What Russian universities teach foreigners at preparatory faculties
Not knowing Russian should no longer be a barrier for a foreigner to obtain higher education in Russia, as you can spend a whole year learning the language before starting your main degree program.
The Russian education system is very welcoming to international students. Citizens from other countries can apply for a quota for free tuition from the Russian government and they also have the opportunity to dedicate an entire year to studying just the Russian language, so that they can then immediately begin the academic program in their chosen field.
Today, preparatory faculties for foreigners exist at 300 (!) Russian universities.
What is a ‘preparatory faculty’?
Preparatory faculties are structural divisions of Russian universities that prepare international applicants to study educational programs in the Russian language.
Essentially, this is a “year zero” course, with classes typically lasting a full academic year, from September to June. Students spend most of their time studying Russian, which is taught from scratch up to the required level (B1 or B2).
Language cerfiticate of the Pushkin Institute
In addition, at the preparatory faculty, there are subjects related to the student's future chosen specialty, as well as additional courses on Russian culture and history.
Upon completion of the program, students receive a document confirming their level of Russian language proficiency. After that, they can confidently apply to any Russian university.
You can study at a preparatory faculty for free by qualifying for a quota from the Russian government or on a fee-paying basis, ranging from 65,000 to 750,000 rubles per year (approx. US$800–US$9,000), depending on the chosen university and field of study.
Learning Russian as a foreign language
One of the main universities for teaching Russian as a foreign language is the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. There, you can study in various profiles: humanities, economics, biomedical, natural sciences, engineering, as well as technology. In addition to the Russian language, students study five more subjects within their chosen profile.
Foreign students of the Pushkin Institute
“Just after two months studying at the preparatory faculty at the Pushkin Institute, I could have expressed myself in Russian and, after six months, I spoke almost fluently," says Saurabh from India.
“After that, I enrolled at RUDN University and finding a dormitory and settling into a new place was no longer a problem for me. I am grateful to the preparatory faculty for that.”
Getting to know the culture & adapting to life in Russia
A foreign student attend Maslenitsa celebrations in Tambov
The preparatory faculty is not only about learning the language, but also about introducing students to Russian culture and helping them adapt to life in Russia. According to Galina Kuptsova, Dean of the Preparatory Faculty at the Pushkin Institute, the faculty's activities are also aimed at explaining to students that the Russian language is necessary not only for communicating with native speakers and living in Russia, but also for mastering a profession or a new specialty.
“We also consider it an important task to adapt foreign students to the cultural and value background of our country, taking into account intercultural dialogue and opening opportunities for students' personal growth. That’s why the Pushkin Institute annually holds an international Olympiad in the Russian language and subjects taught in Russian for preparatory faculty students, which is attended by students from more than 80 countries studying in pre-university training programs at Russian universities,” Galina Kupstova notes.
In addition to academic classes and Olympiads, students participate in conversation clubs, competitions and cultural events.
“Besides various subjects and classes, we went on excursions and guided tours, to the Moscow Zoo, the Pushkin Museum and also took part in competitions. For example, I sang a song in Russian!” boasts Saurabh.
At the Pushkin Institute
“I am most grateful for having such wonderful Russian language teachers, the first guides for us, international students, in Russia. They taught us not only the language, but also how to understand this new world with an open heart. Their support and enthusiasm helped me move forward even in difficult times,” writes Athari Farhani, a graduate of a preparatory faculty from Indonesia, in her book about Russia.
Preparatory faculties online
Some Russian universities have even started offering the full preparatory faculty program online. For example, at RUDN University, a leader in the number of international students enrolled, there is a Digital Preparatory Faculty. Upon completion of the program, the university issues documents that are also accepted by other universities. The training takes place on a modern interactive educational platform with tutors available 24/7.
Pushkin Institute's preparatory faculty
Several Russian universities have joined forces to create a network preparatory faculty; it’s planned that it will provide the opportunity to take online courses in several core disciplines. The Pushkin Institute, Voronezh State University, Moscow State Technological University ‘STANKIN’, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Tomsk Polytechnic University all participated in its preparation.
An online preparatory faculty is also available, for example, at Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod.
Prepare for admission in your own country
In addition to the preparatory faculties of Russian universities, Russian language learning centers operate in many countries around the world, which can also help you start preparing for admission.
The largest centers are open in the CIS countries and Asia. One of the most successful examples is the Pushkin Center in Hanoi. In May 2025, the governments of Russia and Vietnam signed an agreement to establish this Center on the basis of the Hanoi branch of the Pushkin Institute.
Students of the Hanoi branch of the Pushkin Institute
To prepare for admission to a Russian university, we recommend visiting the education-in-russia.com website (available in many languages). There, you can choose your desired field, see a list of universities and the admission conditions.
Additionally, you can contact your nearest Rossotrudnichestvo office, where they will advise you on options for learning Russian in your country.
Also, in 2024, ‘Rossotrudnichestvo’ organized a preparatory faculty network in Africa for future students of Russian universities. This educational program operates in Zambia, Tanzania and Ethiopia, with the participation of four leading Russian universities.
(And you can also start learning Russian online for FREE, right on our website!)
