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Abstract: The article is devoted to the topical problem of attracting foreigners to study in Russian universities of higher professional education. The aim is to plan and develop a strategy to enhance the attractiveness and effectiveness of higher education in Russia. The mechanisms and the negative consequences of the cultural shock, factors affecting its level and duration, problems of intercultural adaptation of foreign students from ethnic, socio-psychological, educational and professional viewpoints are explored. Peculiarities of adaptation of foreigners to the life in our country, acquaintance with the cultural traditions and sociocultural theories of classification of different countries of the world. Objective, subjective and objective-subjective criteria that determine the level of adaptation of foreign students are examined. Criteria characterizing readiness to educational and professional activities at the University are given.The article analyzes the results of an interview and a questionnaire among foreign students. Special attention is given to identification of the existing socio-psychological problems, to monitoring the process of adaptation of foreign students, and to the analysis of their needs to work out recommendations for the administrative structures to improve the educational process. It is found that it’s necessary to take into account the complexities of cross-cultural adaptation process to develop strategies to increase the number of foreign students at the Russian universities. The basic directions of psycho-pedagogical support of foreign students and administrative activities of an institutional nature are given.