English-Medium vs Russian-Medium Programs

Two ways to study

Universities in Russia and the CIS offer programmes in two main languages of instruction: Russian and English. The choice shapes your application requirements, how you study day to day, and how you settle into life around campus.

Neither option is universally better — the right one depends on your current language skills, your field, and your goals. The aim of this guide is to help you weigh the trade-offs, not to rank one above the other.

English-medium programmes

A growing number of universities offer programmes taught fully in English, which can suit international students who are already comfortable in English. For these programmes, universities typically ask for a recognised English-language test such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Minimum scores, accepted tests, and whether a waiver applies vary by university and programme, so confirm the requirement on the official admissions page. Availability of English-taught programmes also differs by field and by institution.

Russian-medium programmes and the preparatory faculty

Russian-medium programmes are taught in Russian and require you to follow lectures, exams, and materials in that language. Applicants who do not yet have the needed Russian commonly enrol first in a preparatory faculty (подготовительный факультет), which builds language and subject knowledge before the main degree.

Studying in Russian opens a wider range of programmes and helps with everyday life off campus, but it adds a language-learning stage. Whether a preparatory year is required, and its length, depends on the university — check the official source.

How to choose

Start from your honest current level. If you already meet an English-medium programme's test requirement and that programme exists in your field, an English-taught route can let you begin your degree sooner. If your target programme is taught in Russian, or you want the broadest choice, plan for Russian-language study and a possible preparatory faculty.

Also consider the longer view: learning the local language can make daily life and your wider experience easier, while an English-taught route keeps the language load lighter. Weigh these against your timeline and field.

• Check whether your field is actually offered in English at your target universities
• Confirm the exact IELTS/TOEFL requirement (or waiver) on the official page
• Factor in time and cost for a preparatory faculty if you choose Russian-medium
• Consider how the language of instruction fits your goals and daily life

Verify the details that matter

Language-of-instruction options, English-test minimums, and preparatory-faculty rules differ by university and are updated each cycle. There is no single figure that applies everywhere.

Shortlist programmes, then confirm the language requirements and any preparatory pathway on each university's official admissions page before deciding. Rules change — verify on the official source.