10 of Russia's MAIN universities
Today, over 400,000 international students study in Russia. Dozens of Russian universities are included in the world's leading rankings. Below, we’ve highlighted the largest among them.
Most educational programs in Russia are held in Russian. Every university offers the opportunity to enroll in a preparatory faculty and spend an academic year learning the Russian language after moving to Russia.
However, some Russian universities do have educational programs in English and other languages.
1. Lomonosov Moscow State University (‘MSU’)
This is the country's oldest university and consistently leads in Russian education rankings. Today, the university has over 40 faculties, offering perhaps the widest range of programs in the country, from natural sciences to humanities.
In 2024, a record number of international students – 2,900 – enrolled at Moscow University (with a total of 11,000 international students studying at the university). ‘MSU’ also has branches in several Russian cities and CIS countries.
2. 'Higher School of Economics' University
‘HSE’ university's educational programs extend far beyond the study of economics. It offers programs in social sciences, art and design, communications and many other fields. Some are held not only in Russian, but also in English (in fields such as international relations, global studies and data analysis, among others), as well as a hybrid format. ‘HSE’ currently has over 5,000 international students from 133 countries. The university also has branches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Perm.
3. Bauman Moscow State Technical University (‘BMSTU’)
With nearly 200 years of history, this university is a leader in engineering and promises boundless opportunities for internships and future employment at major industrial enterprises and high-tech companies. A wide range of programs is available to international students, from artificial intelligence to robotics and aerospace.
4. St. Petersburg State University (‘SPbU’)
This is one of the country's oldest universities and is located in the historic ‘Twelve Collegia’ building in St. Petersburg. The university actively invites students from abroad and organizes numerous online lectures and events for applicants, including in foreign languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese and Chinese). The schedule for such events can be viewed on their website.
From the second semester of the preparatory faculty, students are able to not only study Russian, but also to delve deeper into their chosen course: natural sciences or humanities, engineering and technology, economics and medicine.
5. Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology (‘MIPT’)
This university was founded 80 years ago by Nobel laureates Pyotr Kapitsa, Lev Landau and Nikolay Semyonov to help better educate the country's most gifted physicists. Since then, 11 of its graduates have received the Nobel Prize and it still attracts the most talented students (over 1,000 of whom are international students).
According to the ranking of the Russian edition of ‘Forbes’ magazine, this university leads in graduate salary levels and is also included in the ‘Times Higher Education World University Rankings’ 2026.
6. National Research Nuclear University (‘MEPhI’), Moscow
If you want to connect your life with the nuclear industry, this is the place for you, as it is Russia's leading university in the atomic field. However, the list of available programs extends far beyond this direction and also includes a wide variety of physics and engineering specialties.
In 2025 alone, 2,200 international students from 88 countries enrolled at the university.
7. Moscow State Institute of International Relations (‘MGIMO’)
This is considered to be the best university for training diplomats and international relations specialists. Its graduates include even several heads of foreign states (presidents of Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan), as well as high-ranking Russian officials, senators and diplomats, including Russia’s current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
‘MGIMO’ offers several study programs in English.
8. Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg (UrFU)
This is one of the largest regional universities in the country. It’s included in the ‘QS World University Rankings’.
Currently, about 5,000 students from over 100 countries are studying at the university. There are many programs available in English (including postgraduate studies and research centers).
9. Novosibirsk State University (‘NSU’)
If you've ever dreamed of living in Siberia, this is the place for you! ‘NSU’ is the main research center of Siberia, with its own Akademgorodok (Academy Town). You can get an education in many specialties in Russian; the university also offers an extensive list of study programs in English (at the master's and postgraduate levels): Artificial Intelligence, business schools, chemistry, mathematics and medicine, including residency training.
10. Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (‘RUDN’)
‘RUDN’ is the leader in the number of international students. Students enroll to study medicine, engineering, agriculture and many other courses. The university's faculties and dormitories form a huge campus in the southwest of Moscow with a unique international atmosphere. The university is also the leader in the breadth of its international student geography, with representatives from as many as 161 countries studying there.
You can find more details on how to apply to Russian universities (even for free!) here: studyinrussia.education.
