How to Get Admission in RUDN University (Peoples' Friendship University)

What makes RUDN University distinct

RUDN University — the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia — is a public research university in Moscow founded in 1960. It was built specifically to educate international students, and today it describes itself as the most multinational Russian university, with students from more than 150 countries studying together on one campus.

For an international applicant, this matters practically, not just symbolically. RUDN runs a dedicated pipeline for foreign students — a preparatory faculty, a personal-account admission portal, and international student support — rather than expecting you to slot into a system designed for domestic applicants. That is the main reason it is such a common first destination for students who want a purpose-built international university experience.

RUDN offers programmes at Bachelor's/Specialist, Master's, PhD (postgraduate) and Residency levels, taught in Russian, English and some other languages. The exact list of English-taught programmes changes, so confirm the language of instruction for your specific programme on the official site before you commit.

English-taught vs Russian-taught tracks

RUDN teaches in more than one language, and your track shapes both your application and your preparation. Some programmes are delivered in English, some in Russian, and some are joint or dual-degree programmes with partner universities. Not every subject is available in English, and availability differs by level (a subject may be English at Master's but Russian at Bachelor's).

If you choose a Russian-taught programme and do not yet have the required Russian level, you will normally complete the preparatory faculty first (see below). If you choose an English-taught programme, you may still need to show English proficiency — check whether IELTS, TOEFL or an internal test is accepted for your programme.

• Confirm the language of instruction for your exact programme and level — do not assume it is English.
• English-taught programmes may still require proof of English proficiency (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL or an internal test).
• Russian-taught programmes usually require the preparatory faculty or an equivalent Russian level.

The RUDN preparatory faculty

RUDN's preparatory faculty for international students prepares those who need the Russian language and foundation subjects before starting a Russian-taught degree. RUDN offers a classical (on-campus) preparatory faculty and a digital preparatory faculty with online Russian instruction taken from your home country.

Two features make this route friendly to first-time applicants: admission of documents to the preparatory faculty runs throughout the calendar year, and you do not sit competitive entrance exams to enter the preparatory programme itself. Alongside Russian, you study foundation subjects (such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology or others) aligned to your intended specialty.

The preparatory year is a placement, not a guaranteed pass — you still complete it successfully and meet your target programme's requirements to progress. Confirm current durations, streams and fees on the official preparatory-faculty pages.

How to apply: the RUDN route

International applicants apply directly to RUDN through the Personal Account for International Applicants on the official admission portal (ab.rudn.ru), or by first writing to the international admissions office (intstudent@rudn.ru) with your citizenship, intended level of study, chosen field, and whether you need the preparatory faculty.

For fee-paying (contract) places, admission to Bachelor's/Specialist programmes is by a language proficiency test plus a portfolio assessment of your prior education, achievements and any olympiad or academic work; a separate multi-profile competitive selection is not run for foreign nationals. Master's admission is a portfolio competition, and PhD admission is a portfolio review. Applicants selected for Russian Government scholarship (quota) places are handled through the official Rossotrudnichestvo portal and do not sit RUDN's contract entrance selection.

• Create a Personal Account for International Applicants on the official RUDN portal (ab.rudn.ru), or email the international office first.
• Bachelor's/Specialist (contract): language test + portfolio; Master's/PhD: portfolio-based selection.
• Quota (scholarship) applicants apply through the Rossotrudnichestvo portal — a separate route from contract admission.

Documents, timeline and visa invitation

You will typically need your school-leaving or degree certificate with transcripts, your passport, and any programme-specific proof (language scores, portfolio items). Educational documents commonly need notarised Russian translations, foreign qualifications may need recognition, and your documents may need legalisation or apostille before they are accepted — these are common steps for Indian applicants and are best sorted early.

RUDN publishes admission deadlines each year for each level; degree-programme intakes are seasonal, while preparatory-faculty document intake runs year-round. Once you are admitted to a fee-paying place or selected on quota, RUDN's international office supports the official invitation you use to apply for a student visa at a Russian consulate.

Every date, document list and requirement here is set by RUDN and can change — always verify the current version on the official RUDN admissions pages before acting.

• Typical documents: education certificate + transcripts (with notarised Russian translations), passport, programme-specific proofs (language/portfolio).
• Indian applicants usually need document legalisation/apostille and, where required, credential recognition.
• After admission/selection, RUDN issues the official invitation for the student-visa application.

Is RUDN the right fit — and what to do next

RUDN suits students who want a large, genuinely international campus in Moscow with a built-in support system for foreign applicants, and who are comfortable either studying in English where available or completing a Russian preparatory year.

Before you apply, shortlist your exact programme, confirm its language and whether it is contract or quota, and read the official admission rules for that level. If you are weighing RUDN against Russia's classical or technical flagships, compare the programme, language of instruction and total cost side by side rather than the university name alone.

• Shortlist the exact programme + level and confirm its language of instruction.
• Decide contract vs quota, and read that level's official admission rules.
• Compare against other Russian universities on programme, language and total cost — not brand alone.