The article presents the analysis of students’ social activity in large cities of the Ural Federal district. The authors analyze the results of the survey conducted among the students of the three large Ural cities (16 universities in Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen) in 2017 ( N = 1585; quota sample). Based on the results of the correlation analysis, an assessment of young citizens with different educational and socio-cultural background is given. The specifics of including these youth groups in megacities’ everyday life are demonstrated. The urban environment in this context is extremely variable and multifaceted. It shows the youth a path for self-realization and promotes citizens’ leisure activities, which can be assessed by the types of social events held among the students. The authors analyze the context of the megacities’ cultural and social life, as well as consider different types of students’ social activity in large universities that are a part of the economic, political and socio-cultural space of the Ural Federal District cities. Russian students are proved to be active participants of various urban practices, thus realizing themselves and creating the social space of large Russian cities. Variability of urban practices in which students are involved, demonstrate that a modern city gives young people opportunities to be included in the social, cultural and political life of the society. This is the way they show their individuality and fulfill their personal desires, opportunities, aspirations and intentions