Study in Russia

Although it would be easy to dismiss Russia’s accomplishments and just list a number of political leaders who shaped the world politics, the truth is that Russia has given us more than just the cute waltz of “Once upon a December” from Anastasia.

From athletes like Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova, to composers like Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, or Shostakovich, to great authors like Nabokov, and Dostoyevsky (and all other “-evsky”s, and “-ov”s and “-ova”s), Russia gave us of the most influential people in history.

You have to assume that a country that gave us so many celebrities has its universities and teaching system in order, right?

Right! 

Why study in Russia?

1. Studying and living in Russia is affordable

Compared to their Western counterparts, Russian universities are very affordable. Tuition fees range between 1,450 and 7,500 EUR per year, and only a few study programmes costs more than 10,000 EUR.

Living costs are also very low; most international students can handle all monthly expenses with a budget of 300–600 EUR.

2. Apply for one of the 15,000 available scholarships

The Russian authorities have been investing heavily in order to attract international talents. And it is working! Over 300,000 students choose to move to Russia and get an undergraduate or (post) graduate degree there.

The government offers around 15,000 scholarships or state-funded spots, which means the lucky winners don't have to pay tuition fees or worry about living costs.

3. Study at reputed universities, which are well-respected worldwide

Russian universities have a great reputation, both locally and internationally. They are present in global university rankings and stand out from the rest when it comes to disciplines like Physics, Engineering, Medicine, and Social Sciences (e.g. Psychology, Political Science).

4. Enjoy modern facilities and campuses

The investment part we've mentioned in the previous section isn't only limited to scholarships and grants. Russian dormitories and campuses are modern, with the same high level of comfort and utilities you'd expect from any other Western country.

Universities also pride themselves with cutting-edge technologies, laboratories, and research centres — facilities that are there to help students achieve their academic goals.

5. Learn Russian for free

Russian may not be the most in-demand language out there; but it's certainly an asset on your CV, especially if you want to work for an international company that struggles to find employees with advanced Russian skills.

The best part is that many universities organise one-year preparation courses for international students, and if you're one of the lucky ones who earn a scholarship, you don't have to pay anything!

What is it like to study in Russia?

Ignoring everything you know about Russian people, you should know that most students praised the welcoming environment, and how teachers are easily approachable and willing to help with any problems or issues.

Further down the list of “wrong preconceptions about Russia” is the idea that you will only meet surly Russian students. Nope! The selection process is very competitive, the environment dynamic, and the atmosphere multicultural.

Also, the universities encourage students to study on their own, giving them only guidelines and allowing them to go wild with the subjects. For this, they provide great facilities and amazing libraries.

What to study in Russia

Russia, being the behemoth country we know and love, is famous for covering all fields and offering Master’s degrees in all disciplines, ranging from Business Administration to Russian Studies (which sounds amazing, honestly).

Still, because we are helpful, we searched and made this list of the most popular degrees you can study in Russia. 

Here are some good Bachelors we recommend in Russia:

• Bachelors in Economics in Russia
• Bachelors in Computer Science in Russia
• Bachelors in International Business in Russia

If you're looking for Masters, there are plenty to choose from:

• Masters in Finance in Russia
• Masters in Political Science in Russia
• Masters in Computer Science in Russia 
• Masters in Mathematics in Russia 
• Masters in International Business in Russia 

Major cities in Russia

Russia is the biggest country in the world, and 77% of it is just a vast, open and frozen field (never change, Siberia). Also, there are around 15 secret cities, with unknown locations, and mere mentions in top-secret documents.

Considering all this, you can’t be too careful where you end up in Russia, so here are two safe and known cities, where students go to study an international degree. These are:

• Study in Moscow 
• Study in Saint Petersburg 

Which universities and colleges to attend in Russia

With so many options (merely 850 universities, give or take), you will need to sort through them thoroughly; and, let’s be honest, nobody has the time. However, if it makes your decision easier, you can check out universities like:

• Lomonosov Moscow State University, in Moscow

• National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE), in Moscow

• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), in Moscow

• Samara National Research University, in Samara

• Ural Federal University, in Ekaterinburg

• ITMO University, in Saint Petersburg

• RUDN University, in Moscow

Practical Information

In Russia, the Ministry of Education and Science created a website that connects students with universities. You can find here contacts from the international department, descriptions for the programmes, and the curator’s phone number.

After you have settled on the university and programme, the documents you will need to present are:

• Application for admission
• Your ID
• Previous education certificates
• A medical certificate
• Passport photographs

You should note that all documents should be presented with an official copy, translated to Russian.

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for a Russian university

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in Russia, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

In order to follow a Master’s degree in English in Russia, you will have to submit, besides an English certificate, your previous diploma and a cover letter.

The English certificates accepted by Russian universities and organisations are the basic ones, like:

• PTE Academic
• IELTS
• TOEFL

Some universities also accept GRE and GMAT certificates. Please refer to their webpage.

Still, be aware that some programmes may require you to submit your CV, a portfolio, references from teachers, and an interview in English, via phone or Skype.