Roughly 300,000 students from other countries are currently studying in Russia. Many of these students can avail themselves of university or government-funded scholarships for free education, making the country one of the top destinations for international students.
Some of the most popular academic fields international students pursue in Russia are Engineering and Information Technology. Since Data Science specialists have been in high demand recently, Russian universities have started to strike partnership agreements with other domestic and international universities to offer high-quality programs and double degrees that could help equip the rising number of students with excellent skills and competencies necessary for the industry.
Many Russian universities take pride in their globally competent curricula and internationally acclaimed alumni and professors who won numerous prestigious awards in Physics, Engineering, Medicine, and more. These universities also rank high in world university rankings, making them suitable for prospective students who aim to earn globally recognized degrees. In this article, we will be looking at the top universities for data science in Russia!
Top Universities for Data Science in Russia
1. Lomonosov Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) is one of the oldest universities and among the top institutions for data science in Russia, established in 1755. The university is also one of the best in the country as it ranks among the top 100 in prestigious global rankings. Its reputation attracted many international students who comprise 10% of the university’s student population of over 38,000.
In partnership with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), the MSU Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics (CMC) offers a joint degree in Master of Science in Advanced Computing and Networks. The program uses English as the medium of instruction and requires applicants to obtain a TOEFL ITP certification.
Students can take theoretical and practical courses divided between the two partner universities. Upon completion, graduates can get two diplomas. One of them is from the MSU CMC, and the other is from Skoltech.
2. St. Petersburg University
St. Petersburg University opened in 1724 as the first university in Russia. The university went through multiple renaming, structure reorganization, and expansions to become the outstanding university that it is today. It is famous for its excellent alumni and professors, including eight Nobel Laureates, who have made significant contributions to the country and the world.
St. Petersburg University has a Russian-taught Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science program that lasts four years. The teaching staff and researchers are globally competent with international connections and experience in the industry. Students can benefit from the curriculum designed to give them advanced competencies in mathematics and programming. The annual tuition fee for students from Russia and Belarus costs RUB291,300, while international students have to pay RUB307,500 per year.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg University delivers one of the best data science programs in Russia and also offers numerous English-taught Master’s Degree programs related to Data Science such as Financial Mathematics, Statistical Decisions & Econometrics, Mathematical & Computer Forecasting, and Qualitative Methods in Applied Economic Analysis.
3. National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
Originally called the Moscow Mechanics Institute of Ammunition that opened amid World War II, the National Research Nuclear University or the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI) is among the top-ranked schools for data science in Russia that started as a training ground for people interested in engaging in the newly developed nuclear industry. Since then, MEPhI has become one of the leading national universities in Russia, having employed six Nobel Laureates and several internationally competent faculty members. It also consistently ranks high in national and global university surveys.
The university offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Informatics for Digital Economy and a Ph.D. program in Mathematical and Instrumental Methods in Economics—all of which include some essential data science competencies in their respective curricula.
The undergraduate degree costs RUB114,400 per semester, while the Master’s degree program costs RUB123,100 per semester. On the other hand, the semester tuition fee for the Ph.D. program costs RUB150,600. All programs are taught in the Russian language.
4. Novosibirsk State University
The conception of establishing a university in Siberia started in the late 1950s to take advantage of the rich resources in the area. The Novosibirsk State University (NSU) officially opened in 1959 and has since expanded to offer numerous scientific and industrial courses that benefited that region. Today, NSU is one of the highest-ranked universities in Russia in science and research.
The Novosibirsk State University offers several Bachelor’s Degree programs along with its outstanding data science curriculum in Russia that provide the necessary credentials to qualify for a future career in data science. The programs include Applied Mathematics & Informatics, Business Informatics, and Mathematics & Computer Science. All of these programs last four years and cost USD4,500 per year.
However, all undergraduate programs are taught using the Russian language. Therefore, sufficient knowledge and proficiency in the language are necessary. The university welcomes roughly 1,000 new international students annually and offers preparatory Russian language courses for applicants to meet the proficiency level required to start studying.
5. Higher School of Economics (HSE) University
The Higher School of Economics (HSE) University is a young institution established in 1992 under the order of the Russian Government. In less than thirty years since its founding, the university grew rapidly to become one of the most reputable research institutions in Russia in economics and social sciences. As a result, the university attracted over 47,000 students and almost 7000 teaching staff and researchers—some of which hail from other countries.
HSE University offers a double degree Bachelor’s program in Data Science and Business Analytics in partnership with the University of London. The program is among the high-quality data science programs in Russia that utilize English as the medium of instruction and lasts four years. Unfortunately, students may not use government or university-sponsored scholarships for this program and have to pay the tuition fee worth RUB750,000 per year.
Students can earn two Bachelor of Science diplomas upon graduation. In addition to the Data Science and Business Analytics degree awarded by the University of London, the HSE University awards a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and Informatics. These degrees can equip graduates with the academic and practical skills necessary to secure a promising career in data science and related fields.
We hope that this article on Best Universities for Data Science in Russia was helpful. Make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.
