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Over 1,000 partners and clear selection criteria

The choice of an internship site is the responsibility of the academic departments and chairs. At the same time, the Department for Internship and Graduates Employment serves as a link between the academic environment and the labor market.

Elena Dmitrieva, Head of the Department for Internship and Graduates Employment at RUDN University says,

"Currently, the university’s database of permanent partners in the field of practical training comprises over 1,000 organizations. And this number is constantly growing thanks to the joint efforts of academic departments and our office. We monitor graduate employment, identify priority organizations for employment and build relationships with partners to sign agreements.

The university’s partners include Sberbank, Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant, Ingosstrakh, Mosenergo, Samolet Group, Technopolis Moscow, and other large enterprises, clinics, government agencies, and agencies.

Elena Dmitrieva says, “We have developed specific criteria for selecting priority companies: a workforce of more than 250 people or leadership in various rankings, including industry-specific ones. Focusing on such companies ensures that students gain experience in advanced industries and strong teams, which directly impacts their competitiveness after graduation.”

Internship marketplace

Students can also choose a company that does not yet have an agreement with RUDN University but is willing to offer internships, or where the student is already working in a field related to their future specialty. To do this, they need to submit a proposal through the “Internship Marketplace” in their personal student account. The request is then forwarded to the faculty for review and approval.

Elena Dmitrieva also says, “After approval by the internship supervisor, if the organization matches the specific student’s training profile and can provide the necessary skills in accordance with the internship program, an agreement is concluded with the enterprise.”

Notably, an internship that a student has already completed or is currently undergoing can be counted toward their academic practice if it aligns with the content of their educational program and the specific practice curriculum.

Practice and internship: What’s the difference?

These concepts are often confused, but there is a difference. Practice (practical training) is primarily an academic discipline. Its main goal is to reinforce theoretical knowledge and develop basic professional skills. It is a mandatory part of the curriculum with a specific program, deadlines, assignments, and reporting requirements.

Elena Dmitrieva says, “An internship, on the other hand, is primarily a form of professional adaptation or a trial period for employment. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity to immerse oneself in the work environment, master specific operations, or test oneself as a potential employee. An internship is not a mandatory element of the academic program. Unfortunately, not all companies offer internships, and often motivated students have to find suitable options on their own.”

Nevertheless, some partner companies do organize internships for our students: VTB, Aeroflot, RWB (Wildberries), Avangard-Agro, DOM.RF, Bank of Russia, Ozon, and VK. Successful completion of an internship gives students a chance to enter the company’s talent pool or even join their staff.

Additionally, students can interact with HR representatives from dozens of companies, receive career development advice, learn about paid internships, attend masterclasses and lectures from leading labor market experts, and even receive job offers at regular RUDN Job Fairs and Career Weeks.

Opportunities for international students

Many international students study at RUDN University. They are not required to complete their internship in Russia. They can do it in another country, including their home country. The key requirement is that the internship must meet the requirements of the student’s educational program at RUDN University.

Elena Dmitrieva notes, “In the 2024–2025 academic year alone, 134 international students from RUDN successfully completed internships in Asian countries (China, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Myanmar), African countries (Zimbabwe, Congo, Morocco, Benin), the Middle East (Libya, Syria), and Latin America (Peru, Bolivia).”

To organize such internships, the university works not only with commercial companies but also at the diplomatic level.

Elena Dmitrieva adds, “Last year, we signed 24 agreements with embassies of foreign states in Moscow, as well as long-term contracts with the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Embassy of the Republic of Benin.”

From internship to diploma and employment

Successful completion of an internship often serves as the foundation for course papers and final theses. Sometimes, it also marks the start of a career.

Elena Dmitrieva says, “Each contract includes a clause regarding possible employment following the internship, which allows the student, if successful, to apply for a vacant position within the organization. Such cases are recorded in the reports of the academic departments.”

The department regularly conducts surveys among employers.

Elena Dmitrieva says, “We find out how interested our partners are in accepting RUDN students for internships, how well their skills meet the requirements of the labor market, and whether they are willing to hire future specialists. The survey results show that many of our partners view internships as an effective tool for future employees.”

Career launch: Student stories

The best way to understand how the system works from the inside is to hear from the students themselves. For Daria Voronina, a 4th-year student at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (majoring in “Arts and Humanities”), the internship was not just a learning experience, but a springboard into her professional career.

Daria completed her internship twice: in her third and fourth years. Her academic program emphasized specialization in cultural management, and her choice of internship placements fully reflected that.

Daria Voronina says, “The first internship placement largely offered precisely that experience—a deep dive into issues of patronage, curatorial work, and creative projects. The second time, students were given a choice of focus areas within the organization’s activities, and I chose a field closer to museum work.”

Both times, she chose from the organizations offered by her department. And in both cases, she encountered a diversity of tasks that is hard to imagine while sitting at a desk.

Daria Voronina says, “The interns’ responsibilities are limited to studying the work of the department to which we are assigned. We primarily studied the legal framework for the organization’s operations and from time to time provided assistance with projects the department was currently working on. However, the range of responsibilities is quite broad. For example, at Global University by Rybakov, we were exposed to excursions, event organization and coordination, and even graphic design. A year later, I was able to participate in researching scientific materials for an exhibition project and managing the museum’s storage facilities at the Zotov Center.”

Daria places a special emphasis on mentors. According to her, the internship supervisor (usually the head of the department to which the student is assigned) not only coordinates the internship and assigns assignments, but also provides their “wards” with information and sources that the intern might have missed or simply not known.

The main benefit of the internship for Daria was an understanding of the organization’s systemic functioning. She also made an unexpected discovery: which university courses proved most useful.

Daria Voronina says, “Sometimes you can be quite surprised by which subjects will come up as useful for you in the future. For me, those subjects weren’t the classic theoretical ones, but rather more practical ones, ’Museum Studies’ and ’Art and Law.’”

In 2025, Daria received a job offer from her practice facility and is now working there.

Another fourth-year student of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Taisia Sviridova, completed an internship at two iconic locations for any humanities student: the Victory Museum (industrial internship, third year) and the Tretyakov Gallery (professional internship, fourth year).

Taisia Sviridova says, “The department provided the work places, and then, based on personal preferences, I made my choice.”

The experience at the two museums was different, but equally valuable. During her internship, her duties were limited to coordinating, accompanying, and assisting with the registration of participants and guests at museum events, as well as conducting preventative inspections of the building.

Taisia Sviridova says, “And during my professional internship at the Tretyakov Gallery, my responsibilities included studying the department’s internal workings and assisting staff in preparing exhibition projects at various stages.”

The student notes that the university’s facilities provided a solid foundation for her internship.

Taisia says, “The knowledge I gained in museum studies, art management and law, while studying at RUDN University, significantly facilitated my internship, especially my professional one, as it helped me understand certain nuances much more deeply. And during my internship, I acquired new, specific knowledge — from basic blueprint-reading skills to understanding the specifics of materials used for false walls. This gave me an understanding of the skills I need to work more effectively in my chosen field in the future.”

Taisia answers without hesitation about her future plans:

“Yes, I would very gladly return, since my internship gave me the opportunity to understand how close I truly am to my chosen field.”

Brief instructions: how to get an internship

Students can find all the information about the internship regulations in their RUDN University personal account (website/mobile app) in the section on organizing and conducting internships. A list of internship sites can be found in the same section of the app or .

Current internship offers from the university’s partners are regularly posted on the Career Center’s social media channels — Telegram and VK. You can also get advice on resume writing and interview preparation there: a career guidance specialist and a career specialist are available to assist.

An internship at RUDN University is not a formality, but a real chance to immerse yourself in the profession, gain valuable experience, and possibly find your dream job even before graduating. The stories of Daria and Taisia are the best proof of this.