Studying in Russia is a popular choice for international students with a wide variety of interests, be they literature, art, history, or Russian language studies. International students in Russia will receive a high-quality education in a culturally diverse environment. Russia possesses one of the best mass-education systems in the world and has a long-standing tradition of high-quality education for all citizens. Russia’s education system produces a 98% literacy rate, exceeding that of most Western European countries. Russia’s top universities are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg being the most well-known. The top universities in Russia have extremely competitive entry requirements, and hold special entry exams each year.
Russia is renowned for higher education in the sciences, but it is not to be outdone in the humanities and social sciences. Choosing to pursue your education in Russia means studying in the birthplace of some of the world’s most prolific artists and writers.
Aside from its diverse culture, pursuing an education in Russia is made even more exciting with the fact that the country is home to 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, attracting millions of tourists and Russians alike. It’s common practice in Russia for universities to organize student trips to landmarks such as the Red Square, the Kremlin and the Golden Mountains of Altai among many others, making Russia the perfect destination for students itching to explore. Rapid development in Russia over the last two decades have made it an incredibly different destination than the Russia your parents may be familiar with. Continuously broadening its opportunities for international students.
There are five steps to complete the admission process at any university of the Russian Federation:
STEP 1:
Students can apply online. After reading the complete information on our website about tuition fees and courses, first, you have to choose the course.
After choosing the course you should send us the following documents by email:
After reviewing the above-written documents, we will notify you about the acceptance or rejection. If you are accepted, then we will issue your Admission Confirmation Letter in 5 working days.
STEP 2: HOW TO GET AN INVITATION LETTER
You can send us the documents by email or upload them on the website. Please take care that documents should be scanned properly and should be clearly readable.
You can make payment at the Representative Office or to our Bank Account and send us a copy of the receipt to confirm payment. Invitations are issued by the State Home office and it takes 35-40 days’ time to issue the invitation letter.
After receiving the documents and payment, we will send you the Original Invitation letter, Admission Confirmation letter and Visa Support letter to your email.
Student visas in Russia are required for students from most foreign countries. Russia is not a member state of the EU/EFTA, so the EU visa-free entry privilege does not apply for European students. Exceptions to this rule are made for members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Abkhazia, Moldova, Southern Ossetia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
You can begin your visa application once you’ve been accepted into your Russian university, up to 45 days before your planned arrival to Russia. Visa processing typically takes two to three weeks and can be done at your local Russian embassy or visa centre. A Russian student visa is initially valid for 90 days, with the option to extend the visa for a year, and then can be continuously renewed throughout the duration of your studies.
Make sure to register your arrival in Russia at the local GUVM office within seven days of arrival. Failing to do so can result in a fine, or at times, expulsion from Russia. When it comes time to extend your 90-day visa to a one-year visa, contact our admission team or the university’s international office to make sure you have all the tools, information and documents to complete the process successfully.
Student visas in Russia allow international students to combine their work with their studies. You will need to acquire a work permit from the Federal Migration Service (FMS) – unless you’ll be working during the holidays or at your academic institution. The permit requires you to be studying full-time at a state-accredited university and at least 18 years old. The permit costs RUB 3,500 (USD 63), is valid for 1 year and generally takes 10 days to acquire from the regional Federal Migration Service.
Housing & Living Costs
The cost of student accommodation in Russia can range from RUB 200 to RUB 35,000 (USD4.6 – USD 612) per month, depending on where you’re staying, the amenities, and the type of lodging you choose. Among the cities in Russia, Moscow and Saint Petersburg are well known for being the most expensive to live in. Multiple factors come into play when considering the type of accommodation that’s fitting for you, so we recommend doing additional research as early as possible.
