Open Doors Scholarships in Russia 2026 | Fully Funded

Scholarships, Scholarships for International

The Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project is one of the most prominent scholarships aimed at international students who wish to pursue their higher education (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, or even Postdoctoral studies) in Russia completely free of charge. This initiative provides an opportunity to enroll in one of the top Russian universities, with full tuition fee exemption and extensive opportunities for scientific research and academic development.

Since its launch in 2017, the scholarship has attracted more than 146,000 participants from 185 countries and has offered over 6,300 international students the chance to win a fully funded study place.

Scholarship Details

Program type: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral studies.
Participating universities: 24 leading Russian universities.
Language of study: English or Russian.
Application process: Fully online and free of charge.
Fields of study: 14 diverse areas ranging from natural sciences to humanities.
Degree recognition: Russian degrees are recognized in many countries, especially in Asia, Africa, BRICS, and CIS countries.

Available Fields of Study

The Open Doors program covers a wide range of disciplines, 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

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship is open to:

International students of all nationalities.
Applicants wishing to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, or Postdoctoral studies at one of the participating Russian universities.

Scholarship Benefits

Full tuition fee exemption.
Direct admission to the university through a simplified process.
Advanced research opportunities within scientific projects under the supervision of distinguished professors in Russia.
An international academic experience in a country ranked among the top 6 global destinations for international students.

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Application Timeline (2025 – 2026)

Registration

1 September – 16 November 2025
Register on the official website, complete your profile, and upload the required documents.

First Stage

17 – 24 November 2025: Verification of applicants’ profiles.
28 November 2025: Announcement of the profile verification results.

Second Stage

28 November – 15 December 2025: Completion of the second stage tasks online.
15 – 21 December 2025: Review of results.
22 – 23 December 2025: Announcement of the preliminary results of the second stage.
26 – 30 December 2025: Publication of winners’ lists for Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks, and announcement of those qualified for the third stage of PhD and Postdoctoral tracks.

Third Stage (for PhD and Postdoctoral applicants only)

12 January 2026: Review of qualified applicants’ portfolios.
19 January – 6 February 2026: Interviews between applicants and potential supervisors.
8 – 14 February 2026: Additional interviews on reserve days.
16 February 2026: Supervisors’ evaluation of interviews.
17 – 25 February 2026: Interviews with research track committees.
27 February 2026: Final announcement of winners for PhD and Postdoctoral tracks.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted exclusively through the official Open Doors website.
Participation is completely free of charge, and no applications sent via postal mail or email will be accepted.