Study in Russia: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

Foreign applicants to Russian universities usually apply directly to the university, mostly online, and are admitted through the university's own entrance procedure, a portfolio competition, or a Russian government scholarship quota. Three Moscow universities that teach in English are described here from their own admissions pages: HSE University, RUDN University and Sechenov University.

HSE University runs a separate competition for international applicants to fee-paying master's places. For 2026/2027 the deadline for document submission was August 8, 2026, and its published master's tuition table for Moscow programmes (2025-2026 academic year) runs from 390,000 to 950,000 Russian rubles per year. Its English-taught Master in International Management asks applicants to hold proof of English proficiency and publishes no minimum score. RUDN University has an additional 2026/2027 admission round for bachelor's, specialist's and master's programmes, with documents accepted from September 7 to October 2, 2026 (until 18:00 Moscow time). For English-medium programmes the entrance examination is an interview in English. RUDN's tuition order of January 19, 2026 lists English-taught General Medicine at 12,000 US dollars and Dentistry at 12,500 US dollars per academic year, excluding VAT. Sechenov University accepted documents for its 2026/2027 English-taught General Medicine and Dentistry programmes from June 20 to August 18, 2026, and states a tuition fee of 1,300,000 rubles per year for each. Applicants may choose Russian or English as the language of the entrance examination, and no IELTS or other language certificate is required.

After admission, a foreign student needs a study visa unless an agreement allows visa-free entry. The Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a visa is needed to enter the Russian Federation, that the applicant applies at the Russian consular institution at the place of permanent residence, and that the consulate issues the visa according to the purpose of the trip. For a study visa the applicant provides a passport valid for at least one and a half years, a visa application form completed electronically, photographs, the fee, the original invitation to enter Russia issued by a territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and a certificate of absence of HIV infection valid for 3 months. The documents are submitted in person, and the applicant receives a receipt with the date the visa is ready. The 90 days in 180 days limit does not apply to study visas, and a medical insurance policy is required unless a treaty provides otherwise. RUDN says its study invitation is issued after tuition is paid and the enrolment order is issued, and takes at least 30 calendar days, so applicants should allow time before travel. The Consular Department page states that the visa fee is charged on a reciprocity basis and refers to the consulate's own tariff, so the amount has to be checked with the consulate that will receive your application.