The Open Doors Scholarship Program, funded by the Russian Government, is open to international students wishing to pursue higher education at universities across Russia.
What's new this year?
The program now includes two additional study tracks: Bachelor's and Postdoctoral programs. Until now, it was only available for Master's and PhD studies.
This scholarship is available to applicants from all countries.
Recipients of the Open Doors Scholarship will be granted full financial support to study at the Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, or Postdoctoral level in the Russian university of their choice.
Open Doors Russian Government Scholarship 2026 - Key Information
- Host Country: Russia
- Available Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Postdoctoral
- Funding Body: Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
- Deadline: November / December 2025
What is the “Open Doors” Program?
The Open Doors Scholarship is a Russian government initiative offering international students the chance to pursue tuition-free education and research in Russia across a wide range of academic fields.
Successful applicants benefit from:
- Early admission to any Russian university
- No entrance exams required
- Full coverage of tuition fees
- A monthly stipend provided by the Russian Federation
This marks the seventh edition of the Open Doors program, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Benefits of the Open Doors Scholarship
- Free higher education in Russia
- Direct admission without entrance exams
- No tuition fees
- Monthly financial allowance
- Programs taught in English
- Accommodation not included (however, university housing is available at low cost)
- Eligible Fields of Study
- Biology & Biotechnology
- Computer Science & Data Science
- Applied Mathematics & Artificial Intelligence
- Business & Management
- Political Science & International Studies
- Physical Sciences & Technology
- Linguistics & Modern Languages
- Chemistry & Materials Science
- Economics & Econometrics
- Engineering & Technology
- Clinical Medicine & Public Health
- Earth & Environmental Sciences for Sustainability
- Education & Psychology
- Urbanism & Civil Engineering
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to all international students
- Available for Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and Postdoctoral applicants
- Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor's degree
- Submission of all required documents is mandatory Candidates are strongly advised to review the Rules and FAQs
The academic year will commence after March 2025.
Application Process for the Open Doors Russian Government Scholarship 2026
- Step-by-step procedure (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Postdoctoral):
- Register by creating an online account.
- Complete your portfolio and take the entrance test available through your account.
- Attach all relevant documents (publications, certificates, awards, achievements) to maximize your chances of selection.
- Portfolios cannot be modified after the deadline.
- Once portfolio results are announced, shortlisted candidates will be invited to proceed to the second stage.
- Following evaluation of the second stage and interview, final winners will be selected to study in Russia free of charge.
If your first-choice university does not offer the desired program, your application will automatically be forwarded to your next preferred institution. During registration, candidates may select between 1 and 6 universities.
