Established on May 1, 1992 as a Faculty for Work with Foreign Citizens on the basis of the Preparatory department for foreign citizens, which was opened in May 1991.

Since 2009, the Faculty for Work with Foreign Citizens was reorganized into the Department of International Education with a preparatory department.

About 1000 foreign citizens from 50 countries of the world study at the university. The first foreign students who came to study in 1991 were citizens of Palestine, Jordan and Syria.

In 2022 the Department of International Education and the Department of Language Training for Foreign Citizens celebrated the 30th anniversary of their foundation. During this time, more than 1150 foreigners successfully graduated from the preparatory department, about 3000 foreign citizens from the countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, and America received higher education at Sumy State University. Foreign citizens defended 15 PhD thesis and received more than 300 certificates of specialized training in medicine.

At the preparatory department of the Department of International Education foreign citizens learn Ukrainian and English as languages of study and communication, gain knowledge in general education disciplines and get acquainted with Ukrainian culture and traditions. Also, the Department of International Education has the Linguistic Center, which provides an opportunity for foreign students of Sumy State University to undergo a language internship in order to improve their level of Ukrainian and English language skills. For all those who want to learn the Chinese language and culture, there is a “Confucius Class”, whose students have the opportunity to take the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) test for Chinese language proficiency. The results of the exam are recognized all over the world and give the opportunity to participate in competitions for receiving a scholarship for study or internship in China.

On a regular basis the University has the Foreign Communities’ Leaders Council, which includes the representatives of the university administration and foreign students from each country. At the meetings of the Council, issues related to the improvement of the conditions of stay and study of foreign students at Sumy State University are discussed and resolved.

Foreign students take an active part in the extracurricular life of the university. The number of foreign students who are involved in sports and artistic amateur activities is constantly increasing. Foreign students attend sports sections in martial arts, athletics, and other kinds of sport. More than 100 of them are prize-winners of sports competitions and championships of Ukraine among foreign students in futsal, football, handball, volleyball, table tennis and badminton. In 2019, the football team of foreign students of Sumy State University won the title of champion of Ukraine for the second time at the All-Ukrainian Student Games.

Foreign students attend dance circles, a vocal studio, a student choir, take part in the volunteer movement, participate in charity events and other cultural events. “International Student Day”, days of cultures, celebrations of national holidays of different countries have become the traditional events.