🇷🇺 How to apply to university in Russia

Applications go through Education in Russia (government quota) or each university. Programmes usually start: September.

Checked on 20 October 2026 against the official sources listed below.

The essentials

Application system: Education in Russia (government quota) or each universityFree government-quota places are applied for through the Education in Russia selection site; fee-paying places are applied for at each university, from abroad through the ruID app.
When programmes start: September.
International applicants: Quota applicants are selected through Education in Russia, with the selection run in their home country; everyone else applies directly to universities, mostly for fee-paying places.
Language: Russian for most programmes (a preparatory faculty teaches it); some programmes are taught in English.

Key dates

Quota applications are generally accepted from September to December for the following academic year; 2027–28 dates weren't published on the official portal when we checked. For state-funded places in the general competition, the portal gives fixed annual dates: applications from 20 June to 10–25 July and enrolment orders in early August. Fee-paying places follow each university's rules.

The dates for the next intake haven't been published yet. We add them once the official source does.

Your checklist

The usual steps for an international student applying to a bachelor's in Russia, in order. Tick them off as you go — your ticks stay in this browser, with no account.

1.Choose a route: the government quota (free tuition, a dormitory place and a free preparatory year), olympiad results, the general competition, or a fee-paying place.
2.For the quota, register on Education in Russia and take part in selection in your country.
3.For other places, apply to the university — from abroad through the ruID app; the forms are in Russian only.
4.Have your school certificate legalised (apostille or consular) and, if required, recognised.
5.Sit the university's entrance exams, unless you have accepted exam results.
6.Take the preparatory faculty if you need to learn Russian first.
7.Get an invitation from the university and apply for a study visa at a Russian consulate (passport valid more than 18 months), or use ruID if your nationality doesn't need a visa.

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Next steps

Sources

Written by CollegeMatcher in our own words from these official pages, checked on 20 October 2026. Dates change every year.

Study in Russia (official portal) — Education