Ethnic tension is an urgent problem in multi-cultural education. Most students are not enough tolerant for other cultures. The study was carried out to reveal most important personal and interpersonal factors of ethnic tension among students. The study has found that sociability, non-aggressiveness, confidence, positive social identity, value orientations, emotional and cultural intelligence contribute to the reduction of ethnic tension in multi-cultural education. The study has also revealed a positive role of close relationship and joint extra-curricular activities in ethnic tensions reducing. The growth of tension in the foreign students’ intercultural communication is associated with the difficulties in interactions with the Russian bureaucratic system and in understanding the value system of the Russian society.