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Introduction — Russia & the Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project
Russia is a country with a long-standing academic tradition, home to world-class universities and leading research centers in STEM, mathematics, and physics. The Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project is an annual international competition that offers fully funded scholarships and tuition-free placements under the Russian Government Quota. Winners receive priority admission to participating Russian universities and the opportunity to study in either Russian or English-taught programs. This scholarship attracts talented applicants from America, Canada, the UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia, offering wide program choices from Bachelor’s to Postdoctoral levels. The competition emphasizes candidate portfolios, academic achievements, and subject-specific tasks. Below you’ll find detailed information about eligibility, benefits, programs, required documents, language rules (including the widely accepted MOI certificate), selection stages, timelines, and how to apply online for the Open Doors scholarship.
Host Country — Russia (Study in Russia: Open Doors Scholarship)
Host country: the Russian Federation. The Open Doors scholarship grants winners the right to study at member public universities across Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, and other major academic centers. Benefits include tuition-free government-funded placements, strong research infrastructure in STEM & research programs, and generally lower living costs when compared to many Western capitals. Programs can be offered in Russian or English depending on the university and faculty.
Eligibility Criteria — Who can apply for Open Doors Scholarship
- Open to international applicants (non-Russian citizens) from all countries.
- Age and degree-specific eligibility by track:
- Bachelor’s track: typically 16–23, completing secondary education and not holding a prior bachelor’s/master’s.
- Master’s track: typically 20–33, holding/completing a bachelor’s degree.
- Doctoral (PhD) track: typically 22–35, holding/completing a master’s or specialist degree.
- Postdoctoral track: typically 24–39, holding a doctoral degree.
- Applicants should not already hold the degree level they apply for (e.g., Master’s applicants should not already have a Master’s).
- Competition languages: Russian and English. Specific program requirements may vary by university and faculty.
- No participation fee — one account per applicant per competition cycle.
Tip: Check the official rules on the Open Doors platform for precise age cutoffs and exceptional cases.
Scholarship Benefits — What winners get (Open Doors benefits)
- Tuition-free study at participating Russian public universities under the Government Quota (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD).
- Priority admission and early placement to partner universities, often without additional entrance exams for winners and prize-winners.
- Access to a tuition-free preparatory (language) faculty if additional Russian training is required to meet program language levels.
- Wide placement options across a large network of Russian universities and faculties — more program choice & research options.
- For postdoctoral winners: potential employment/research positions at host universities.
Note on financial support: Monthly stipends, accommodation support and travel grants vary by host university and faculty. Typical monthly stipend ranges for international students under various Russian scholarship programs commonly run from 1,500 RUB to 12,000 RUB per month, depending on the university, program level (Bachelor/Master/PhD) and available funding. Some top research universities or specialized grants may offer higher stipends or additional support — always confirm stipend & housing details on the specific university’s admissions page.
Available Programs in Russian Open Doors Scholarship — Fields & Degree Tracks
The Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2025 offers tuition-free study for Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral tracks. Programs cover key fields such as:
- STEM: Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology
- Business & Economics: Management, Finance, Economics
- Humanities & Social Sciences: International Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Philology
- Applied & Emerging Fields: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Environmental Science
Each participating university lists the exact programs and medium of instruction (English or Russian) on its admission page.
Documents Required to Apply — Open Doors application checklist
- Valid passport (biopage scan).
- Academic transcripts & certificates (secondary school for Bachelor’s; bachelor’s for Master’s; master’s for PhD) — scans in English or Russian and certified translations if needed.
- Diploma or provisional diploma (if already graduated).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume — education, research, awards, publications, projects.
- Motivation letter / personal statement tailored to the chosen faculty/program.
- Reference letters (if required for doctoral/postdoctoral tracks or particular universities).
- Evidence of awards, competitions, research abstracts, publications — include to strengthen your portfolio.
- Passport-size photo (digital), ID and emergency contact details.
- Proof of language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL/other) if available — see language section for MOI acceptance details.
All documents must be uploaded via the official Open Doors IT platform in your participant account. Keep certified originals for verification during enrollment and visa processing.
English & Russian Language Requirements — tests & accepted evidence
The Open Doors competition operates in Russian and English. Program-level language requirements vary by university and faculty:
- Russian-taught programs: winners with insufficient Russian proficiency can be placed to attend a tuition-free preparatory (language) faculty to reach required levels.
- English-taught programs: many Master’s and selected Bachelor’s programs are offered in English. Universities typically accept recognized tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, or equivalent institutional assessments.
- Proof of proficiency: submit IELTS/TOEFL or other certificates when required, or be prepared for a language interview by the admitting university.
- Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate: Most Russian universities also accept an official MOI certificate from your previous institution (a formal letter or certificate confirming that your prior degree was taught in English) as valid proof of English proficiency instead of IELTS/TOEFL. If you have an MOI, upload it with your portfolio but always confirm acceptance with the target university.
Pro tip: Applicants from high CPC English markets (USA, Canada, UK) often include formal English test scores to strengthen their applications for competitive English-taught programs, even if MOI is accepted.
Selection Process — From Application to Joining in Russia
The Open Doors selection is typically multi-stage and run online. Below is the usual flow from registration to arrival:
- Registration & Portfolio (Stage 1): create account and submit your portfolio (achievements, transcripts, motivation, documents).
- Portfolio Verification & Grading: organizers verify uploaded documents and score portfolio items.
- Online Tasks (Stage 2): timed online subject tasks or tests in your participant account (may be proctored).
- Interviews / Research Matches (Stage 3): for PhD/Postdoc and some Master’s — interviews with supervisors or university panels.
- Publication of Results & Appeals: winners and prize-winners are published in participant accounts; appeals window is provided.
- Confirmation & Enrollment: winners confirm their placement, submit final documents to the admitting university and receive official invitation packages.
- Visa & Arrival: apply for a Russian student visa using the university’s invitation; arrange travel and arrival support with the international office.
Important: exact steps and timelines can differ slightly by year and by university — always refer to your Open Doors participant account and the official platform timeline.
How to Apply — Step-by-step Open Doors application guide (apply online)
- Visit the official Open Doors registration page: https://od.globaluni.ru/register.
- Create your participant account using a valid email and provide personal details.
- Complete your online portfolio carefully — list achievements, awards, transcripts, publications and upload required documents (including MOI if available).
- Select Subject area(s), preferred faculty and universities/programs.
- Complete online Open Doors tasks in the scheduled windows and follow proctoring rules.
- Monitor results, respond to university requests and confirm acceptance if you become a winner or prize-winner.
- Registration & Portfolio filling: 1 September – 16 November 2025 (finalize portfolio by 16 Nov 2025).
- First stage — portfolio grading: 17 – 27 November 2025.
- First stage results published: 28 November 2025.
- Second stage — online tasks: 28 November – 15 December 2025.
- Verification of second stage works: 15 – 21 December 2025.
- Publication of second stage results: 22 – 23 December 2025. Appeals: 26 – 30 December 2025.
- Final lists of winners/prize-winners: by end of December 2025 (check participant account for official notifications).