The number of free of charge students is limited by the number of state scholarships (quota places) which are awarded each year by the Russian Federation to foreign students.
Within the context of the licence awarded, higher education institutions are themselves responsible for setting the number of places available to foreign, by definition, fee-paying students.
Foreign students seeking admission to a higher education institution in the Russian Federation must hold a certificate of maturity confirming that they have completed upper secondary education. This school leaving certificate should qualify the holder for admission to higher education in the issuing country. Furthermore, foreign applicants must submit a medical certificate confirming their good state of health. Once in the Russian Federation, the applicant will be required to sit a Russian language examination.
Applications for places for which the Russian Federation awards state scholarships (quota places) and for which tuition fees are not charged must be submitted to the Ministry for General and Professional Education (Admissions Committee for Foreign Students).
Applications for programmes for which tuition fees are charged and for which state scholarships are not available may either be processed by the Admissions Committee at the Education Ministry or directly by the higher education institution itself.
Candidates applying for courses in art-based subjects, (art, architecture, etc.) must satisfy special requirements by submitting samples of their works.
Applications must be submitted by 15 May of the year in which applicants wish to commence their studies.
Recognition of foreign certificates and degrees
Two national bodies in the Russian Federation are responsible for the recognition of foreign certificates and degrees. The Ministry for General and Professional Education handles the recognition of certificates and degrees related to higher education and professional qualifications. The Supreme Certification Committee is responsible for the recognition of doctorates. All recognition and equivalence measures are co-ordinated by the Russian Interagency Council on the Recognition of Higher Education Certificates, Degrees and Periods of Study.
For the recognition of higher education and professional certificates and degrees gained abroad, applicants must submit the following documents:
- application form;
- educational certificate or degree (original or legally-certified copy, for example by a notary public);
- supplements to the certificate or degree, where appropriate (original or legally-certified copy, for example, by a notary public). The Russian Federation has also concluded bilateral and international agreements on the mutual recognition of certificates and degrees with more than 60 countries.
Foreign students will be required to attend a preparatory course which involves study in the Russian language and in relevant academic subjects. Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for admission to state-allocated study places for which tuition fees are not charged.
Fee-paying foreign students will normally be required only to pass the language test in order to be qualified for admission.
Knowledge of the language of instruction
Proficiency in the language of instruction is essential to successful study. Consequently, foreign students must attend a Russian language course and pass the final examination in order to be qualified for admission. Where another language is the language of instruction for a particular course, students will also be required to prove their proficiency in this language.