What is admission under the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation?
It is an opportunity for foreign citizens to study at Russian universities free of charge, funded by the federal budget. The education quota is granted to foreign citizens and stateless persons, including compatriots living abroad. The quota covers studies in undergraduate, master’s, and postgraduate (PhD) programs.
Funding from the Russian federal budget includes:
- tuition fees,
- accommodation in a dormitory,
- a monthly scholarship for the entire period of study.
The quotas are distributed through the Rossotrudnichestvo system and Russian embassies abroad. The selection of candidates is competitive.
You should start preparing for admission under the quota in advance, as only the strongest applicants are selected.
Begin by reviewing the quota application process, preparing all the required documents, and checking your level of Russian language proficiency — you can do this by taking a Russian language test for foreigners. Keep in mind that knowledge of Russian is an additional advantage considered by the admissions committee.
In 2025, the average competition for one quota place was 6.7 applicants per seat, but in some countries, it reached
The number of budget-funded places allocated to each country depends on intergovernmental agreements. The more active the cooperation between countries, the more students from that country can study in Russia free of charge.
Note that budget places are tied to specific fields of study. For example, if your country is implementing a joint project to build a nuclear power plant, priority under the quota will be given to engineering and energy students who will later work at nuclear power facilities.
How to apply for the Russian Government quota for the 2026/2027 academic year
Applications opened on September 15, 2025, through the portal education-in-russia.com. Applications are accepted until January 15, 2026. Prepare the necessary documents in advance!
Only foreign citizens are eligible to apply for the quota. If a candidate also holds Russian citizenship, they must ensure that:
- they permanently reside abroad,
- they do not have a previous education certificate issued in Russia.
To apply:
- Register on the website, go to the “My Applications” section, and click “Create a new application.”
- Select the level of education, field of study, and up to six universities.
- Upload:
- a scanned copy of your passport,
- a scanned copy of your education certificate (or a certificate from your current place of study if you have not yet graduated),
- a scanned transcript of grades.
- Applicants for residency or postgraduate studies must also submit a motivation letter and a summary or article related to their future research topic.
Be sure to click “Submit application for review”. Applications with the status “Draft” will not be considered in the competition!
Rossotrudnichestvo Department of Education and Science Hotline: