The article examines the peculiarities of the ethnic identity of students. A theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of ethnic identity was carried out. The main task of the empirical study was to identify the level of ethnic identity of student youth in the specialty "Design," compare the data with students in the specialty "Psychology," and determine the severity of the affective and cognitive components of the ethnic identity of future designers and psychologists. To solve the research problem, the following methods were used: 1. Diagnosis of the level of development of ethnic identity (V. Yu. Khotinets). aimed at identifying the level of ethnic identity: hypoidenticity, positive identity and hyperidenticity; 2. The J. Finney technique, which measures the severity of ethnic identity. The results of the study of EI features in students of the specialty "Design" are presented. Positive ethnic identity is identified as the dominant type. Based on the results of the survey, the features of the students' EI were analyzed.