The article analyzes the existing mechanisms of preparation of students for participation in programs of international academic mobility. Different types of support help students in overcoming the numerous barriers, such as the information barrier, the organization barrier, the financial barrier, the academic barrier, and the psychological barrier. A comparative analysis of the forms of language support for students preparing to participate in mobility programs has been carried out. Language training relates both to the sphere of formal education and to the sphere of non-formal education. Outside universities, language training is virtually uncontrolled, which can lead to risks, for example, to academic emigration or brain drain from Russia to Western countries. So the most effective way is comprehensive mobility support. The developed system of preparing students for international mobility combines various forms of support and compensation for risks, including tutorial work. The system of preparation of students for international mobility is developed. The system is based on the mechanism that ensures students to participate in the international short-term educational programs organized by their universities, as well as in international student projects. Russian students act as tutors, performing mentoring functions for foreign participants of the program, and they are also part of the management team of the program, which is regarded as an innovative project. In case of satisfaction from participating in the program, students improve their general cultural competence together, which increases their motivation for deepening the international experience.