How a foreigner can enroll in a Russian university

As a rule, the admissions campaign to Russian higher education institutions begins in late June. Each university has its own dates, published in advance in the fall of the previous year on their websites. However, some universities begin their campaign for international applicants as early as February, giving them time to gather a basic set of documents translated into Russian. These include an application form, a copy of the passport they plan to use for entry into Russia, proof of education and certificates of HIV infection, other illnesses and contraindications for study. After that, all that remains is to prepare for the entrance exams and apply for a student visa.

Obtain a Russian Government Quota

There are several options for admission to a Russian university. One option is to apply for the annual quota from among the 40,000 budget-funded places allocated by the Russian government. For the 2025/2026 academic year, ‘Rossotrudnichestvo’ recruited students from 177 countries under this scheme. The total number of applications exceeded 78,000. Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year can be submitted in September 2026. Applications for the quota will be accepted until January-February 2027.

To be among the lucky ones, it’s best to apply online at Education in Russia, select your priority universities and fields of study and complete the selection tests remotely. Once you receive a referral to study in Russia, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will issue an invitation required for a student visa. More information about quota admission can be found here.

Choose a fee-based education

Russia has over 700 universities and over 650 educational programs. You can read about the most popular ones here. Popular programs include mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, IT and medicine. Tuition at Russian universities remains affordable: On average, between $1,250 and $6,000 per year – the final price depends on the program and region.

Applicants will need to select a major and program of study at the chosen university, then submit an application and prepare for the competition. After that, they will receive an invitation from the university. This document will need to be added to the list of required documents for a student visa application.

Participate in an olympiad

Many Russian universities have special competitions and olympiads, the finalists and winners of which can receive preferential admissions benefits or even study for free. For example, RUDN University has held an ‘Open Olympiad’ since 2016. Its winners receive a quota for study and also the opportunity to participate in a competition for a special stipend of 25,000 rubles (approx. $300), which is paid monthly during the semester.

The annual ‘Volga Universe International Olympiad’ in six disciplines (Russian language, social studies, mathematics, English, history and biology) is held by the Ilya Ulyanov State Pedagogical University. Its winners and runners-up receive diplomas that give them an advantage in admissions.

The Global Universities Association also holds an Open Doors: the ‘Russian Scholarship Project Olympiad’ across 14 majors and four tracks (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoc). Winners also receive a quota-based study.

In addition, results from international olympiads are taken into account when applying to Russian universities. For example, the ‘International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad’ for schoolchildren is held in person annually: In 2025, it was hosted by Brazil and, in 2026, the olympiad will be held in Moscow.

Get a Grant

International students can also apply for grants. For example, grants are available to team members and winners of international olympiads. Last year, the Ministry of Education awarded grants totaling over 1.1 billion rubles (approx. $13.5 mln) to 2,000 international students. These grants covered the round-trip airfare to Russia, dormitory accommodation and insurance.