Frequently asked questions

Read the guide that matches your plan: studying, visiting or living in Russia. If you come from Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Nigeria or Senegal, the country guides add the steps to take from home. Then fill in the Start your journey form, tell us about your plans, and we will reply by email with your next steps.

In English, French and Russian. All our guides are available in the three languages, and you can write to us in any of them; we reply in the same language.

It depends on the university, the city, the program and its level, whether you need a preparatory year, and whether you live in a dormitory or a private flat. Each university sets its own tuition fees, so check them on its official website. The state quota covers tuition, but you still pay for flights, health insurance, living costs, and visa, medical and document fees.

Yes. Every guide ends with a checklist you can tick on screen or print, and the Printable checklists page puts them all together so you can print them or save them as a PDF. Your ticks on screen are remembered in your browser.

No. We guide you, explain the documents and steps, and answer your questions, but you submit your applications yourself. We do not apply on anyone's behalf, issue invitations or visas, or sell places, and nobody can guarantee you a place.

Most programs are taught in Russian. Some universities also offer programs taught in English, so check the language of instruction of each program on the official Study in Russia portal or on the university's website. Even on an English-taught program, some Russian will make daily life much easier.

No. If your program is taught in Russian and you do not speak it yet, you start with a preparatory year. In most cases it lasts one academic year and ends with exams in Russian and in the subjects of your track. B1 (TORFL-1) is the usual level to start a bachelor's degree in Russian, and you can begin learning at home with our courses from A0 to B1.

The main route is the Russian Government scholarship, known as the state quota. It usually covers tuition for the whole program, including the preparatory year if you need it, and pays a monthly stipend, but not flights, insurance or living costs. You apply online on the official portal, then take part in a selection in your country. Some competitions, such as the Open Doors olympiad, can also lead to a scholarship.

Start about a year before you want to begin. The academic year starts on 1 September, and the state quota usually takes applications from mid-September to mid-January for studies starting the following autumn. For paid places each university sets its own deadlines, and the student visa alone takes several weeks, so do not wait until the summer.

Your school or university diploma usually needs to be recognised by the time you enrol. For some countries recognition is automatic under a treaty; otherwise it goes through an official procedure, and some large universities can recognise documents themselves for their own admissions. In most cases your documents also need an apostille or consular legalisation, depending on your country, and a Russian translation certified by a Russian notary. Ask the university's international office which steps apply to you.

Only if your country is on the list on the official e-visa website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The unified e-visa is for tourism, private and business visits and some events; it is single entry, valid for 120 days from issue, for a stay of up to 30 days. Citizens of many countries, including Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Nigeria and Senegal, are not eligible and need a regular visa from a Russian consulate. The e-visa never covers study.

Late spring and summer, roughly May to September, are the easiest months, with long days and mild to warm weather. In June, St Petersburg has its famous white nights, when it barely gets dark. Winters are long, cold and snowy, and they can be beautiful if you bring really warm clothes.

Not if it is a Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card issued abroad: these cards do not work in shops, online or at cash machines. Foreign UnionPay cards are accepted in some large shops and hotels, but not everywhere. Bring enough cash in US dollars or euros, and if you stay longer, open a Russian bank account with a Mir card after you arrive.

Not as easy as before. Since 1 January 2025, foreigners can only get a SIM card in person at a mobile operator's office, with a verified Gosuslugi account, a SNILS number and biometric data. For a short trip, plan to use Wi-Fi and ask your home operator whether roaming works in Russia. If you stay longer, take these steps soon after you arrive, because a Russian number is often needed to open a bank account.

In most cases, yes: you must be registered with the migration authorities within 7 working days of arrival. In a hotel, the hotel does it for you within one working day; in a private flat, your host does it. Keep the proof of registration with your passport.

Yes, in most cases. Full-time students in state-accredited programs can work in their free time without a work permit, and any student can work during the holidays or at their own university. Preparatory-year students are limited to holiday work and jobs at their university. Your employer must notify the migration authorities, and these rules are due to change in 2027, so check the current rules before you sign a contract.

Many international students live in a university dormitory, and state quota students usually get a dormitory place for a small monthly fee. Others rent a private flat or room. Wherever you live, you must be registered within 7 working days of arrival: the university's international office does it for dormitory residents, and the landlord does it for a private flat.

If you study at a state university or research institute, your spouse, your children under 18 and adult children who depend on you can get a study visa valid as long as yours. Since 1 April 2025, foreign children must pass a Russian-language test and show proof of legal stay before they can enter a Russian school. Before you travel, ask your university what housing is possible for a family.

As a student you can stay for up to 30 days after you graduate, or up to 180 days if you hold a temporary residence permit for education. To keep working in Russia you need a work permit or highly qualified specialist status. The law also opens a path to permanent residence for some graduates, for example those with an honours diploma, but some of these rules change in 2027, so ask the migration authorities how they apply to you.

Get registered within 7 working days, then take the compulsory medical examination within 30 days of entry, which since 1 September 2026 applies to everyone staying more than 90 days. Have your fingerprints and photo taken within the same 30 days, as universities advise. You also need health insurance for your whole stay, which universities usually require.

The Russian Government scholarship pays tuition at a state university, including the preparatory year if you need it. You apply online on the official portal, choose up to six universities and then take part in a selection in your country, which may include an interview or a test. The round for the 2027/28 academic year is open now and usually closes in mid-January 2027, but the deadline in your country can be earlier. Results usually come in April or May.

Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project is an international olympiad for people who want to do a bachelor's, master's or PhD in Russia. Winners can get a scholarship to study at a Russian university. Subjects, rules and dates change each year, so check them on the official Open Doors website, linked in the listing on this page.

No. State quota and olympiad places are awarded only through the official application and selection, and nobody can buy one for you or guarantee it. If someone asks you for money for a place, do not pay, and apply only through the official channels. If you are unsure whether an offer is genuine, write to us before you do anything.

Yes. When partner universities and organisations share internship and job offers with us, we will add them to this page. New offers go out in our newsletter first, so subscribe to hear about them early.

Write to us at info@rusbridge.org or on Telegram at rusbridge24, or call +7 905 526-27-22. You can also fill in the Start your journey form and describe your plans, and we will reply by email with your next steps.

English, French and Russian. Write to us in the language you prefer, and we will reply in the same language.

Write to us at info@rusbridge.org with a few lines about your organisation and what you would like to do together, for example sharing programs, opportunities or events with our community. We will reply to discuss the next steps. Partners' names appear on this page once an agreement is signed.

Write to us by email or on Telegram and tell us who you are, which languages you speak and how you would like to help. Volunteers already take part in our weekly speaking club, and we will tell you where help is needed now.