Why Study in Russia for Indian Students? Would you like to study in a transcontinental nation with hundreds of prestigious universities? Then Russia is exactly what you are looking for.
One of the main advantages of studying in Russia is that it is cheaper than in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom or the United States.
In addition, the Government awards thousands of scholarships to international students.
Do you want to know more? Keep reading!
How to Study in Russia for Indian Students? What do you need?
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The Russian Federation is a country that, educationally speaking, has many things to offer international students. According to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Index for a Better Life, Russians are the most educated people in the world.
When we say “more educated”, we refer to the number of inhabitants who have completed upper secondary education. In Russia, 94% of adults between the ages of 25 and 64 have completed their high school education, an astonishing figure compared to other countries.
Although this percentage does not determine the quality of the education received, it does show that education in Russia is available to everyone and that the population is encouraged to prepare for University.
This transcontinental country, the largest in the world, has a history without equality, which goes from the era of the Eastern Slavs to the federal state of the Soviet Union (USSR).
If you are considering studying in Russia, you should know that not only a culture enriched by art, music and literature awaits you, but also an educational environment rich in customs that promote learning in multiple aspects.
In addition, it is a nation that receives some 270,000 international students a year from more than 160 countries. Moreover, as if all this were not enough, the value for money of education in Russia is very competitive.
Currently, there are two types of visas for Russia, which are:
- Student visa. Visa addressed to all foreigners who wish to study in Russia for more than 3 months. The Visa is valid for 90 calendar days. After this time, an extension of one year must be requested. The process is repeated according to the program duration you will study.
- Tourist visa. Visa is aimed at foreigners of some nationalities who wish to visit Russia for a maximum of 30 days. Most citizens of South and Central American countries do not need this Visa.
As you can see, the Visa you must apply for to study in Russia depends on the duration of the program and your nationality. Do not worry if you have doubts, because later, we will talk in detail about each of these visas.
Another aspect you should be clear about before living this experience is the higher education levels in Russia.
Here we tell you what they are, and we briefly define what each one is about:
- Degree. Level aimed at students who have a general secondary education degree or its equivalent in the Russian educational system. The programs last 4 years in the face-to-face modality and are oriented toward fundamental general training.
- Specialist Degree. As its name indicates, the specialist degree prepares the Student to develop as a professional in a specific industry or sector. Programs last a minimum of 5 years and lead to a specialist degree. At the end of the degree, according to the results of the exams, the Student receives an indication of qualification in his title as “Professor” or “Expert in”, among others.
- Master. They are 2-year programs to which people with a degree or specialist degree have access. Master’s studies are designed to deepen knowledge of the selected study area and train the Student for scientific research activities.
- Doctorate. They are studies of at least 3 or 4 years, depending on the modality. Only students with a specialist or master’s degree can enrol in doctoral programs. The education in these courses is very versatile and ranges from pedagogical activity to scientific research.
What if I want to study Russian in Russia? What is the process of learning this language?
In this case, the country offers you many interesting options. Although in Russia, it is not mandatory to speak Russian as an international student (as there are hundreds of programs in English), it is possible to learn the language in different institutions.
There is no specific visa to study Russian in Russia because of the Visa you will need for the course duration. There are many university faculties, summer schools and language centres in Russia where you can learn this Indo-European language. You could speak Russian in 1 year if you put your mind to it!
How Much Does It Cost To Live And Study In Russia?
If you are considering studying in Russia and living in this vast country for a while, you are probably wondering what its cost of living is.
The first thing you should know is that its official currency is the Ruble (in Russian: рубль), and is represented by the symbol “₽”.
Because, since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Ruble lost its value a little, today, the conversion of currencies such as the Dollar ($) or the Euro (€) to Rubles is favourable for international students.
Compared to other European and Asian countries (because it must be remembered that the Russian territory occupies two continents), the price of living in Russia is very affordable.
A person is estimated to need $1,059 per month for basic expenses, such as food, utility bills, clothing, and rent for a flat.
The amount may go up or down depending on your lifestyle and the city where you will live since Moscow and Saint Petersburg are more expensive compared to others like Yekaterinburg.
Tuition prices for studying in Russia are between $1,750 and $12,570 per year, depending on the University, city, and area of Study.
For more information on the cost of living in Russia, we recommend you visit this link on the Study in Russia website.
Scholarship for Indian Students to Study in Russia
The short answer is yes! Studying for free in Russia is possible thanks to the places financed by the Russian Government for international students.
The Russian Government scholarships cover the entire tuition of the chosen degree, a monthly scholarship for the entire period of Study (regardless of the Student’s performance) and availability of accommodation in residence for students of the University, if applicable.
In order to receive this financial support when studying in Russia, you must pass the EGE (Unified State Exam) or the admission exam of the higher education institution to which you are applying. Later we will delve deeper into this topic and explain how the process works.
Study at the University in Russia
Russia is the largest country on the planet. Therefore, we are not surprised that its list of universities comprises more than 700 institutions located in 82 different regions. With so much variety, it is easy to get lost and feel indecisive when choosing a career.
However, thanks to technology, you can compare universities in Russia to see which one suits you best regarding the tuition price, location and type of Study. By entering this link, you will be able to find more than 3,600 higher education programs.
Several Russian universities have positioned themselves among the most important world rankings. For example, Moscow State University ranked 84th out of 500 in the 2020 QS World University Rankings.
Saint Petersburg State University and Kazan State University are the most representative universities in the country.
What are universities going to ask you?
If you already feel motivated and are completely convinced of wanting to study in Russia, then we will explain what the general requirements are to enter the University.
- Bachelor’s degree is legalized and apostilled, so it has international validity.
- A motivation letter explaining in detail why you should be admitted to the program and what your future aspirations are when studying in Russia.
- Certificate of proficiency in English, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Pass the University entrance exam, specially designed for international students.
For master’s programs, you may also be asked for a resume, a letter of recommendation from a professor, and be interviewed in English via Skype or another app.
Remember that these requirements may vary depending on the University, the area of Study and the program of your interest.
What are they going to ask you in a Specialization Institute?
In Russia, in addition to universities, we find other types of higher education centres, commonly known as institutes of specialization. This category also includes academies, conservatories and other educational centres.
Some of the most famous specialization institutes and academies in Russia are:
- Glazov State Pedagogical Institute
- Moscow State Chaikovsky Conservatory
- Moscow Conservatory
- Kazan Institute of Finance and Economics
- Khabarovsk State Institute of Art and Culture
- Bauman Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
- Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Trade and Economy
As you can see, these institutions are oriented to study a particular branch or industry, training specialized professionals.
If you are interested in knowing the admission requirements of these institutes, academies and conservatories, it is best to contact them directly.
As a general rule, you will have to prove your knowledge of English and probably take an admission test.
What is the process to be accepted?
To make it easier to choose a higher education program and Study in Russia as a foreigner. There is a portal called Study in Russia.
There you will find much information that will be useful to you before embarking on your trip. You can also start an application for admission to the University or institution of your interest.
The steps to start the process are as follows:
- Find the profession, University and program of your interest. Before flying, you have to know how to walk, so we recommend you first look at the programs taught in English and the list of universities in Russia where you can enter as an international student. There is a lot of variety, so be patient and choose the one that best suits your needs.
- Learn about financing options. If you are interested in receiving a scholarship from the Russian Government, it is convenient that you inform yourself from the beginning about the process and the requirements. If you cover the costs of your studies on your own or a sponsor does it for you, you can study at any private or state university. On the other hand, scholarship students may only study at state universities or institutions that belong to the scholarship program.
- Register on the “Study in Russia” website. To create an account on this platform, you must enter your last name, first name, email and password. You will receive an email shortly to confirm your account. Check your spam folder if you do not see it in your inbox. Then, by logging into your account, you can start filling out the application form with your personal and academic information, contact details, aspirations, preferred study method, etc.
- Prepare your documents. Some documents you need to submit when applying are a copy of your degree, a list of subjects and assessments, a pre-filled form (issued by the University or Rossotrudnichestvo representative office), a photograph (in case of upon request) and a certificate of English proficiency. It is important to know that these documents must be translated and legalized by a certified notary. Contact the University of your interest directly for more information about the documents.
- Clear the competitive section. At this stage, it is time to present the entrance exam to the University. The exam result will influence the institution’s decision and apply to scholarship students and those who will pay for their studies.
- Receive your invitation to study in Russia. Under normal conditions, you will receive a response within 10 days. Suppose you have been accepted for a program at a university in Russia. In that case, all that remains is to process your study visa, which requires an invitation issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Russian MRE) and the Federal Migration Service. (the SFM of Russia).
If you prefer to start the enrollment process directly with the University, click here and find the ideal institution for you, along with their contact details.
Visas to Study in Russia
Do you want to apply for a visa to study in this world? If the answer is yes, continue reading, and we will tell you about the types of visas, their requirements and the process you must carry out to fulfil your objective.
Student Visa
Do you want to study for a specialist degree in Russia? Then you will need a student visa. This Visa has been created specifically for foreigners who choose Russia as their destination to go to University and become professionals.
It is also the Visa that corresponds to you if you want to study for a master’s or doctorate in Russia, as this document is mandatory for all people who wish to be in Russia for more than 3 months.
Initially, the student visa is valid for 90 days. When that period passes, you will need to apply to the local department of the General Administration of Immigration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for an extension of 1 year.
With your valid student visa, you can travel to and from Russia if necessary. When the extension is about to expire (40 or 30 days before), you must process a 1-year extension again.
You must repeat this process as often as necessary to complete your studies in Russia. For example, if you decide to study for a degree in the face-to-face mode, you will have to request the extension of your Visa 4 times because we are talking about a 4-year program.
What do I need?
- An original valid passport and a copy of the first page. Your travel document must have a minimum validity of 18 months when applying for your Student Visa.
- Official invitation to enter Russia, issued by a valid higher education institution. Important to know that the invitation is valid for 3 months.
- Student Visa application form. To fill it out, click here.
- A recent photograph of 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
- Negative HIV test result. This certificate must contain the data of your passport, as well as of your stay in Russia. It must be signed by a doctor and by you, in addition to containing all the details of the test and the seal of the medical institution that performed it.
- Pay the processing fee. The price of this Visa depends on your country of residence. Contact the Russian Consulate in your country for more information about the fee.
- If you are under 18, a notary’s consent to travel and study in Russia is certified.
Important. This is a list of general requirements. Contact the Russian Consulate or Embassy in your country to find out precisely what documents you will need.
Process
- Gather all the documents. As we have advised you above, you should first contact the Russian Consulate or Authorized Representative in your country to find out what documents you need. You will probably be asked for all of the ones we have mentioned, but there may be an additional document that applies to your particular application.
- Start your visa application online or at the Russian Consulate in your country. Fill in the application form to process your Student Visa. You can do it online or at the Russian Consulate in your country. To do this, you may need to make an appointment. In the electronic form, you must first enter your country of residence and the language (it must be English or Russian). Then, create a password for the system to issue an identification number for your visa application. Keep your application ID in a safe place so you do not lose it. Finally, start entering all the information the platform asks you for, from your personal and Visa details to your visit information.
- Wait for the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Once you have sent your Russian Student visa application, you will have to wait 2 or 3 weeks for a response. You can pay an additional fee if you want to speed up the process.
- Approved Visa? Pack your things! Once you have received your Visa to study in Russia, you can start preparing for your trip and making an estimated budget of the expenses you will have when you arrive.
Remember that this Visa is valid for 3 months, and you must request extensions of 1 year, 30 or 40 days before expiration. If you are in Russia on an expired Student Visa, you risk being deported for up to 5 years.
Can you study and work?
Having a Student Visa in Russia does not directly grant you the right to work since an additional permit must be processed. The good news is that you will not need many documents to process a Work Permit, and you will receive a response in a maximum of 10 business days.
The permit is issued by the General Administration for Migration Affairs of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and is valid for 1 year.
Tourist visa
The Tourist Visa for Russia is a visa that is not mandatory for all countries and is valid for stays of no more than 30 days. There are approximately 60 countries whose citizens do not need this Visa to enter Russia.
Most of these visa-exempt countries were members of the former USSR, such as Belarus, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. However, for Latin Americans, the outlook is very favourable since practically all Latin American countries are exempt from visas.
Foreigners from these nations can enter Russia without showing a visa on their passports. In these cases, the stay can be from 1 to 3 months.
If you want to study in Russia for more than 90 days, you must apply for a Student Visa.
To see the list of countries exempt from Tourist visas for Russia, open the following link. The website is Russian, but you can use the browser’s automatic translator.
What do I need?
If your nationality requires a Tourist Visa, here are the general requirements to request it:
- Visa application form. You find it online and must print it to sign it and paste a passport-size photograph of yourself. To fill it out, click here.
- Original and valid passport. Your travel document must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for at least 6 months from the date of return from Russia to your country.
- Copy of plane tickets or other means of transport where the date of entry and exit from Russia is specified.
- Invitation letter ( visa support letter ). It is an essential document to apply for a Tourist Visa to Russia, where a natural person, a hotel, a company or another type of establishment invites you to visit them. This document is divided into two parts: the tourist services contract ( touristic voucher ) and the confirmation of reception of foreign tourists ( confirmation letter). First, you must specify that you have contracted a hotel service in Russia and your travel itinerary. The second is simply a confirmation from the hotel where you will stay. If you are going to stay with a friend or family member in Russia, this person must process a private invitation letter.
- Travel medical insurance. Details about this document can be found on the website of the Russian Consulate in your country.
- Pay the processing fee. The price of this Visa depends on the country where you are applying. Contact the Russian Consulate or Authorized Representative in your country for more information about the fee.
Process
- Gather all the documents. We first suggest you contact the Russian Consulate or Authorized Representative in your country to find out what documents you will need. The list of requirements we have provided is general, but there may be additional documents you must present, such as travel insurance or proof of financial solvency.
- Fill in the Tourist Visa form. We are talking about the electronic form that we have left you above. When you open the link, you will see that the first thing to do is enter your country of residence and the language. Then, you must create a password to register your visa application and identify with a number. Keep your application ID in a safe place so you do not lose it. Finally, start entering all the data that the system asks you for.
- Wait for visa approval. If you have sent all the documents and filled out the form, all you have to do is wait for the approval of the Visa. Under normal conditions, you should receive a response in a maximum of 20 business days, unless you have requested an urgent visa, where you get a response in 3 business days, but you must pay a larger sum of money.
- Get ready to visit Russia as a tourist. Did they approve your Tourist Visa? Excellent! Now you can travel to Russia and stay there for 30 days.
Can you study and work?
No, a Tourist Visa does not allow you to work in Russia.
In which universities can I study in Russia?
This huge nation of more than 16 million square meters has many universities to choose from. Here are some of the most prestigious and well-known:
- Immanuel Kant Russian State University
- Far Eastern Federal University
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
- Kazan Federal University
- Higher School of Economics
- NI Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
- Tomsk National Research Polytechnic University
- Moscow Engineering Physics Institute
- Saint Petersburg State University
- Boris Yeltsin Ural Federal University
The most sought-after public universities in Russia
ITMO University
Private universities with the best international agreements
- Siberian Federal University
- Visa to study Russian
Currently, there is no specific visa to study Russian. As there is no visa for this purpose, the type of procedure that you must carry out if you want to study this language in Russia depends mainly on the duration of the course.
If it is a short course (less than 4 weeks) and if your nationality requires it, you must apply for a Tourist Visa. On the other hand, for intensive Russian studies at an academy or university faculty.
You must process your student visa and renew it as many times as necessary, depending on the duration of the program.
Where can I study Russian in Russia?
There is an extensive catalogue of language centres, institutions and academies for all international students interested in learning the official language of Russia.
Below we will talk in detail about each of them:
- University preparatory faculties. Programs at these institutions last one academic year and include Russian Study for 4-6 hours a day. Some of the universities that have programs with Russian lessons are the National Research University “Higher School of Economics” (HSE) and the Tomsk National Research Polytechnic University (TPU).
- Courses associated with Universities. These are short courses (1-2 weeks) or long courses (3-4 months) that a Russian university teaches. The Student can choose the level, number of hours and type of program they want to study to learn Russian. One of the most popular is the AS Pushkin Russian Language Institute.
- Summer Schools. They are schools that offer Russian courses in the summer months (June, July and August), lasting from 3 to 8 weeks. In addition to learning Russian, international students who enrol in summer schools participate in exciting cultural activities, such as visits to museums and historical centres.
For more information on the Study of the Russian language in Russia, visit the following website.
What are language institutes or academies going to ask you?
Each academy has its conditions for accepting a student on a course in Russian as a foreign language.
Even so, we have managed to identify some basic requirements, which are:
- Fill out an application form (if one exists).
- Copy of passport, which must be valid throughout the course. If the course lasts 6 months, your passport should not expire in that period.
- Student or Tourist Visa, as applicable.
- A migration Card is issued upon entering the territory of the Russian Federation.
- Take out medical insurance, which covers any expenses related to medical consultations or treatments during your stay in Russia. You can take out this insurance on your own when you arrive in Russia or let the language academy or institution do it for you.
What is the process to be accepted?
In order to be accepted into a course of Study of Russian as a foreign language, you simply have to submit the requested documents and wait for the answer.
In the case of the AS Pushkin Russian Language Institute, the waiting period is 10 days, and they contact you via email.
Scholarship for Indian Students to Study in Russia
Would you like to study in Russia without paying for the degree? There is a way to do it! Thanks to the scholarships and economic support issued by the Government of Russia, international students can access free and quality education.
In order to benefit from one of these scholarships, you must pass the EGE (Unified State Examination) or the entrance exams. The EGE is a test that all Russian school students must take, and sometimes international students.
Whatever the case, the grade you get in the so-called “competitive selection” exams will be the determining factor when obtaining or not your scholarship from the Russian Government.
The body in charge of the section for foreign students in Russia is called “Rossotrudnichestvo”. If you are interested in knowing more about this scholarship program’s requirements and admission process, click here to meet the Rossotrudnichestvo representative in your country.
For more information about the Russian Government scholarships, open this link.
Study and Work in Russia
If you are going to study for a degree or specialist degree in Russia, the most logical thing is that you are interested in finding a job. In this country, a student visa does not automatically give you the right to work.
However, the process of obtaining a Work Permit is not very complicated.
In short, in order to study and work in Russia, you must meet these requirements:
- To be over 18 years old.
- Possess a valid permit issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service.
Moreover,… how and where is this work permit applied for? When you are already in Russia, you must go to the nearest office of the Federal Migration Service of Russia and present the following documents:
- Valid passport.
- Migration card.
- State tax payment receipt.
- Certificate of negative HIV and other infectious diseases or drug addiction.
- Certificate issued by the University where it is stipulated that you are studying one of its programs face-to-face.
- Work contract.
- Application duly completed.
If there is no problem submitting the application and documents, you should obtain your Work Permit within 10 business days. Some additional details you should know about this permit are:
- It is valid for 1 year. At the end of that period, you must extend it according to the employment contract term.
- You may work only in the occupation specified on your permit.
- You can only work in the city or region where your University is located.
- If you abandon your studies, the permit is invalid.
- The permit is granted only to students who attend a face-to-face program at a Public University.
How much does it cost to study MBBSS in Russia?
Approx 4000 $ / 3,00,000 per year
Have you finished your studies and want to stay and work in Russia?
It is not difficult to imagine that after studying for 4 or 5 years in Russia, you want to stay to work and live in this beautiful country. According to the OECD, the employment rate of this nation is 70.3%, higher than the organisation’s average.
In short, if you have graduated from a Russian university, you will have many job opportunities, regardless of your field of Study.
Some of the most demanded professions in the country are medicine, Computer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Law, Environmental Engineering and Ecologist, among others.
