A degree in humanities can open many opportunities. If you’re interested in studying different cultures, languages, histories, ideas, and societies, you can consider majoring in humanities.
There are many reasons to study humanities in Russia. Studying the country’s culture, people, and history can expose you to a long academic and cultural tradition that can enrich your education. Russian universities can also be comparatively affordable. Tuition fees vary by university and program, but the official Study in Russia portal lists the average cost of studying at a Russian university at about 220,000 rubles per year.
Now, what Russian university should you pick if you’re going to study humanities? In this article, let’s talk about some of the strongest universities for humanities in Russia!
Top Schools Offering Humanities Programs in Russia
1. Lomonosov Moscow State University
One of Russia’s largest and most prominent educational institutions, Lomonosov Moscow State University was founded in 1755. It is considered the oldest Russian university and is the largest classical university in Russia. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, MSU is listed at #=115 globally, making it the highest-ranked Russian university in that ranking.
Lomonosov Moscow State University has a broad range of disciplines, from engineering and medicine to the arts and humanities. It offers humanities-related study through faculties and departments focused on areas such as history, philology, languages, culture, philosophy, and the arts. Students in these fields can study at a major research university with extensive academic infrastructure.
Its humanities-related faculties, including History, Philology, and Philosophy, support study and research at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. These areas continue to play an important role in the university’s academic work and in Russia’s broader humanities scholarship.
2. Saint Petersburg University
Saint Petersburg University traces its history to 1724 and is widely recognized as one of Russia’s most important higher education institutions. It offers multidisciplinary academic programs that provide students with theoretical and practical foundations for their chosen fields. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Saint Petersburg University is listed at #=390 globally.
Saint Petersburg University offers humanities-related programs through areas such as arts and humanities, liberal arts and sciences, history, languages, culture, and related interdisciplinary fields. Its Arts and Humanities undergraduate program is offered full time in English and Russian, and the university also offers a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs across its academic structure.
Students majoring in humanities and related degrees can benefit from an interdisciplinary academic environment. Depending on the program, they may combine humanities study with foreign languages, social sciences, arts, and cultural studies. The university remains visible in international rankings and continues to attract students from Russia and abroad.
3. Tomsk State University
Since its establishment, Tomsk State University has built a reputation in education and research. The university received National Research University status in 2010 and continues to attract local and international students across many academic disciplines.
Tomsk State University offers humanities-related study and research through academic units such as the Faculty of Historical and Political Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Philology, Faculty of Journalism, Faculty of Foreign Languages, and Institute of Arts and Culture. These areas cover fields such as history, politics, philosophy, languages, literature, culture, arts, media, and related disciplines.
International students are an important part of Tomsk State University’s academic community. Current public profiles note that the university enrolls international students from dozens of countries, and QS lists Tomsk State University at #=510 in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
4. Higher School of Economics
Located in Moscow, HSE University is another strong Russian university for students who want to study humanities. The university is a major research and academic institution with programs across many fields, including humanities, social sciences, economics, computer science, and related areas. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, HSE University is listed at #=423 globally.
HSE University’s Faculty of Humanities was created in 2014 to train specialists in areas such as language and literature, philosophy, history, and modern culture. Today, the faculty includes the School of Philosophy and Cultural Studies, School of History, School of Linguistics, School of Philological Studies, School of Foreign Languages, and Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies.
The Faculty of Humanities offers bachelor’s and master’s programs, as well as doctoral-level study in related fields. Students can personalize their academic path and study across related schools within the faculty. HSE is also highly visible in subject rankings, including arts and humanities rankings.
5. Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University
Founded as St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute in 1899, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is a national research university with a strong technical tradition. It also offers education and research in social sciences and humanities. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, the university is listed at #619 globally.
The Institute of Humanities at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University was formed by uniting the Institute of Applied Linguistics and the Institute of Liberal Arts. It teaches foreign languages and liberal and social arts for bachelor’s and master’s students in several majors, and it also offers additional qualifications such as translation training.
Because the university is a polytechnic institution, its humanities programs are offered alongside fields such as engineering, information technology, natural sciences, management, and economics. This gives students an interdisciplinary environment and helps them develop communication, cultural, analytical, and professional skills.
One way to maximize your degree is to study abroad and explore another country, where you can meet different people, gain a broader perspective on your studies, and develop global skills.
We hope this article on some of the Best Universities for Humanities in Russia was helpful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Study in Russia and Programs in Europe for International Students!
