Russia – through the National Government – offers a handful of scholarships for international students, immigrants, even Russians living abroad. To date, state-funded spots have been given to 18,000 eligible students. These numbers vary accordingly, as the allocation of these slots depends on the Russian Embassies and the Rossotrudnichestvo. In this article, we will be looking at the Russian Government scholarships for international students.

Russian Government Scholarship Awards

Russian Government scholarships cover the tuition for the entire duration of the program. It also provides dormitory accommodation throughout the student’s academic stay in the country.

While all scholars receive a maintenance allowance, foreign interns undertaking professional training or career advancement are not handed this financial benefit.

Although Russian Government scholarships offer a comprehensive part of the student’s education, they will not cover the scholar’s travel costs, living expenses, and health insurance policy.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

Eligibility Criteria

Compared to most government scholarships, Russia does not have a long list of requirements. As long as you pass the entrance exam (and additional interviews or tests as required by the university) or the Uniform State Examination, you may be considered for the scholarship.

Another way to qualify for a Russian government scholarship is to take part (and win) in tests, interviews, or academic competitions hosted by Russian universities or the Russian embassy in your home country.

Although it’s easy to meet the eligibility criteria for a Russian government scholarship, all applicants are subject to stringent competitive selection.

How to Apply to Russian Government Scholarships

Students who wish to apply for a Russian Government Scholarships must follow these application steps:

1. Contact the scholarship operator in your country.

As mentioned, the Russian embassies and the Rossotrudnichestvo are in charge of the scholarship slots. You need to contact them to inquire about the scholarship programs (i.e. deadlines, degrees available, etc.)

2 Register and fill out the online form.

Once you have confirmed the availability of slots and programs, you may proceed with registering on the scholarship website.

This online form will require you to provide the following:

  • Personal information, including your name, birthday, residence, e-mail address, and contact number
  • Field and level of study you are applying for (there are 14,000 available). You may change these right before you undergo the required exams.
  • Current level of education
  • Level of Russian proficiency

3. Choose a university.

Applicants may choose from up to 6 universities out of the 741 institutions in Russia. However, students may only select 3 options for universities in Federal constituencies – and not more than 2 for universities in the Moscow or St. Petersburg area.

4. Submit other requirements.

You will need to furnish a copy of your passport page and a copy of your birth certificate. Hard copies of certificates that confirm your level of education (diploma, transcripts, etc.) have to be forwarded to the Russian embassy or Rossotrudnichestvo in your home country.

Once you have completed the application process, you may sit back, relax, and wait for the selection process. Depending on the scholarship operator, you will be informed (through e-mail or a phone call) of your need to participate in an interview, exam, or test. Results from any of these will help the selection committee narrow down the list of applicants.

After 1-2 months of deliberation, successful applicants will be informed through personal correspondence or announcements via the embassy or Rossotrudnichestvo website.

The next step is to wait for enrollment confirmation, which will be relayed by the scholarship operator. Scholars also need to provide a medical certificate (including an HIV test) and other necessary documents (translated to Russian).

It is important to note that Arts/Humanities applicants may be subject to additional screening (creative contest) by the university. In this regard, the student will need to apply for a Tourist Visa to accomplish this requirement. Completing this is vital as the student’s acceptance will largely depend on the creative contest.

Once things are in order, the student may apply for a student visa. This procedure, however, may only be accomplished once you receive a visa invitation from the Ministry of Science & Education.

Applicants from the following countries are exempted from the student visa requirement:

  • Belarus
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyz Republic
  • Moldova
  • Tajikistan
  • Uzbekistan

Russian government scholars who are not as proficient in the language must enroll in a preparatory program. This year-long endeavor includes an intensive study of the Russian language – including that of other academic fields (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Mathematics). Applicants must pass the preparatory program final exam to retain their scholarship funding.

Conclusion

Russian Government Scholarships help pave the way for affordable global education. Through this award, students may complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in some of the best universities in the world.

Although this does not cover living expenses and travel costs, the cost of living in Russia is relatively affordable (costs about $300 to $400 a month). Additionally, this may be offset with employment opportunities available for foreign students. Scholars and non-scholars alike may work in Russia according to his/her profession and permit region.

We hope that this article on Russian Government scholarships for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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