5 countries & territories
Four-year bachelor's, two-year master's, three-to-four-year aspirantura (PhD-equivalent). Specialist degrees (5-6 years, integrated) common in medicine and engineering. The Russian government offers a quota scholarship (Open Doors) for international students. English-medium programs available at top universities like HSE, MIPT, ITMO, and Skoltech.
Covers: Russia · Kazakhstan · Uzbekistan · Armenia · Kyrgyzstan
Last updated
Application platform
Direct via university / official government admission portal
Intakes
September
Tuition (USD/yr, undergrad)
$3,000–$12,000
Student visa
Russian Student Visa (type O)
Home student of Russia & the CIS?
GlobalStudyBoard is built for international students applying to Russia & the CIS. If you are a citizen or resident, you usually apply as a domestic student — tuition is typically lower, you may qualify for home-student finance, and you do not need a student visa. We don’t cover the domestic home-student route in depth; for fees, funding and the home-student application process, use the official Russia & CIS government and university sources (for example Direct via university).
11 institutions we cover in Russia & the CIS.
Moscow · Est. 1755
Russia's oldest and most prestigious university, founded by Mikhail Lomonosov. Most programs in Russian; an increasing number of English-taught master's programs. Open Doors scholarship covers tuition for top international applicants.
Dolgoprudny (near Moscow) · Est. 1946
Russia's leading institute for physics, mathematics, and theoretical computer science. The "Phystech" tradition combines deep theoretical training with research-lab integration. Several English-taught master's in CS, AI, and finance.
Moscow · Est. 1992
Russia's leading social sciences and economics university with campuses in Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm. The largest selection of English-taught programs among Russian universities, including the popular HSE/UoL double degree in Data Science.
Saint Petersburg · Est. 1900
A top IT and engineering university known for repeatedly winning the ICPC World Programming Championship. Many English-taught master's programs in CS, AI, and photonics.
Moscow · Est. 2011
A graduate-level institute in Moscow focused on science, technology and research, offering English-taught master's and PhD programs in fields such as AI, life sciences, advanced materials, energy and photonics. Education is integrated with research and applied-technology projects.
Astana · Est. 2010
An autonomous, English-medium research university in Astana, opened in 2010, offering undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs across engineering and digital sciences, medicine, sciences and humanities, business and public policy. It follows an international academic model developed with partner universities abroad.
Standardised tests used by universities in Russia & the CIS.
International English Language Testing System
Test of English as a Foreign Language (Internet-Based Test)
Graduate Record Examinations
Graduate Management Admission Test (Focus Edition)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Duolingo English Test
8 curated tracks — pick a path, then go deep hub by hub.
Russia & CIS Admissions · Russian Higher-Ed System · CIS Admissions Systems · Preparatory Faculty In Depth
5 topic hubsRussia & CIS Universities · Russian Universities by Field · CIS Universities In Depth · Verify & Compare Universities
5 topic hubsMBBS in Russia & CIS · MBBS: India Licensing In Depth · Choosing an MBBS University · MBBS & Dental Deeper
4 topic hubsCourses & Careers · Sciences & Mathematics · Arts & Social Sciences · Creative & Performing Arts
7 topic hubsRussia & CIS Scholarships · Govt Scholarship & Open Doors · Budgeting & Student Costs
3 topic hubsRussia & CIS Student Visas · Russia Visa & Migration · CIS Visas & Residence
3 topic hubsRussia & CIS Language Tests · Learning Russian & TORFL · Russian Language In Depth
3 topic hubsStudent Life in Russia & CIS · Living in Cities · Adjusting & Wellbeing
3 topic hubsMost applicants apply via Direct via university / official government admission portal. Confirm current requirements on the official university or application-platform website before applying.
The main intake is September. Application deadlines vary by university — always verify on the official source.
Undergraduate tuition is roughly $3,000–$12,000 per year (USD). Fees change every academic year — verify on the official university website.
Russian Student Visa (type O). Immigration rules change frequently — verify on the official government source before applying.
Full-time students at state-accredited universities may work without a separate work permit; verify current rules on the official source.
Official sources for the visa and work rules above
Free tools
Each tool opens on the destination you have chosen in the header or, if you have not chosen one, on Russia & the CIS, and needs only a free account. The tools keep what you enter, so confirm your own dates and figures on the official site. Where a tool adds something of ours — a validity rule, a university’s details, a cost line — it links the official page or our guide wherever we have one.
Questions students ask
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