STUDY IN RUSSIA
Higher education
ТTOP RUSSIAN UNIVERSITIES

Every year Forbes creates its own unique top universities in Russia. Universities in this list are evaluated according to 4 indicators:
  • demand from employers
  • the quality of education
  • international recognition

1 National Research University “Higher School of Economics” (Moscow, Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg)

2 Lomonosov Moscow State University

3 National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI"
4 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (national Research University) (Moscow region)
5 National Research Technological University
6 National Research University ITMO
7 National Research Tomsk State University (Tomsk Region) 
8 The Bauman Moscow State Technical University
9 Saint Petersburg State University (Saint Petersburg)
10 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (Saint Petersburg)
11 Ural Federal University named after the first President Russia B.N. Yeltsin (Sverdlovsk region)
12 University Innopolis (ANO VO "University Innopolis")
13 Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Moscow)
14 Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov
15 Russian School of Economics (Moscow)
16 Novosibirsk National Research State University 
17 Saint-Petersburg Mining University
18 Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation RANEPA
19 Russian People's Friendship University (Moscow)

20 National Research University "MPEI”

ADMISSION OF FOREIGNERS TO RUSSIAN UNIVERSITIES

Foreign citizens can study at Russian universities both free of charge (under a quota or within the framework of an international agreement), and on a commercial basis - upon concluding a contract for the provision of of paid services. In addition, it is possible to enter on an equal basis with citizens of the Russian Federation and study at the expense of the state budget for citizens of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan. And also, for citizens of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Georgia, if they permanently reside on the territory of the Russian Federation (have a residence permit)
STUDYING BY QUOTA
The quota assumes a state scholarship allocated by the Government of the Russian Federation, which includes free tuition at the university, a monthly scholarship and the provision of a dormitory. Selection of students applying for state. The scholarship is carried out by Rossotrudnichestvo through its network of official representations and through the Russian embassies in other countries. Moreover, the applicant must pass qualifying tests.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO ROSSOTRUDNICHESTVO:

  • Application form;
  • A copy of the education document indicating the subjects studied and the grades (points) received for them; school students submit a certificate of education in the final class with grades for the last half of the year;
  • A copy of the medical certificate on the absence of contraindications for studying in the Russian Federation and a medical certificate on the absence of HIV and AIDS, issued by the official body of the candidate's country of residence; a copy of the passport by which a foreign citizen will cross the Russian border, with a validity period of at least 18 months from the date of commencement of the entry visa;
  • A copy of the birth certificate (if there is any);
  • A copy of the document confirming the level of preparation for admission to studying in specialties in the field of culture and art.
- Studying within the framework of an international treaty
A foreign applicant needs to provide a document,
confirming his right to study on the basis of an international treaty
- Commercially based studying 
A foreign applicant needs to write entrance examinations, the list of which is determined by the university independently.

LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE RECRUITMENT COMMISSION:

  • Application for admission to study indicating the chosen specialty and form of study

  • Identity document of the applicant and his citizenship (original and notarized translation into Russian)

  • A medical certificate of the established form about the absence of contraindications for studying in Russia with a note on the results of an HIV test (or a medical certificate). Please note that it is possible to obtain a medical certificate in your home country. The main requirement is its validity on the territory of Russia, that is, it must be translated and certified.

  • Education document indicating the subjects studied and the grades received (original and notarized translation into Russian)

  • Photos

SITE FOR SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS: https://www.russia.study/ru

If a foreign applicant has the status of a compatriot, it is necessary to present to the admissions office documents confirming:

  • Citizenship of the USSR, citizenship or non-absence for former citizens of the USSR
  • Residence in the past on the territory of the Russian state, the Russian Republic, the RSFSR, the USSR or the Russian Federation, the corresponding citizenship when leaving this territory and citizenship or lack of it at the time of presentation for emigrants
  • Straight line relationship for descendants of compatriots
  • Living abroad
«COMPATRIOTS ABROAD» INCLUDE:

- Citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently live outside the Russian Federation;

- Persons and their descendants living outside the territory of the Russian Federation and belonging to the peoples historically living in the territory of the Russian Federation;

- Persons who have made a free choice in favor of spiritual, cultural and legal ties with the Russian Federation and whose relatives in a direct ascending line previously lived in the territory of the Russian Federation, including:

  • Persons who were citizens of the USSR, living in the states that were part of the USSR, who received the citizenship of these states or became stateless persons;
  • Emigrants from the Russian, the Russian republic, the RSFSR, the USSR and the Russian Federation, who had the appropriate citizenship and became citizens of a foreign state, or who have a residence permit or who have become stateless persons.

HOUSING PROBLEMS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS

The university provides foreign and nonresident students with dormitory places. However, if there are no vacant places, students independently look for an apartment or a room for themselves. If a foreign student is studying by correspondence, then he is provided with a dormitory only for the duration of the session. The cost of a dormitory place varies from 300 to 6 rubles per month. It is important to mention that the student must be registered for the duration of his studies, but the administration of the university is directly involved in the registration of the right to reside in Russia. That is why a foreign student must present their national documents to the university administration within 24 hours from the day of arrival. If it is necessary to travel outside the Russian Federation, all the necessary documents are also drawn up through the administration of the university where the student is studying.
HOW CAN A DIPLOMA HELP IN ACQUIRING A RESIDENCE PERMIT?
A diploma of graduation from a higher educational institution in full-time study with honors (red diploma), obtained at a Russian university, gives the right to a simplified procedure for obtaining a Residence Permit, so now there is no need to issue a Temporary Residence Permit, since you can immediately apply for a Residence Permit.
LIST OF DOCUMENTS:

  • application in duplicate. For different reasons, applications for a residence permit are not provided, so take the standard form for adult applicants. How to fill it out, see our instructions;
  • photographs on matte paper, 35 x 45 mm - 4 copies 
  • state duty – 5 000 rubles
  • a notarized translation of the passport, as well as the passport itself has to be with you;
  • certificates based on the results of the medical commission — a certificate of the most dangerous infectious diseases, an analysis for covid (it must be negative), a certificate from a psychiatrist-narcologist and a document confirming the absence of HIV;
  • a certificate confirming that the income exceeds the subsistence level of the region in which you are applying
  • migration card, migration registration (if there is no registration at the place of residence): originals + copies; diploma with attachments: original + copy;
  • a copy of the license for the implementation of educational activities of the university in which the foreign graduate studied, a certificate of accreditation of the educational program that you received, certified by the university: a copy certified by the university;
  • notarized translation of internal passport;
  • a certificate of no criminal record, if a foreign graduate from a visa country;
  • if a foreign graduate has been living in Russia for three years and has never left the country during this period, then it is necessary to provide documents confirming the right to use accommodation in the Russian Federation (lease agreement, for example)
HOW CAN A DIPLOMA HELP IN ACQUIRING CITIZENSHIP?
Getting a professional education in the Russian Federation with a year's work experience in the field of specialization (confirmed by the Employment Record Book), gives the right to a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship. 
Is only a higher education diploma required? No, in order to obtain citizenship on this basis, you must have a professional education got on the territory of the Russian Federation. The list of basic educational programs includes:

  • Basic professional education programs (professional schools and lyceums)

    1
  • Secondary professional education programs (technical schools and colleges)
    2
  • Higher professional education (institutes, academies and universities)
    3
  • Postgraduate professional education (postgraduate and doctoral studies)
    4
LIST OF DOCUMENTS:

- Statement

- Passport: original and notarized translation of all pages of the passport
- Photos on matte paper, 3 x 4 cm - 3 copies

- State duty payment check – 3 500 rubles

- Residence Permit and a copy of the marked pages

- If there was a change of name, then it is necessary to attach a document confirming the change

- A document on education received in the Russian Federation and its notarized copy

- A document on education received in the Russian Federation with an attachment and its notarized copy

- A document confirming that the applicant is working in the Russian Federation: Employment Record Book (or a copy of the Employment Record Book certified by the employer) and (or) employment contracts or civil law contracts for the performance of work (provision of services)

- Information about the state of the individual personal account (certificate from Pension fund of the Russian Federation)
STAGES OF OBTAINING CITIZENSHIP ON THE BASIS OF EDUCATION AND ANNUAL WORK IN THE FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION:

  • Obtaining a Work Permit 

  • Obtaining a Residence Permit. In some cases, a Residence Permit can be issued without a temporary Residence Permit.

  • Registration at the place of residence. 

  • Submission of documents directly to citizenship.

IMPORTANT

There is no need to wait 5 years after obtaining a Residence Permit in order to apply for citizenship.