Russia is the largest country on the planet - spanning eleven time zones from West to East - and, with well over 140 million people, the 9th most populous country.

Russia’s popularity among international students has grown over recent years. To say that as a foreign student in Russia you can expect an exciting time would be a severe understatement.

Universities in Russia

Russia is a highly educated country, with a long academic tradition. Its universities have spawned many great minds, among them a number of notable Nobel prize winners.

In recent years, Russia has been making an enormous effort to modernise its higher education system and open it up to foreign students. At the same time, the government-led “Project 5-100” has been aiming at bringing at least 5 Russian universities into the top 100 into the most respected global university rankings. The initiative has started to show results; more than a dozen Russian universities are now among the world’s top 500, and the results are improving every year.

The most prestigious by far is Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). But there are countless other great universities in Russia. All in all, if you want to study in Russia in English, you can choose from well over 500 Bachelor programmes, Master programmes and PhD options, and that number is growing every year.

Tuition fees in Russia

As a foreign student studying in Russia, you will find relatively affordable tuition fees. Most of the study programmes - regardless of whether you want to get your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Russia - cost well below 5,000 euros per year, and many even less than 2,000 euros per year. Students from certain regions and with an outstanding academic track record might even qualify a for government scholarship, covering the tuition and in some cases also the cost of living.