Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026

Applications are now open for the Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project 2026, an online competition that gives international students the chance to win a tuition free place at a top Russian university. It covers four levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral (PhD) and Postdoctoral. Students can choose from 14 subject areas, including artificial intelligence, medicine, engineering, business and biotechnology. Winners in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) tracks receive free tuition under the Education Quota.

Those who choose a Russian taught program can also receive a government grant covering travel, medical insurance, accommodation and a monthly allowance. The Postdoctoral track offers a research position at a Russian university. The scholarship is open to foreign citizens from any country, and the whole competition takes place online. The deadline to register is 1 November 2026.You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Host Country: Russia
• Degree Levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral (PhD) and Postdoctoral
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Open to All Nationalities: Yes
• Application Fee: None
• Languages of Participation: Russian and English
• Application Deadline: 1 November 2026

What This Scholarship Offers:

For Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) Winners

• Free university education.
• Government grant support
• Travel covered
• Health coverage
• Help with living costs
• Accommodation support
• If you need to learn Russian, you can study the language at a Russian university free of charge for one academic year
• Bachelor’s and Master’s winners can list up to six universities in order of preference.
• Students can work remotely or offline without a work permit, and many universities help with job placements.

For Postdoctoral Winners

• You get a position at a Russian university to continue your research career.

Extra Benefits for Everyone

• Every stage is online, so you can take part from home.
• Help is available 24/7 through your Open Doors account.
• Russian degrees are recognized in many countries, especially in Asia, Africa and BRICS countries.

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Eligibility Criteria:

Bachelor’s Track

• Age: 16 to 23
• Education: Secondary education

Master’s Track

• Age: 20 to 33
• Education: Bachelor’s degree

Doctoral (PhD) Track

• Age: 22 to 35
• Education: Specialist or Master’s degree

Postdoctoral Track

• Age: 24 to 39
• Qualification: PhD degree or Doctor of Sciences

Additional Requirements

• You must be a talented student with strong academic potential
• You must want to study or do research at a Russian university
• Your computer equipment must meet the Open Doors technical requirements

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Subject Areas:

You must choose one subject area when you register. The available fields are:

• 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

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Participating Universities:

The competition is organized by these universities:

• Far Eastern Federal University
• Bauman Moscow State Technical University
• First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
• HSE University
• Irkutsk National Research Technical University
• ITMO University
• Kazan (Volga region) Federal University
• MGIMO University
• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
• Moscow Polytechnic University
• Moscow State University of Civil Engineering
• National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
• National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
• National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University
• National Research Tomsk State University
• Novosibirsk State University
• Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba
• Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
• Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
• Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”
• Samara National Research University
• Siberian Federal University
• Southern Federal University
• Ufa University of Science and Technology
• University of Science and Technology MISIS
• University of Tyumen
• Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin

Competition Stages:

The stages depend on your track.

Bachelor’s and Master’s Tracks

• Stage 1: Portfolio competition
• Stage 2: Completion of subject specific competition tasks

Doctoral (PhD) Track

• Stage 1: Portfolio competition
• Stage 2: Completion of subject specific competition tasks
• Stage 3: Interviews with prospective research supervisors

Postdoctoral Track

• Stage 1: Portfolio competition
• Stage 2: Video presentation of your research achievements
• Stage 3: Interviews with research project leaders

Important Dates

Stage 1: 20 August 2026 to 13 November 2026

• 20 August 2026: Registration opens
• 1 November 2026: Registration deadline. After this date you can no longer change your account information or portfolio.
• 13 November 2026: Stage 1 results are announced in your personal account. Lists of participants moving to Stage 2 are published on the Subject area pages.

Stage 2: 13 November 2026 to 21 December 2026

• 16 November 2026: Stage 2 registration deadline for the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) tracks. After this you can no longer choose a time slot.
• 6 December 2026: Postdoctoral track deadline to submit video presentations
• 21 December 2026: Stage 2 results are announced. Winners and runners up in the Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks are also announced, along with participants recognized for high achievement.

Stage 3: 22 December 2026 to 26 February 2027

• 10 January 2027: Stage 3 registration deadline. The final interview schedule is published in your account.
• 26 February 2027: Stage 3 results are announced. Winners in the Doctoral (PhD) and Postdoctoral tracks are published, along with Doctoral (PhD) participants recognized for high achievement.

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How to Participate: Step by Step:

Stage 1: Portfolio

To take part, you need to:

• Register on the Open Doors website
• Select your track and subject area
• Build a portfolio with your individual achievements relevant to your subject area
• Complete an entry test
• Write a motivation letter

Documents you must have: Only three are mandatory. These are your motivation letter, proof of your education level and your passport. The motivation letter must be typed or pasted into the form, and your education documents must be uploaded in the correct fields.

If you do not have your degree certificate yet, you can upload an official transcript or another document that confirms your education level. You will give proof of your degree later, at the university admission stage.

Everything else in the portfolio is optional, but adding more can raise your maximum score.

Stage 2 for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) Tracks

You will complete tasks in your chosen subject area. To take part, you need to:

• Register for Stage 2 through your Open Doors account
• Select an available time slot
• Review the Stage 2 rules and procedures in your account
• Make sure your computer meets the technical requirements
• Complete tasks of varying difficulty within 180 minutes, using online proctoring software

To prepare, study the subject area program and the sample tasks on your subject area page.

Stage 2 for the Postdoctoral Track

You will prepare a video presentation that shows your research achievements in your subject area. Check the video requirements and the upload instructions on your subject area page and in your personal account.

Stage 3: Interviews

Doctoral (PhD) participants are interviewed by prospective research supervisors. Postdoctoral participants are interviewed by research project leaders. You need to:

• Register for Stage 3 through your personal account
• Select an available interview time slot

Review the interview program on your subject area page to prepare.

What Happens If You Win:

Winner status is given to participants who complete all stages and tasks for their track and subject area. Winners then complete the Education Quota application in their Open Doors account.

Bachelor’s and Master’s Winners Choose

• A field of study
• A list of up to six universities, in order of preference
• The language of instruction

Doctoral (PhD) Winners Choose

• A research specialization agreed with a prospective research supervisor
• The language of instruction

Next Steps for Winners

• Complete the Education Quota application form in your Open Doors account
• Upload the required documents
• Track your Education Quota status

Also Check: IMSISS Erasmus Mundus Master Scholarship (2027-2028)

How to Prepare:

• Read the Open Doors Rules of Participation
• Choose the track that matches your age and education
• Select a subject area and review its program and Stage 2 sample tasks
• Go through the recommended study materials and online courses
• Check that your computer meets the technical requirements
• If you reach Stage 2, test your equipment before the competition tasks

Also Check: Oxford Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships at the University of Oxford