Explore scholarships available in Russia. We only link to official external application pages. For deeper examples, review our Skoltech University scholarship guide.
Use this page as a starting shortlist, not a final eligibility decision. Open each guide to check eligible degree levels, funding coverage, documents, deadlines, and the official source before you prepare an application.
The Open Doors Scholarship 2027 is an online international competition for foreign citizens, stateless persons and compatriots living abroad who want tuition-free Bachelor's, Master's, PhD or postdoctoral opportunities in Russia. Registration opens on August 20, 2026 and the portfolio deadline is November 1, 2026.
Open Doors Scholarship Stage 1 is the registration and portfolio phase. Applicants create one participant account, choose a track and subject area, complete the entrance test, write the motivation letter, upload education proof and supporting documents, and submit the portfolio before November 1, 2026.
The Open Doors motivation letter is part of the Stage 1 portfolio and should connect the applicant’s academic background, selected subject area, achievements, reasons for studying in Russia, intended program direction and future goals.
RussiaMastersPartially FundedDeadline: Motivation letter must be completed before the Stage 1 portfolio deadline on November 1, 2026
Official source: Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project official rules•Updated:
Open Doors Scholarship Stage 2 is the subject-specific proctored online exam for applicants who pass the portfolio stage. Candidates register with passport details and photo, choose or receive a test time, complete written tasks and an oral response under screen, webcam and audio monitoring, then wait for results and appeal instructions.
RussiaMastersPartially FundedDeadline: Second-stage registration and test dates depend on official participant account instructions after Stage 1 results
Official source: Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project official rules•Updated:
After Open Doors selection, documents become the biggest practical risk. Applicants may need to upload a signed scanned application PDF, passport, education certificates, transcripts, translations and country-specific approvals such as notarization, attestation or embassy/government authentication where requested.
RussiaMastersPartially FundedDeadline: Document deadlines depend on post-selection instructions in the participant account and university/Ministry systems
Official source: Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project official rules•Updated:
After Open Doors selection and document upload, applicants move toward university and program processing. Bachelor’s and Master’s winners rank institutions offering the relevant specialization; PhD applicants need supervisor fit; and an offer or invitation comes only after university and official processing.
RussiaMastersPartially FundedDeadline: University and offer-letter timelines depend on post-selection account, Ministry and university instructions
Official source: Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project official rules•Updated:
After the Open Doors offer or invitation, students still need visa, insurance, dormitory, travel, arrival, migration registration and enrollment steps. The exact process depends on citizenship, Russian consulate requirements and the receiving university’s instructions.
RussiaMastersPartially FundedDeadline: Visa and arrival deadlines depend on university invitation, embassy/consulate rules and enrollment date
Official source: Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project official rules•Updated:
Winning Open Doors does not mean the whole process is finished. After the second-stage result, selected applicants still move through document approval, signed application PDF upload, university/program prioritization, university processing, possible interview or supervisor confirmation, offer/invitation and visa steps.
RussiaMastersPartially FundedDeadline: Post-selection deadlines depend on the official participant account and Ministry/university instructions
Official source: Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project official rules•Updated:
The Open Doors Bachelor's track is a free international online competition for foreign citizens seeking tuition-free undergraduate study at participating Russian universities. The 2026 competition portfolio deadline is November 1, with winners and prize-winners determined after portfolio review and a proctored online task stage.
The Open Doors Master's track is a free online competition for international graduates seeking tuition-free Master's study at participating Russian universities. Applicants submit a subject-area portfolio by November 1, 2026 and qualifying candidates complete mandatory proctored online tasks.
The Open Doors doctoral track is a three-stage online competition for international Master's or Specialist graduates seeking tuition-free doctoral study in Russia. After portfolio review and proctored subject tasks, selected candidates interview prospective research supervisors before final results.
Skoltech's 2026 Master's admission cycle closed on July 7, 2026. The official admissions page tells candidates interested in a 2027 start to check back in autumn or subscribe for notification. This pre-open guide uses the completed 2026 rules as preparation evidence and does not claim that the 2027 dates are confirmed.
Skoltech's 2026 PhD application cycle closed on June 29, 2026. The official admissions page directs candidates interested in a 2027 start to check back in autumn or subscribe for notification. This pre-open guide explains the completed 2026 requirements without presenting them as confirmed 2027 dates.
RussiaPhDFully FundedDeadline: 2027 dates not yet published (2026 cycle closed June 29)