Russian Government Scholarship (Open Doors Scholarship)

Applications for the Russian Government Scholarship for the academic year 2027-2028 are currently being received. The Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project registration opens on 20 August and runs until 1 November. The scholarship is awarded to foreign citizens or stateless persons looking for tuition-free education in Russia at bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or even postdoc positions at Russian universities and institutes. Participation is entirely online, and the working languages are English and Russian. Winners and prize-winners of the Olympiad can choose any field of study from one of the subject areas of the Olympiad and one or several universities in Russia running the program of their choice.

More than 618,000 people from over 200 countries have taken part in the program since 2017. Over 16,700 have become winners or runners-up. This year, the competition covers 14 subject areas, from applied mathematics and AI to clinical medicine, engineering, politics, and Russian language and culture. You choose your track (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral) and your subject area, and you compete. The winners get free tuition, a streamlined admission process, and, if needed, a year of Russian language training.

The age limits are strict: bachelor’s track applicants must be between 16 and 23; master’s between 20 and 33; doctoral between 22 and 35; and postdoctoral between 24 and 39. The competition has two stages for bachelor’s and master’s (portfolio review plus Open Doors tasks) and three stages for doctoral and postdoctoral (portfolio, video or tasks, then interviews). All stages are online and proctored. No application fee is required to participate in the program.

Programme Details

• Host Institutions: 24 leading universities (including HSE, MIPT, ITMO, Novosibirsk State, Sechenov University, RUDN, and more) in Russia.
• Fields of Study: 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.
• Number of awards: Not fixed and depends on the quota and the number of participants.
• Duration: Standard duration of the chosen degree program.
• Target group: Foreign citizens and stateless persons, including compatriots living abroad.

Open Doors Scholarship Benefits

Selected candidates for this Europe scholarship program will have the following benefits:

A – Winners in the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral tracks receive:

1. Free tuition for the chosen program, funded from the federal budget (the Quota).
2. Choice of university and program through a streamlined, one-stop system : you list up to six universities in order of preference.
3. Russian language training : if you choose a program taught in Russian but lack proficiency, you get a year of free preparatory study.
4. Ongoing support at every stage of your academic journey.

B – Winners in the postdoctoral track receive:

1. A research position at one of the participating universities.
2. Choice of research project through a streamlined system.
3. Access to state‑of‑the‑art equipment and mentorship from world‑renowned scientists.

Russian Government Scholarship Eligibility

To apply for this government scholarship, applicants must meet the age and education requirements for your chosen track as of the registration opening date (20 August 2026):

• Bachelor’s track: aged 16–23; do not hold a bachelor’s, specialist, or master’s degree; have completed or will complete secondary education in 2026.
• Master’s track: aged 20–33; do not hold a specialist or Master’s degree; have completed or will complete a bachelor’s degree in 2026.
• Doctoral track: aged 22–35; have not completed a doctoral (PhD) program; hold or will obtain a Specialist or master’s degree in 2026.
• Postdoctoral track: aged 24–39; hold a Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences, or PhD degree.

You must consent to the processing of your personal data and provide accurate information. False or inaccurate information can lead to disqualification at any stage.

How to apply for the Russian Government Scholarships?

Interested candidates in the open doors Russian scholarship must use the apply button below and follow the instructions to apply. You create an account, provide your personal details, select your track, subject area(s), and language of participation (English or Russian). You can register for and participate only once per competition year. Creating multiple accounts will lead to disqualification.

Stages of the Competition

Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks (2 stages):

1. First Stage (portfolio review + entry test): 20 August – 13 November 2026. Complete your portfolio online, motivation letter, personal achievements, and supporting documents (in Russian or English). Upload a scanned copy of your passport. The entry test is part of the portfolio.
2. Second (Final) Stage (Open Doors tasks): 13 November – 21 December 2026. Proctored online tasks, written responses (175 minutes) and an oral response (5 minutes). You must have a stable internet connection (at least 1 Mbit/s) and a webcam for identity verification.

Doctoral and Postdoctoral tracks (3 stages):

1. First Stage (portfolio review + entry test): same as above.
2. Second Stage: for Doctoral track – completion of Open Doors tasks (proctored, same as bachelor’s/master’s); for Postdoctoral track – video presentation of research achievements (assessed, not subject to appeal).
3. Third (Final) Stage (interviews): 22 December 2026 – 26 February 2027. Online interviews with prospective research supervisors (doctoral) or research project leaders (postdoctoral). Up to six interviews per participant.

Results and Admission

Winners and runners-up are determined by ranked lists. Doctoral winners are those who secure a research supervisor or doctoral track manager’s agreement. Postdoctoral winners are those who secure a project leader’s agreement to employ them. Results are published on the Open Doors website, and electronic certificates are issued.

To exercise your right to study within the quota, you must submit the required documents through the Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s Information System. Instructions are provided in your participant account within ten days of the results announcement.

Important Notes

• No fee : participation is completely free.
• Language : you can participate in English or Russian.
• Proctoring : the Second Stage uses identity verification and monitoring software. Your desktop and webcam are recorded.
• Appeals : only the score for advanced‑level written tasks in the Second Stage can be appealed (within two days of publication). The decision is final.
• Deferral : bachelor’s and master’s winners can exercise their right in the current year or the following year. Doctoral winners must re‑interview for a supervisor the following year.

The open doors scholarship application deadline for the first round is 13 November 2026. For more details on the Russian Government Scholarship, please visit the official page and read the full Rules of Participation.