Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026/27 — 100% Fully Funded
Every year, over half a million students from 200+ countries compete for one prize: a tuition-free seat at one of Russia's top 24 universities — no entrance exam, no application fee. Registration for the 2026/27 cycle opened on 20 August 2026. Here's everything you need to apply with confidence, verified straight from the official Open Doors portal.
Register on Official Portal →
| Host Country | Russia |
| Degree Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Postdoctoral |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded — Tuition + Monthly Stipend |
| Organized By | Global Universities Association & Russian Ministry of Science & Higher Education |
| Registration Opens | 20 August 2026 |
| First Stage Deadline | 1 November 2026 |
| Application Fee | None — 100% Free |
| Eligible Nationalities | 200+ countries, including Pakistan |
| Official Website | od.globaluni.ru |
On this page
What Is the Open Doors Russian Scholarship?
Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project is an online, Olympiad-style competition organized by the Global Universities Association in cooperation with Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Instead of the usual entrance-exam route, candidates are ranked purely on a portfolio, a subject-specific test, and — for PhD/Postdoc tracks — a research interview. Winners get a tuition-free, state-quota seat at any of the 24 participating universities, using a single application to apply across up to six of them at once.
The program is genuinely global in scale: it draws applicants from 200+ countries, and Russia itself now ranks 6th worldwide for the number of international students it hosts — so this isn't a small or obscure scheme. If this track doesn't suit you, browse our full list of Russia Scholarships for more fully funded options.
What's Covered — and What Isn't
✔ Covered
- 100% tuition fee (Government quota seat)
- Monthly stipend (amount set by host university)
- Optional 1-year Russian language prep course
- Free summer/winter schools at some universities
- No work permit needed for part-time work
✘ Not Covered
- Airfare / travel to Russia
- Accommodation (campus housing is usually cheap)
- Health & medical insurance
- Food and personal expenses
- Document translation/notarization (only after winning)
Eligibility Criteria
| Track | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | Age 16–23, completed or completing secondary education, no prior Bachelor's degree |
| Master's | Hold, or currently completing, a Bachelor's degree |
| PhD (Doctoral) | Hold a Master's or Specialist's degree by the final round |
| Postdoctoral | Already hold a Candidate of Science / Doctor of Science / PhD degree at the time of portfolio submission |
No IELTS/TOEFL certificate is mandatory for any track — though attaching one can raise your portfolio score. Each applicant may register only once per competition cycle; using multiple accounts leads to disqualification.
Subject Areas Available
You must pick one or more of these 14 official subject areas when registering:
- Applied Mathematics & Artificial Intelligence
- Biology & Biotechnology
- Business & Management
- Chemistry & Materials Science
- Clinical Medicine & Public Health
- Computer & Data Science
- Earth & Environmental Sciences for Sustainability
- Economics & Econometrics
- Education & Psychology
- Engineering & Technology
- Physical Sciences & Technology
- Politics & International Studies
- Russian Language & Culture
- Urbanism & Civil Engineering
Participating Universities (24)
- HSE University — Moscow
- MGIMO University — Moscow
- Bauman Moscow State Technical University — Moscow
- Sechenov University — Moscow
- MIPT — Moscow
- Moscow Polytechnic University — Moscow
- Moscow State University of Civil Engineering — Moscow
- MEPhI — Moscow
- RUDN University — Moscow
- MISIS — Moscow
- ITMO University — St. Petersburg
- LETI — St. Petersburg
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic Univ. — St. Petersburg
- Kazan Federal University — Kazan
- Lobachevsky University — Nizhny Novgorod
- Tomsk Polytechnic University — Tomsk
- Tomsk State University — Tomsk
- Novosibirsk State University — Novosibirsk
- Far Eastern Federal University — Vladivostok
- Samara National Research University — Samara
- Siberian Federal University — Krasnoyarsk
- Southern Federal University — Rostov-on-Don
- University of Tyumen — Tyumen
- Ural Federal University — Yekaterinburg
Full Application Timeline 2026/27
This is the exact, official schedule for the current cycle — many other sites online are still showing last year's dates, so double-check against this before you plan:
Create your account and begin your portfolio.
Select your track & subject area, submit your portfolio, entry test, and motivation letter.
Shortlisted candidates for the Second Stage are announced.
180-minute online proctored exam (Bachelor's/Master's/PhD) or a video presentation (Postdoc). Registration deadline: 16 Nov 2026.
Final results for these two tracks are published directly after Stage 2.
PhD & Postdoc candidates interview with potential research supervisors.
Final results for the remaining two tracks are published.
Selection Process Explained
- Stage 1 — Portfolio: Your achievements, entry test, and motivation letter are scored by subject-area juries.
- Stage 2 — Exam or Video: Bachelor's/Master's/PhD candidates sit a proctored 180-minute subject test; Postdoc candidates submit a video presentation of their research.
- Stage 3 — Interview (PhD & Postdoc only): Shortlisted candidates interview directly with a prospective research supervisor at a participating university.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Go to od.globaluni.ru/register and create your account with an email you check regularly.
- Select your track (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, or Postdoctoral) and one or more subject areas.
- Upload proof of your current education level (degree, transcript, or grade sheet).
- Write a tailored motivation letter for each subject area you apply to.
- Add any optional documents — language certificates, achievement certificates, CV — to strengthen your score.
- Choose up to six universities in priority order.
- Submit before 1 November 2026 — after this, your account and portfolio are locked.
- Track your results and next-stage instructions inside your personal account.
Required Documents
| Document | Status |
|---|---|
| Motivation letter | Mandatory |
| Proof of education (degree/transcript) | Mandatory |
| Language certificate (IELTS/TOEFL/Russian) | Optional — boosts score |
| Achievement/olympiad certificates | Optional — boosts score |
| CV / recommendation letters | Optional — boosts score |
| Notarized translations | Only required after winning |