The aim of the article is to examine the role of international projects in the development of motivation to learning foreign languages. The accession of Russian universities to the European educational space has expanded the opportunities for students to participate in academic mobility, competitions for grants for studying, research work, working abroad, implemen-tation of cooperative research programs and projects. The implementation of these activities requires fluency in a foreign language in professional and daily activities. Knowledge of foreign languages is the key to success and competitiveness of a modern man in the labor market. The article notes insufficient attention and misunderstanding of the importance of studying this academic discipline by many students of non-linguistic specialties. The reasons are the lack of connection with the studied profession and the possibility of practical application, insufficient knowledge, which leads to a decrease or complete loss of interest. The article presents the factors that determine the motivation to learn a foreign language, describes the activities to develop it. The author considers participation in international projects as an effective means of maintaining interest in the study of foreign languages. As an example, the cooperated implementation of the international grant “Germany – Ugra: bridge of friendship” by teachers and students of the Ugra State University is given. The results of the empirical research confirm the effectiveness of the measures taken.