Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026: Study Tuition-Free in Russia at Leading Universities
International students looking for an opportunity to study in Russia can apply for the 2026 Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project, an international competition that offers talented students and young researchers the opportunity to pursue tuition-free higher education or research careers at leading Russian universities.
The competition is organized by the Association of Global Universities and supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo. Participation is completely free and takes place online.
The 2026 competition is open to international citizens and stateless persons and has opportunities at Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral (PhD), and Postdoctoral levels.
About the Open Doors Russian Scholarship
The Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project has been held annually since 2017. It brings together talented young people from around the world and provides a streamlined route to studying or conducting research at participating Russian universities.
The 2026 edition is the 10th consecutive edition of the competition.
According to the organizers, the project has attracted more than 618,000 participants from over 200 countries, with more than 16,700 participants becoming winners or runners-up over the years.
The competition covers 14 interdisciplinary subject areas and is conducted entirely online in English or Russian.
Scholarship Benefits
Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral Winners
Winners of the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral tracks receive the right to study in Russia under the Education Quota for foreign citizens, with tuition funded from the Russian federal budget.
Benefits include:
- Tuition-free study in the selected programme.
- Study programmes taught in English or Russian.
- One year of complimentary Russian-language training for students whose selected degree programme is taught in Russian.
- The opportunity to choose a university and degree programme through a streamlined, one-stop system.
- Priority in selecting eligible degree programmes at participating universities, subject to meeting the required language proficiency.
- Access to an engaging student experience and campus environment.
- Ongoing academic support and assistance throughout the study journey.
- If additional Russian-language preparation is required, the preparatory programme is also funded from the federal budget.
- Winners who complete the Russian-language preparatory programme and meet the required proficiency level are guaranteed a place in a Russian-taught degree programme.
Important: The official information specifically guarantees tuition funding through the Russian Government quota. Applicants should not assume that the scholarship automatically covers every living or travel expense.
Benefits for Postdoctoral Winners
Postdoctoral winners receive:
- A postdoctoral research position at an organizing Russian university.
- The opportunity to choose a university research project through a one-stop process.
- The opportunity to work under the guidance of world-renowned scientists.
- Access to state-of-the-art research equipment.
- Continuous support throughout their research work.
Who Can Apply?
The Open Doors is open to foreign citizens and stateless persons, including compatriots living abroad.
Applicants must meet the requirements for their chosen track.
1. Bachelor’s Track
Applicants must:
- Be 16–23 years old as of August 20, 2026.
- Not already hold a Bachelor’s, Specialist or Master’s degree.
- Hold, or be expected to obtain during the academic year, an educational qualification that makes them eligible for admission to higher education under the laws of their country of study.
The general qualification expected is completed general secondary education.
2. Master’s Track
Applicants must:
- Be 20–33 years old as of August 20, 2026.
- Not hold a Specialist or Master’s degree.
- Hold, or be expected to obtain during the academic year, a higher-education qualification equivalent to at least a Bachelor’s degree.
3. Doctoral/PhD Track
Applicants must:
- Be 22–35 years old as of August 20, 2026.
- Not have completed a doctoral/PhD degree programme.
- Hold, or be expected to obtain during the academic year, a Specialist or Master’s degree.
4. Postdoctoral Track
Applicants must:
- Be 24–39 years old.
- Hold a PhD, Candidate of Sciences or Doctor of Sciences degree as of the registration opening date.
Available Subject Areas
Applicants can choose from 14 subject areas:
- Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence
- Biology and Biotechnology
- Business and Management
- Chemistry and Materials Science
- Clinical Medicine and Public Health
- Computer and Data Science
- Earth and Environmental Sciences for Sustainability
- Economics and Econometrics
- Education and Psychology
- Engineering and Technology
- Physical Sciences and Technology
- Politics and International Studies
- Russian Language and Culture
- Urbanism and Civil Engineering
The competition covers a wide range of disciplines, including biotechnology, medicine, artificial intelligence, engineering, business and political science.
Universities Participating in the Open Doors
The competition is organized with leading Russian universities, including:
- Far Eastern Federal University
- Bauman Moscow State Technical University
- First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
- HSE University
- ITMO University
- Kazan (Volga region) Federal University
- MGIMO University
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)
- Moscow Polytechnic University
- Moscow State University of Civil Engineering
- National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
- National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
- National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University
- National Research Tomsk State University
- Novosibirsk State University
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
- Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
- Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”
- Samara National Research University
- Siberian Federal University
- Southern Federal University
- University of Science and Technology MISIS
- University of Tyumen
- Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin.
How the Open Doors Competition Works
The number of stages depends on the track.
Bachelor’s and Master’s Tracks
There are two stages:
Stage 1: Portfolio competition and entrance test.
Stage 2: Open Doors tasks/final competition.
Doctoral Track
There are three stages:
- Portfolio competition and entrance test
- Open Doors tasks
- Interviews with prospective research supervisors and/or Doctoral Track managers
Postdoctoral Track
There are also three stages:
- Portfolio competition and entrance test
- Video presentation of research achievements
- Interviews with research project leaders.
Stage 1: Portfolio and Entrance Test
Participants must register online and select their preferred track and subject area.
The portfolio includes:
- Personal achievements relevant to the selected subject area
- Entrance test
- Motivation letter
- Supporting documents
Applicants can include research papers, certificates, awards, honours and other achievements relevant to their selected subject area.
Supporting documents must be in Russian or English. Documents in another language must be accompanied by a translation into the language selected for participation.
All portfolio text must be completed in English or Russian.
Participants must also upload a scanned copy of the passport they intend to use for identification in Russia. The name, date of birth and citizenship entered during registration must match the passport exactly.
Stage 2
For Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral applicants, Stage 2 is conducted online using proctoring technology.
Participants must:
- Register for Stage 2 through their Open Doors account.
- Select an available time slot.
- Review the Stage 2 rules and procedures.
- Ensure their computer meets the technical requirements.
- Have a stable internet connection.
- Complete identity verification using their webcam and passport.
The Stage 2 session lasts 180 minutes in total.
After identity verification, participants have 175 minutes for written-response tasks, followed by a five-minute oral-response task. The computer desktop and webcam feed are continuously monitored during the proctored session.
For the Postdoctoral track, Stage 2 involves submitting a video presentation showcasing research achievements.
Stage 3
Stage 3 applies to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral tracks.
It consists of online interviews.
Doctoral participants can attend up to six interviews:
- Up to three interviews with prospective research supervisors.
- Up to three interviews with Doctoral Track managers.
Postdoctoral participants can attend up to six interviews with research project leaders.
Doctoral interviews assess the applicant’s readiness to conduct research on a specific topic and eligibility for admission to a doctoral programme.
Postdoctoral interviews assess the applicant’s ability to contribute to a specific research project and suitability for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher.
2026/2027 Important Dates
Registration
August 20, 2026: Open Doors registration begins.
Applicants can create their accounts and begin completing the competition requirements.
November 1, 2026: Registration deadline.
After this deadline, applicants can no longer add to or edit their account information or portfolios.
First Stage
August 20 – November 13, 2026: First Stage.
November 13, 2026: First Stage results announced.
Results will appear in participants’ personal accounts, while lists of participants advancing to Stage 2 will be published on the relevant subject-area pages.
Second Stage
November 13 – December 21, 2026: Second Stage.
November 16, 2026: Deadline to register for Stage 2 for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral applicants.
December 6, 2026: Deadline for Postdoctoral applicants to submit their research-achievement videos.
December 21, 2026: Stage 2 results announced.
Bachelor’s and Master’s Winners
December 21, 2026: Winners and runners-up for the Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks are announced.
Third Stage
December 22, 2026 – February 26, 2027: Third Stage interviews for Doctoral and Postdoctoral applicants.
January 10, 2027: Third Stage registration/interview booking deadline.
February 26, 2027: Third Stage results announced and Doctoral/Postdoctoral winners published.
What Happens If You Become a Winner?
Winners of the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral tracks receive the right to study in Russia under the government quota, with tuition funded from the federal budget.
Bachelor’s and Master’s winners can exercise this admission right either in the year they receive winner status or the following year.
Doctoral winners can also exercise the right under the applicable conditions, provided they participate in the required supervisor interviews and obtain confirmation from a prospective supervisor.
Bachelor’s and Master’s runners-up may also receive the same rights as winners if places remain available under the quota after winners have confirmed their entitlement.
Winners and runners-up must subsequently submit the required documents through the relevant Russian Ministry information system.
For Bachelor’s and Master’s applicants, the application allows them to select the language of instruction and list up to six higher education institutions offering their chosen field or specialization, ranked according to preference.
Additional Government Grant Support
The official rules also state that foreign citizens and stateless persons who become winners or runners-up in the Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral tracks may be eligible to apply for additional Russian Government grant support, provided they have obtained the right to study under the quota and are prepared to undertake full-time study in Russian.
Participants who complete the competition with high achievements may also be considered for government grant support, subject to the stated conditions, including a recommendation letter from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Rossotrudnichestvo.
Is There an Application Fee?
No.
Participation in the Open Doors competition is completely free of charge.
Important Rules Applicants Should Know
- You can participate in the Open Doors only once during the competition year.
- You may hold only one account.
- Providing false or inaccurate information can result in disqualification.
- Your personal information must correspond exactly with your passport.
- You should upload all required documents before the registration deadline.
- Portfolio submissions can be made at any time before registration closes.
- The competition is conducted online and includes identity verification.
- Applicants must independently complete the competition tasks.
- Technical problems during Stage 2 or interviews must be reported to the Project Office within 24 hours.
- Winners, runners-up and participants who complete the competition with high achievements receive an electronic Open Doors certificate through their participant accounts.
Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026 – Quick Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026 |
| Country | Russia |
| Host/Organizer | Association of Global Universities |
| Supported by | Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia & Rossotrudnichestvo |
| Eligible applicants | Foreign citizens & stateless persons |
| Tracks | Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral/PhD & Postdoctoral |
| Study mode | Online competition; study in Russia |
| Tuition | Fully funded for winners under the Russian Government quota |
| Language | English or Russian |
| Russian preparation | One year of complimentary Russian-language training where applicable |
| Subject areas | 14 |
| Application fee | Free |
| Registration opens | August 20, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | November 1, 2026 |
| Stage 1 results | November 13, 2026 |
| Stage 2 | November 13 – December 21, 2026 |
| Bachelor’s/Master’s winners | December 21, 2026 |
| Third Stage | December 22, 2026 – February 26, 2027 |
| Final results | February 26, 2027 |
How to Apply
Applicants should create an account through the official Open Doors website, select their appropriate track and subject area, complete their profile, prepare their portfolio, take the entrance test and submit their motivation letter and supporting documents.
Application deadline: November 1, 2026.
Apply through the official Open Doors website:
For enquiries, the Open Doors Project Office can be contacted at opendoors@globaluni.ru or through the feedback form in the Support section of the official website.
Scholarships Expiring Soon
Conclusion
The Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026 is more than a conventional scholarship application. It is an international academic competition that can give successful applicants access to tuition-free Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral study at leading Russian universities, while Postdoctoral winners can secure research positions.
With no application fee, online participation, 14 subject areas and opportunities for international applicants, it is worth considering if you meet the age and academic requirements. The most important date to remember is November 1, 2026, when registration closes.
