How to Apply to Russian Universities 2026

Russia admits international students through a centralised portal and individual university applications. The official gateway is education-in-russia.com, operated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Most programmes require entrance exams or portfolio submissions. Students without Russian language skills attend a preparatory faculty for one year before starting their degree. Applications open in March and close in August for the September intake.

Application Channels

Channel	For Whom	Timeline
education-in-russia.com	Government scholarship + self-funded	March–August
University direct	Self-funded students	March–August
Rossotrudnichestvo	Government scholarship only	November–March

Entrance Exams

Russian universities may require entrance exams for certain programmes, especially medicine, engineering, and arts. International students often take simplified versions or submit equivalent test scores (SAT, IB). Many universities now offer online entrance exams for international applicants.

Russian Language Preparatory Faculty

Students who do not speak Russian attend a one-year preparatory programme at a university language faculty. These faculties teach Russian intensively (20–30 hours per week) plus subject-specific vocabulary for science, humanities, or medicine. Cost: RUB 100,000–200,000 per year. Government scholarship covers this fully.

Top preparatory faculties include MGU, SPbGU, RUDN University, and Kazan Federal University. The programme takes you from zero Russian to approximately B1–B2 in 10 months.

Required Documents

• Passport copy
• Educational certificates (translated into Russian and notarised)
• Medical certificate and HIV test
• Motivation letter
• Portfolio (for arts and architecture programmes)
• Application form (online through the portal or university website)

All documents must be translated into Russian by a certified translator and apostilled or legalised. The apostille process varies by country. Start gathering documents at least 2 months before the deadline.

Application Timeline

Month	Action
November–December	Register on education-in-russia.com. Apply for government scholarship (if applicable).
January–March	Rossotrudnichestvo interviews and selection (scholarship applicants).
March–June	Submit self-funded applications. Take entrance exams (if required).
June–August	Receive acceptance. Get invitation letter for visa. Apply for student visa.
September	Arrive in Russia. Complete registration. Start preparatory year or degree programme.

Choosing a University

Russia has over 700 universities. The most prestigious are the 5-100 Project universities (Russia’s top tier). Key institutions: Moscow State University (MGU), St. Petersburg State University (SPbGU), Higher School of Economics (HSE), MIPT, Bauman MSTU, ITMO, Novosibirsk State University, Kazan Federal University, and Ural Federal University.

For English-taught programmes, HSE leads with the most options. ITMO (computer science), SPbPU (engineering), and RUDN (international students) also offer strong English-taught selections.

Graduate Admissions

Master’s (magistratura) applicants need a bachelor’s degree with strong grades and relevant field. PhD (aspirantura) applicants need a master’s degree and a research proposal. Both require recommendation letters and possibly an entrance exam or interview.

Contacting potential supervisors before applying is highly recommended for aspirantura programmes. Email professors with your CV and research interests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply without knowing Russian?

Yes. Start with a preparatory year or apply to English-taught programmes (HSE, ITMO, SPbPU, RUDN).

Is there an entrance exam?

Depends on the programme. Many accept international qualifications (IB, A-Levels, SAT) in lieu of exams. Some programmes require university-specific tests.

When does the academic year start?

September 1st. The preparatory year also starts in September or October.

How many universities can I apply to?

On the government portal: up to 6. Self-funded applications: no limit. Applying to 3–5 universities gives a good range.

Do I need to be in Russia for entrance exams?

Many universities offer online exams for international applicants. Check each university’s international admissions page.

How long is the preparatory year?

10 months (September to June). Some universities offer shorter 6-month intensive programmes starting in January.

Can I transfer from another Russian university?

Yes, with credit evaluation. Contact the target university’s international office for the process.

Is the education-in-russia.com portal available in English?

Yes. The portal is available in Russian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese.