The article presents the results of an applied sociological study conducted in the fall of 2025 at the Sverdlovsk Regional Medical College; foreign students were surveyed (n=123; sampling error – 5.06%). The objective is to analyze the difficulties and problems encountered by international students by identifying key markers of psychological maladjustment to their living and educational conditions. Methods: univariate and bivariate analysis. One in five respondents feels a lack of psychological well-being, which is reflected in feelings of loneliness, sadness, anxiety, and disappointment. Women are more likely to feel loneliness, sadness, and disappointment, while men are more likely to experience dissatisfaction with life. Adult students are more likely to feel dissatisfied with life and feel “out of place”, while teenagers complain of melancholy and a bad mood. The majority of respondents plan to stay in Russia after completing their studies, but one in six encounters difficulties due to the language barrier, “inflated” demands, and prejudiced attitudes from local residents. As a rule, when faced with problems and difficulties, respondents seek help from fellow students, academic group supervisors, close friends and parents/relatives, however, mental health specialists – psychologists and social educators – are left out of sight, which requires ensuring sufficient access to qualified psychological assistance and raising students’ awareness of the possibilities of receiving it.
Keywords: foreign students studying at a medical college, markers of psychological maladjustment, difficulties and problems of studying and living in the host country.