The Russian Government Scholarship is offered to international students who are interested in studying in Russia. Since it is a merit-based scholarship, all tuition fees for specific full degree programs are waived for international students. Certain groups of foreigners, Russians living abroad, and immigrants can apply for state scholarships on the same terms as Russian citizens once they pass entrance exams or Uniform State Examination (EGE).
Moreover, every year Russian government provides so-called ‘state-funded spots’ at universities to international applicants. In 2021, 18,000 such spots were granted.
Application Criteria for Russian Government Scholarships
- Scholarships are not applicable to master’s degree programs that lack budget places.
- The size of the Russian Government Scholarship offered to international students will be fixed and granted to foreign nationals for the complete study period. However, each year it will be necessary to confirm this with good academic performance.
- This means that a recipient should meet the following requirements:
- Not be subject to disciplinary action in the form of reprimand
- Upon completion of each and any interim assessment (before retakes), he/she should have no more than two grades lower than 6 (on a 10-point grading scale)
- Not miss any assessments for no valid reason.
The benefit of the Russian Government Scholarships
The Russian Government Scholarships includes:
- free tuition for the entire duration of the chosen program
- maintenance allowance (for the entire duration of study regardless of the candidate's success) dormitory accommodation (if available).
Does NOT include
- travel costs;
- living expenses;
- voluntary health insurance policy.
Terms and Conditions
A foreign national may be granted only one scholarship at a time. Should a foreign national be eligible for greater than a single scholarship, he/she may select only one scholarship at his/her own discretion.
Eligible Nationalities for Russian Government Scholarships
Countries eligible for the Russian Government Scholarships are specified below:
- From countries that have quotas allocated for the current academic year, including fellow citizens living abroad
- Certain categories of foreigners
- Citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, residing in the Russian Federation
- Citizens of Georgia living in the Russian Federation (Agreement 1992).
- Russian citizens living abroad
- Russian citizens permanently residing outside Russia
- Former citizens of the USSR and their descendants living abroad
- Relatives of people from the Russian Federation, the Russian Republic, RSFSR, USSR, and Russian Federation
- Resettlers
Special Note
International students (university graduates) who are completing internships in programs of additional vocational education (professional training or career advancement) do not receive a maintenance allowance but do receive accommodation in the dormitory of their university.