentation (a video-recording of your performance) is approved, and the documents are accepted, International Students Office will inform you about Entrance examinations dates. International students from visa countries arrive for Entrance examinations on the grounds of a tourist visa. The conservatory does not issue official invitations and does not offer a stay in the Students residence for the period of Entrance examinations.

Step 3.For the applicants who submitted Complete application documents and passed entrance examinations, the Conservatory order an official invitation. It takes approximetly 35 days to have it ready. International Students Office will inform you about the date when your official invitation is ready.

Step 4. To get the invitation you may order a delivery service company (DHL, FedEx, TNT, etc). You should order and pay the delivery at the local delivery company office. The address of the Conservatory: International Students Office, room 307, 2, Glinki ul., St.Petersburg 190000 Russia
Please send us your current address and the tracking number of your letter.

Step 5. Upon receiving the invitation, apply to the Russian consulate in your home country for your visa.

Step 6. Buy a ticket and inform International Students Office about the date of your arrival.

Step 7.Please note that your first visa is a one-entry visa and is valid for three months. In order to have it extended you must apply to the authorities in St. Petersburg no later than one month prior to the expiry date of your current visa. We strongly recommend you to arrive within the first month of your visa validity. The applicant arriving later than 5 weeks prior to his/her first visa expiry date, cannot have his/her visa extended.

Step 8. Make sure that upon arrival you must submit originals of the following documents:

  • Copy of Passport (Passport must be valid minimum 1,5 years from the date of arrival)
  • Migration card (obtained when crossing the border)
  • Diploma (complete secondary education/ university education) and transcript (list of subjects and marks)
  • Russian translation of your diploma and transcript certified by the notary
  • Results of expert examination of applicant's Diploma. More information can be found at www.avrir.ru
    In the case there is no arrangement between your home country and the Russian Federation on mutual recognition of educational qualifications - Certificate of recognition of secondary school/university diploma from Rosobrnadzor. Please see information at www.nic.gov.ru
  • General health certificate on your current health condition
  • For physical education obligatory class all first- year students must submit medical assessment reports from: otolaryngologist, surgeon, ophthalmologist, neurologist, for girls - gynecologist; also test results: complete Blood Count, urinalysis, chest X-ray (valid 1 year ), vaccination certificate.
  • Health Insurance Policy for 1 year/ period of studies
  • 8 photos (3x4 cm)

Please note that all the applicants must have their migration card registered within three days upon arrival. Applicants are strongly recommended to come to the conservatory on the next day after arrival to St. Petersburg.

Tuition fees for foreign students 2021/2022 academic year

 

Accomodation fees for foreign students

Academic calendar

The academic year lasts ten months and consists of two semesters.

 

1 Semester: 01 September – 25 January

Mid-year tests: 22 December – 28 December

Mid-year exams: 29 December – 25 January

Winter vacations: 26 January – 08 February

 

2 Semester: 09 February – 05 July

End-of-year tests: 01 June – 07 June

End-of-year exams: 08 June – 05 July

Summer vacations: 06 July – 31 August 

 

The Conservatory is closed on the following dates:

04 November – Consent and Reconciliation Day (no classes)

01 – 10 January – New Year and Christmas celebrations

22 – 23 February – Fatherland Defender’s Day (no classes)

08 March – International Women’s Day (no classes)

01 May – Day of Spring & Labor (no classes)

09  May – Victory Day (no classes)

12 June – Russia Day (no classes)

St. Petersburg Conservatory was founded in 1862 following the initiative and through the active organizational skills of the renowned pianist and composer Anton. Rubinstein.

During its first year as many as 179 students were enrolled, the number went up to 200 in later years. Many renowned musicians were among the conservatory professors. The names of the first graduates occupy a prominent place in the history of world music. Among them there is the name of the famous Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky, who was awarded a silver medal upon his graduation in 1865. His name is carved first into a marble plaque.

A great influence on what will later become a school of composition and theory was N. Rimsky-Korsakov, whose contribution to conservatory life was immense.

Currently, the conservatory has 6 departments: department of composition and conducting, piano, orchestral instruments, voice and stage directing, musicology, and folk instruments. The departments can boast of the world famous composers, conductors, singers, pianists, organists, orchestra instruments performers, opera directors, ballet masters, musicologists.

At the turn of the XXI century the conservatory aims to revive and expand the tradition of the predecessors. Many graduates became laureates of prestigious international competitions, holding prominent places in the musical world. The conservatory is actively involved in International symposiums and master classes both as an organizer and a participant. For years the conservatory has maintained cooperation with the largest universities and music schools of Hamburg, Dresden, Koln, Wrozlaw, Rotterdam, Boston, Birmingham and others. The year 2001 marked the beginning of the annual event «The International Conservatory Week Festival».

The conservatory’s pride is the building which was constructed in 1896 especially to fit for the school’s purposes, it houses the Opera and ballet theater and Glazunov concert hall.

Currently the conservatory employs more than 400 teachers and provides education for over 1300 students. Since 1975 the conservatory has been actively enrolling foreign students whose total number today is estimated to be 250 people from 38 countries of the world. Conservatory graduates are among the most sought after in the world: they easily secure jobs in the best symphonic orchestras, perform as soloists for the prestigious stages, direct ballets and operas, at the same time continuing the tradition of the Russian musical education, working as teachers for music schools, academies and universities.

Schedule of entrance tests (download)