International applicants can study in Russia on a tuition-paying basis or, if eligible, through tuition-free routes such as the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation. The official Study in Russia portal advises applicants to check the rules and deadlines on each university’s website. Many applicants also explore university or government-funded scholarships.
Students interested in data science may also explore related fields such as Engineering and Information Technology. Program names, teaching languages, tuition fees, and scholarship conditions vary by institution, so applicants should review the current university pages before applying.
Many Russian universities offer computing, analytics, artificial intelligence, and data-related degree programs. This article highlights several options and links to current university pages.
In this article, we will be looking at the top universities for data science in Russia!
Top Schools Offering Data Science in Russia
1. Lomonosov Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), established in 1755, is one of Russia’s oldest universities. Its Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics (CMC) offers the English-taught Master’s program in Advanced Computing and Networks jointly with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech). The curriculum covers computer networks, distributed systems, data processing and analysis, and machine learning.
Lectures, seminars, and laboratory work are conducted at MSU and Skoltech. Graduates receive diplomas from both institutions. The admissions process includes a written examination in applied mathematics and computer science, a TOEFL ITP English assessment, an interview, and an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Challenge. Applicants who do not submit a TOEFL ITP certificate can take the English assessment at Skoltech.
2. St. Petersburg University
St. Petersburg University was founded in 1724 and describes itself as the first university in Russia. The university states that nine Nobel Prize winners have studied or worked there.
St. Petersburg University offers a full-time Bachelor’s program in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. For the 2026/27 academic year, annual tuition is RUB 400,000 for citizens of Russia and Belarus and RUB 461,200 for other international students.
The university also offers a Master’s program in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Science, which covers machine learning, data analysis, optimization, and big-data technologies.
3. National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI traces its history to the Moscow Mechanics Institute of Ammunition, which was established during World War II to train specialists for the developing nuclear industry. The university states that six Nobel Prize winners studied or worked there.
MEPhI’s Faculty for Business Informatics and Integrated Systems Management lists Data Science and Machine Learning among its research areas. It offers Russian-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Business Informatics for the Digital Economy and lists Ph.D.-level study in Economics.
For applicants from countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States, MEPhI currently lists tuition of RUB 140,800 per semester for the Bachelor’s program and RUB 152,350 per semester for the Master’s program. Applicants should confirm the current doctoral track and doctoral tuition directly with MEPhI.
4. Novosibirsk State University
Novosibirsk State University (NSU) officially opened in 1959. Its Russian-taught Bachelor’s offerings include Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Business Informatics, and Mathematics and Computer Science, which can support further study or work in data-related fields.
NSU states that applicants to Russian-taught Bachelor’s programs should have at least B2-level Russian proficiency to pass the entrance examinations. The university also reports that approximately 1,000 new international students begin their studies each year and points applicants to Russian-language preparatory study options. Applicants should check the current program pages for tuition fees.
5. Higher School of Economics (HSE) University
Higher School of Economics (HSE) University was established by order of the Russian Government in 1992. The university currently reports more than 60,000 students and more than 5,000 lecturers and researchers across its campuses.
HSE University offers a four-year, full-time Bachelor’s program in Data Science and Business Analytics with the University of London. The program is taught in English. HSE lists the 2026 tuition fee as RUB 1,000,000 per year and states that Russian government scholarships, HSE scholarships, and tuition-fee waivers do not apply to this program.
The program page states that graduates receive HSE University’s Bachelor of Science diploma in Applied Mathematics and Informatics and are prepared for University of London examinations. HSE University also offers an English-taught, full-time Master’s program in Data Science.
Data science programs can prepare students for work involving data collection, storage, analysis, modeling, and interpretation. Before applying, review each university’s current admissions page for the program language, tuition fees, scholarship restrictions, and entry requirements.
We hope this article on the Best Universities for Data Science in Russia was helpful. Make sure to check out the Study in Russia and Available Data Science Programs for International Students pages to learn more about studying abroad.
