The Association of Global Universities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, offers the Open Doors Russian Scholarship for International Students for 2025. Graduate and undergraduate international applicants, including stateless persons and compatriots living abroad, can apply for this scholarship (Olympiad). Applicants should provide a document confirming the completion of secondary education for a bachelor’s degree, or they should have a bachelor’s degree for the Master’s track. Also, PhD applicants should have a Master’s or Specialist’s degree to apply for the doctoral track in the year of the Olympiad final.

Primary Objectives of the Olympiad:

The competition primary aim is toward aspiring graduate and undergraduate candidates and allows winners and runners-up to study at any Russian university (including top-tier Russian ones) with tuition fees covered by the state, which translates to a 100% tuition discount plus a government scholarship at one of the top-tier Russian universities.

Olympiad Stages:

The Olympiad consists of two stages, which are being held online in the Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks, and three stages in the Doctoral track, which is a key to a PhD program. The details for each stage are as follows:

1. The first stage consist a portfolio competition,
2. The second stage is the problem-solving challenge.
3. The third stage of the Olympiad includes selecting a potential research supervisor for the preferred doctoral program and attending an interview with the chosen supervisor or the doctoral track manager.

Important Details

• Study Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD
• Eligible Countries: Open for all
• Olympiad Languages: English and Russian
• Study Location: Russia
• Funding Type: Partially Funded
• Funding Body: Russian Federation Government
• Organizers: Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and The Association of Global Universities

Key Dates

• Registration Start: September 5, 2025
• Registration Deadline:  November 2025
• Timeline of postdoc:  16th September to 10th December
• Checking portfolios:  November 2025
• Announcement of the first stage results: December 2, 2025
• Announcement of the second stage results: January 10, 2026
• Winners and prize-winners: January 17, 2026
• Winners and prize-winners in the doctoral track: February 21, 2026

Benefits of the Open Doors Russian Scholarship

Winners will get the chance to study at any Russian University and will receive the following benefits:

• Free Tuition Fees
• Monthly Stipend, which varies at each university

Note: Students will only be responsible for their travel and lodging expenses, insurance, and personal expenses.