The article shows how Saratov State University, being a participant of the government educational program “Priority-2030”, works to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of Russian higher education in the international market of educational services. Using the example of foreign students – citizens of Turkmenistan, the diffi culties encountered by foreign students -young Turkmen are studied. The empirical basis of the article presents the interviews with the 3rd year students from Turkmenistan at Saratov State University in 2021–2022.