Russia Government Scholarships - International Scholarships

Russia is one of the few countries in the world that offers foreign citizens the opportunity to pursue their studies without paying tuition fees.
This country is well known for its high academic standards, especially in the field of mathematics, natural sciences, and physics.
Russia is recognized worldwide for training mathematicians, chemists, physicists, engineers, geologists, physicians, programmers, and specialists in natural sciences.

Scholarship Overview

The Russian Government awards several thousand scholarships or quotas to international students every year.
These scholarships were established with the sole purpose of strengthening ties between Russia and international students.
In 2017, Russian universities were allocated 15,000 quotas.

Host School(s)

Fields of Study

Scholarships are available for all fields offered at the universities, at all levels.
Courses available include Medicine, Pharmacy, Agriculture, IT, Forestry, Fishing, Management, Applied Geology, Economics, Mining, etc.

What does the scholarship cover?

Recipients of this scholarship are entitled to:

Free tuition for the duration of the study program
A maintenance allowance of approximately 1500 rubles per month for the entire study period
Dormitory accommodation, if available

How many scholarships are given?

Which countries are targeted?

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

Be an international student and a foreign citizen
Possess the necessary English language requirements for the chosen course. Applicants opting for study in French or English will have an interview to assess their language proficiency. Results for any language tests taken must be presented.
Have finished secondary school or vocational school (technical school, lyceum, high school, etc.) if applying for a Bachelor’s program. Your educational level on completion of secondary/vocational education should match that of a secondary school graduate in Russia.
Have completed a Bachelors degree if applying for a Master’s program
Have passed any competitive selection for the scholarship in your home country
Have documentation proving completion of secondary education if applying for a Bachelor’s degree
Have documentation proving completion of a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent if applying for a Masters program

NB: Depending on the course selected, a Russian language course may be a compulsory part of the study program.

How Do I Apply – Next Steps

Look for information on the selection of international applicants on the Study in Russia The scholarship announcement is also published on the Rossotrudnichestvo representation website and the website of the Russian embassy in your country.
Contact the Russian embassy nearest to you, preferably in your home country for information on the available scholarships and the fields of study.
Register on the Study in Russia website, fill in the electronic form and submit your application. You can choose up to 6 universities, in order of preference, from those listed on the quota. The following documents should be attached to the application.

A copy of your passport, valid for at least 18 months from the date of your planned arrival in Russia, or a copy of your birth certificate
Copies of your certificates or documents indicating your current level of education and qualifications received
These documents can be submitted as hard copies to the Russian Embassy.

Wait for an invitation to participate in the selection process – interviews, tests, and examinations. The schedule may be posted on the embassy website, or you may get a direct email.
Look for your name in the list of successful candidates (based on the results of the selection process)
If you appear on the list of successful candidates, prepare the following additional documents.

A medical/doctor’s certificate confirming that there are no medical reasons that will prevent your admission into a Russian university, including the results of an HIV test.
Copies of documents (including a birth certificate and one colored passport size photo) listed on the Rossotrudnichestvo website. These documents must be notarized and translated into Russian.
You can attach these documents to your electronic form and submit them online, or deliver the hard copies to the Russian Embassy.

Wait for a notification/letter that confirms your enrolment in the university, and contains information on the next steps.

NOTE:

Applicants who do not know sufficient Russian for study in their chosen subject are enrolled in a preparatory department where they spend a year studying Russian and other general education disciplines relating to the field of study.
Any applicant who is interested in enrollment in Arts and Humanities must take part in creative contests (additional exams) at the universities. The applicant will, therefore, need to enter Russia on a tourist visa for this purpose. Acceptance into the program is pegged on the outcome of this creative contest.

Closing Date

How do I get more information?