Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27

Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27

Scholarship Overview

Apply for the Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27 for tuition-funded study in Russia. Explore eligibility, benefits, fields and application steps.

The Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026–27 is an international scholarship competition organized by the Global Universities Association for foreign citizens and stateless persons who want to study or conduct research in Russia.

The competition provides an opportunity to win tuition-free study at leading Russian universities through the Russian Government’s education quota. The project is conducted completely online, allowing international applicants to participate from their home countries.

The 2026 competition includes four tracks: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral (PhD), and Postdoctoral. Successful Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral participants can receive tuition-funded admission, while Postdoctoral winners are offered research positions at organizing universities.

At a Glance

Feature	Details
Scholarship	Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project
Country	Russia
Organizer	Global Universities Association
Competition Year	2026–27
Study Levels	Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, Postdoctoral
Tuition	Covered for eligible winners under the Government quota
Application Fee	None
Application Method	Online
Registration Opens	August 20, 2026
Registration Deadline	November 1, 2026
First Stage	Portfolio competition
Second Stage	Online competition tasks
Third Stage	Doctoral/Postdoctoral interviews
Main Language	Russian or English
Universities	24 organizing universities

University Overview

Open Doors is not a scholarship offered by a single university. It is a competition involving leading Russian universities and provides successful participants with access to eligible programs at participating institutions.

The 2026–27 organizing universities include institutions such as:

• HSE University
• ITMO University
• Kazan Federal University
• MGIMO University
• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
• National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
• National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University
• National Research Tomsk State University
• Novosibirsk State University
• RUDN University
• Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
• Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
• Samara National Research University
• Southern Federal University
• Ural Federal University
• University of Tyumen
• University of Science and Technology MISIS
• Far Eastern Federal University
• Sechenov University

The complete university list and available programs should be checked on the official Open Doors platform before making final choices.

Why Apply for Open Doors?

The program offers several advantages for international students and researchers:

• Tuition-funded study for eligible winners
• Access to leading Russian universities
• Four academic/research tracks
• Online participation from outside Russia
• A wide range of academic subject areas
• No competition participation fee
• Opportunity to select university preferences for Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks
• Government-supported admission through the education quota
• Opportunity for Doctoral applicants to connect with prospective research supervisors
• Research-position opportunities through the Postdoctoral track

Degree Levels

Bachelor’s Track

The Bachelor’s track is intended for applicants who have not yet obtained a Bachelor’s, Specialist or Master’s degree and meet the required age and educational conditions.

Master’s Track

The Master’s track is designed for applicants with a Bachelor’s-level qualification or equivalent who have not completed a Specialist or Master’s degree.

Doctoral Track

The Doctoral track is equivalent to PhD-level study and is intended for applicants who hold or are completing a Specialist or Master’s degree and have not already completed a doctoral degree.

Postdoctoral Track

The Postdoctoral track is for researchers who already hold a Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences or PhD degree.

Available Fields of Study

Applicants can participate in a range of subject areas, including:

• 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 exact programs available depend on the selected subject area, track and participating university.

Scholarship Benefits

For Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral winners, the main benefit is tuition-funded education under the Russian Government quota.

Other important benefits include:

• Tuition fees covered from the federal budget
• Opportunity to study at participating Russian universities
• Access to a wide range of degree programs
• Russian preparatory language study may be available when required for Russian-taught programs
• Opportunity to select up to six university preferences for Bachelor’s and Master’s applicants
• Doctoral applicants can connect with prospective research supervisors

Postdoctoral winners are offered research positions at organizing universities.

Important: What Is Not Fully Covered?

Open Doors should not be treated as a scholarship that covers every personal expense.

Expense	Coverage
Tuition	Covered for eligible winners
Monthly stipend	Varies by university
Accommodation	Student’s responsibility
Food	Student’s responsibility
Travel/airfare	Student’s responsibility
Medical insurance	Student’s responsibility
Communication/personal expenses	Student’s responsibility
Visa-related expenses	Applicant should budget separately
Living expenses	Student’s responsibility

The official FAQ states that tuition and a monthly stipend are covered, while transportation, food, accommodation, communication and medical insurance must be covered by the student.

Eligibility Criteria

Open Doors is available to foreign citizens and stateless persons, including compatriots residing abroad.

Bachelor’s

Applicants must:

• Be between 16 and 23 years old on the registration opening date
• Not hold a Bachelor’s, Specialist or Master’s degree
• Hold, or be expected to obtain during the relevant academic year, an educational qualification that allows higher-education admission in their country

Master’s

Applicants must:

• Be between 20 and 33 years old on the registration opening date
• Not hold a Specialist or Master’s degree
• Hold, or be expected to obtain, a qualification corresponding to at least a Bachelor’s degree

Doctoral

Applicants must:

• Be between 22 and 35 years old
• Not have completed a doctoral/PhD degree
• Hold, or be expected to obtain, a Specialist or Master’s degree

Postdoctoral

Applicants must:

• Be between 24 and 39 years old
• Already hold a Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences or PhD degree at the required stage of the competition

English and Russian Language Requirements

The Open Doors competition itself does not require participants to submit a separate English or Russian language certificate.

However, applicants may upload proof of their language proficiency, and such documentation may contribute to their portfolio score.

For final university admission, language requirements depend on the selected degree program and university.

Programs may be taught in Russian or English. If a winner needs Russian-language preparation for a Russian-taught program, a preparatory Russian language course may be available.

Required Documents

The initial application requires a relatively focused set of documents.

Document	Required at First Stage?
Passport	✓ Yes
Proof of education/academic qualification	✓ Yes
Motivation letter	✓ Yes
Academic transcripts	Recommended where applicable
Certificates of achievements	Optional but useful
Language certificates	Optional
Research documents for Doctoral applicants	Recommended
Other achievement evidence	Optional

Documents should be submitted in Russian or English. Documents in other languages should be accompanied by a translation into the language selected for participation.

Certified translations are not required at the initial portfolio stage, but winners and runners-up will need properly notarized translations when completing later admission procedures.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step	What to Do
1	Visit the official Open Doors website
2	Create your participant account
3	Enter your personal and contact information
4	Select your track
5	Select one or more relevant subject areas
6	Choose the language of participation
7	Upload your passport and education documents
8	Complete the entry test
9	Prepare your motivation letter
10	Add academic and personal achievements to your portfolio
11	Submit the portfolio before the deadline
12	Check your account for First Stage results
13	If selected, register for the Second Stage
14	Complete the online proctored tasks
15	Doctoral/Postdoctoral candidates who advance complete the interview stage
16	Winners complete the required admission and quota procedures

Applicants should carefully review their chosen subject area before submitting because the selected field and university preferences can affect the later admission process.

Application Timeline

Date	Activity
August 20, 2026	Registration opens
August 20–November 13, 2026	First Stage
November 1, 2026	Registration deadline
November 13, 2026	First Stage results
November 13–December 21, 2026	Second Stage
November 16, 2026	Second Stage registration deadline for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral tracks
December 6, 2026	Postdoctoral video presentation deadline
December 21, 2026	Second Stage results
December 21, 2026	Bachelor’s and Master’s winners announced
December 22, 2026–February 26, 2027	Third Stage
January 10, 2027	Third Stage registration deadline
February 26, 2027	Doctoral/Postdoctoral winners announced

Important: Although the First Stage continues until November 13, applicants must complete their registration by November 1, 2026.

Selection Process

The competition uses different stages depending on the selected track.

Bachelor’s and Master’s

The competition consists of:

• Portfolio competition
• Final online tasks

Doctoral

The competition consists of:

• Portfolio competition
• Online tasks
• Interviews with prospective research supervisors and/or Doctoral Track managers

Postdoctoral

The competition consists of:

• Portfolio competition
• Research-achievement video presentation
• Interviews with research project leaders

The Second Stage for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral participants uses online proctoring and identity verification.

Portfolio and Motivation Letter

The First Stage is important because participants must build a portfolio showing their academic and other relevant achievements.

The motivation letter should explain:

• Your academic and career goals
• Relevant achievements
• Why you selected the subject area
• Why you want to study in Russia
• Your academic interests

Doctoral applicants are strongly encouraged to include a summary of their thesis and their proposed future research plan.

Second Stage Examination

Applicants who advance to the Second Stage complete online tasks under proctored conditions.

Participants must:

• Have a suitable computer
• Have a working webcam
• Complete identity verification
• Upload the required passport copy
• Maintain a stable internet connection
• Follow the examination rules
• Complete the tasks within the allocated time

The Second Stage tasks are designed according to the selected subject area.

Third Stage for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Applicants

Doctoral applicants who advance to the Third Stage participate in interviews with prospective research supervisors and/or Doctoral Track managers.

Postdoctoral candidates are interviewed by research project leaders.

Doctoral interviews assess the applicant’s readiness to conduct research on a specific topic and their suitability for doctoral study.

Postdoctoral interviews assess the applicant’s ability to contribute to a particular research project.

Accommodation & Living Costs

Accommodation and everyday living expenses are not covered by the Open Doors scholarship.

Students should therefore prepare a separate budget for:

• University accommodation
• Food
• Transportation
• Health/medical insurance
• Communication
• Personal expenses
• Travel to and from Russia

Accommodation costs can vary significantly depending on the university and city. Applicants should check the selected university’s official accommodation information before accepting an offer.

Part-Time Jobs

The official Open Doors FAQ states that students can work remotely or offline and that a work permit is not required under the conditions described by the project.

However, students should always check the applicable rules and the policies of their university before taking employment.

Some universities may also provide assistance with job placements or campus opportunities.

Student Visa and Travel

Open Doors provides the scholarship opportunity and tuition-funded admission, but students should separately prepare for the costs and procedures associated with travelling to Russia.

Before travelling, successful applicants should:

• Follow the visa instructions provided by the university
• Prepare the required admission documents
• Arrange travel
• Budget for accommodation and living costs
• Arrange medical insurance if required
• Keep copies of important academic and identity documents

The exact immigration and admission procedure may differ according to nationality and university.

Tips for Applicants

• Choose a subject area that genuinely matches your academic background.
• Start preparing your portfolio early.
• Collect evidence of academic achievements before submitting.
• Write a focused motivation letter rather than a generic statement.
• Review the sample tasks available for your subject area.
• Test your computer, webcam and internet connection before the Second Stage.
• Check your personal account regularly for announcements and deadlines.

Common Mistakes

• Waiting until the final day to complete registration
• Choosing a subject area unrelated to your academic background
• Uploading incomplete education documents
• Writing a generic motivation letter
• Ignoring the portfolio achievement section
• Failing to register for the Second Stage on time
• Not testing the required proctoring system before the examination

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Open Doors Scholarship fully funded?
It provides tuition-funded education for eligible winners and a monthly stipend that varies by university. However, accommodation, food, travel, insurance and personal expenses are not generally covered.

2. Who can apply?
Foreign citizens and stateless persons who meet the requirements for one of the four tracks can participate.

3. Is there an application fee?
No. Participation in Open Doors is free.

4. What degree levels are available?
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral and Postdoctoral tracks are available.

5. What is the registration deadline for 2026?
The registration deadline is November 1, 2026.

6. Can I apply from outside Russia?
Yes. The competition is conducted online.

7. Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
A language certificate is not required for participation in the competition. However, the selected university may have its own language requirements for admission.

8. How many universities can I select?
Bachelor’s and Master’s applicants can select up to six university preferences during the relevant admission process.

9. Can I participate in several subject areas?
Yes. The official FAQ states that there is no fixed limit on the number of subject areas, but a separate motivation letter is required for each selected subject area.

10. What happens if my chosen program is taught in Russian?
If additional Russian preparation is required, eligible winners may study a preparatory Russian language program before entering the Russian-taught degree program.

11. Is accommodation free?
No. Accommodation expenses are the student’s responsibility.

12. Does the scholarship cover airfare?
No. Travel expenses must be covered by the student.

13. Is the Second Stage online?
Yes. Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral participants complete the Second Stage online under proctored conditions.

14. Can I work while studying?
The Open Doors FAQ states that participants can work remotely or offline, but students should follow applicable rules and university policies.

15. When will Doctoral and Postdoctoral winners be announced?
The current schedule lists February 26, 2027 for the announcement of Doctoral and Postdoctoral winners.

Conclusion

The Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026–27 provides an opportunity for international students and researchers to compete for tuition-funded study and research opportunities at participating Russian universities.

With Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral and Postdoctoral tracks and subject areas ranging from artificial intelligence and engineering to business, medicine, economics and education, applicants can choose an academic direction that matches their background.

The most important immediate deadline is November 1, 2026, when registration closes. Applicants should begin preparing their portfolio, motivation letter, education documents and technical setup well before the deadline.

For the latest rules, participating universities, subject-area requirements and application instructions, always check the official Open Doors platform before submitting your application.