Modern Russia is a multinational state, in this regard special attention is paid to the problems of multicultural education, interethnic relations, ethno-cultural competence of the individual. At present, our society faces a serious task of training future teachers, with ethno-cultural knowledge and skills, understanding the peculiarities of the social environment in which they live, respecting the traditions, history and culture of the peoples inhabiting Russia. The aim of the research is to create and approbate the model of development of ethnic self-awareness of the student's personality in the process of studying at a university. The main research methods are: theoretical analysis of the literature on the problem of the research, analysis of the results of the Mari State University students’ survey. To date, the scientific community has not developed a single point of view on the essential characteristics of the concept of ethnic self-awareness. Summarizing the views of scientists, ethnic self-awareness is considered by us as part of ethnic consciousness, reflecting the perception and representation of individuals about themselves as representatives of their ethnic community. The development of ethnic self-awareness of the individual goes through several stages, the most active institutions of ethnic socialization become family, school, university. It should be noted that the ethnic self-awareness of the student's personality is considered by us as one of the indicators of the formation of his ethno-cultural competence. Ethno-cultural competence is defined as a necessary set of personal qualities of a teacher, which includes high professionalism, knowledge, skills and abilities, allowing free use of cultural means and objects in the ethno-cultural environment. The development of ethno-cultural self-awareness of the student's personality is now acquiring special significance in the activity of a modern teacher who must have an idea of the cultures and traditions of the peoples living in Russia; the place of national culture in the world historical and cultural process; know the features of a multi-ethnic educational environment; to be able to use the accumulated experience in the education and upbringing of the students' personality.