Admission Procedure to Study in Russia

Intakes to Study in Russia

An academic year for higher education in Russia starts on September 1 and in January/February. However, it is important for international students to learn the admission timeline for the level of course they are applying for. The timeline will also depend on the university, preparation of documents, processing of visa and more. Given below is the overview of the two intakes/academic sessions to study in Russia:

Admissions to Russian language courses and diploma sessions are open all around the year.

Admission Process for Undergraduate Courses in Russia

Pre-Application Steps

Before applying to a Russian university, there are a few steps that an international student should follow in order to ensure a hasslefree application process. Mentioned below are the pre-application steps while applying for a Bachelor’s degree in Russia:

Pick an Area of Study:

The first thing one should do while applying to a foreign university is narrowing down their list of courses. The best way to go about it is to look for programs that are on offer at the top universities in Russia.

Research and Shortlist Universities:

Overall, Russia is home to around 50 top global universities in different parts of the country. While shortlisting universities, one must consider factors such as ranking, accreditation, history, diversity, ROI and more. Another important thing to look at when choosing a university and a course is to learn the medium of instruction.

Find Out Application Deadlines & Where to Submit Application:

Every program might have a different application deadline. Applicants should therefore be well aware of the admission timeline before they begin the application process.

In Russia, international students may either apply through the official website of the university or through ‘Study in Russia’- the official website for international students pursuing higher education in Russia.

Check Entry Requirements:

Before applying to a Russian university, an applicant must have a clear idea of the eligibility criteria/entry requirements for a particular program. Given below are the general requirements for an undergraduate program:

• Must have passed 10+2 from a recognised board of education.

• Must have studied relevant subjects in 10+2.

• Must have obtained a minimum passing grade (as specified by the university).

Step-by-step Application Process

Take English Proficiency Tests:

Many Russian universities ask students from outside the country to submit English proficiency tests scores. In case they require the same, one must take tests such as the IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL before applying to a university.

Register & Apply Online:

Create an account either on the official website of the university or on ‘Study in Russia’ to apply to multiple universities at once. Once the account is created, log in using the credentials and enter the required personal details, choose the program, enter academic records, and other details, if any.

Attempt Required Admission Tests:

Russian universities usually conduct entrance exams to admit international students. They will have to undergo a competitive selection that includes tests, interviews or academic competitions.

Pay Application Fee:

A university may or may not charge an application fee. In case it does, one must pay the fee in one of the said methods to complete the application process.

Submit Required Documents:

An international application to undergraduate programs at Russian universities would require the following documents:

• University application

• Original and copies of your high school certificate.

• Russian translations of all documents.

• Copy of valid passport

• Passport-size photo(s)

• Copy of a personal ID

Post-Application Steps

Wait for Admission Decision:

The university may take a few days/weeks to notify their admission decision via email. Once the decision is made and delivered to the student, he/she must accept/decline the offer within the stipulated time.

Final Steps After Confirmation of Enrolment:

Here are the final steps one must follow after they have confirmed their enrolment in a Russian university:

• Arrange your finances

• Apply for a Russian student visa

• Apply for medical insurance

Admission Process for Postgraduate Courses in Russia

Those applying for a postgraduate/Master’s degree in Russia can follow the steps given below to ensure a successful admission process:

Pre-Application Steps

Before moving on to the application process, here are a few things one must consider doing in order to have all the requirements ready:

Pick an Area of Study:

An international applicant must first settle on an area of study and curate a list of programs at postgraduate level that top Russian universities have on offer. Out of the many English-taught Master’s degree programs in Russia, the most popular among foreign students include those in the fields of medicine, engineering, computer science, physics and international business.

Research and Shortlist Universities:

One must then list down the universities they are interested in. The same should be based on a number of important factors such as accreditation, program content, ranking, faculty, employment and so on. One must select at least 5- 6 universities that offer the program of their choice.

Find Out Application Deadlines & Where to Submit Application:

Application deadlines for different programs may be different. International applicants should be well aware of the deadlines and other important dates such as beginning of the course, admission decision date and more.

International Master’s degree applicants in Russia will also have two options to apply - either through the official website of universities or through the website of ‘Study in Russia’.

Check Entry Requirements:

Here are the entry requirements for programs in a few popular fields of study:

Medical/Clinical Residency:

• Must hold MBBS/MS/BDS degree with transcripts

Other Master’s programs:

• Must hold a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

• Must have a higher secondary school certificate.

Step-by-step Application Process

Take English Proficiency Tests:

Almost all Russia universities would require international applicants to fulfil the English language proficiency requirements. Applicants should, therefore, take tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic and meet the overall and section-wise cut-off (if any) before applying to the university.

Apply Online:

Visit the official website of the university, ‘Study in Russia’ or RECAS- Russian Education Centre for African & Asian Students. Register by filling out the required details and log in using the credentials. After signing in, one must provide all the required details such as personal information, academic record, test scores, etc. ‘Study in Russia’ lets one apply to multiple universities using the same application.

Pay Application Fee:

For a successful application, one must pay the required application fee by using the methods mentioned by the university. However, not all universities ask for an application fee.

Submit Documents:

Here are the documents that one must submit to complete the application to a Master’s program in Russia:

• A completed application form

• Proof of paying the application fee (if applicable)

• Bachelor's diploma

• Transcript of records

• Passport-size photo(s)

• Copy of valid passport and/or personal ID

• Motivation letter

• Statement of Purpose (SOP)

• An updated CV (if required)

Undergo Competitive Selection:

In Russia, admissions are based on a Unified State Examination/entrance exam depending on the university and country of origin. However, it may include admission tests, interviews and academic competitions.

Post-Application Steps

Wait for Admission Decision:

Enrolment at a Russian university is usually based on the results of the competitive selection process. A decision is generally made within the next 2-3 weeks although it may vary from department to department and university to university. The same will be communicated through the registered email address wherein a confirmation of enrollment will be provided along with an invitation to the Russian Federation.

Final Steps After Confirmation of Enrolment:

Once all of this is done, given below are the last few steps before flying out to Russia:

• Apply for scholarships/education loans and sort out finances

• Learn all about arriving in Russia

• Apply for Russian Student Visa

• Apply for medical insurance

Selection Process to Study in Russia

Russian universities conduct a number of entrance exams/interviews to select international students applying to Bachelor’s, Specialist, Master’s or a Doctoral program:

Unified State Exam:

Many international applicants take the Unified State Exam (EGE) to enter Russian universities. However, it is extremely difficult and competitive given that it is conducted in Russian. It is held for a total of 14 subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Russian, Biology, Geography, History, Computer Science, Social Science and foriegn languages (German, English, French or German).

Academic Competitions:

Russia conducts several academic competitions in both Russia and abroad. Participants and winners at such competitions stand a stronger chance of claiming a place at a Russian university.

Admission Tests:

Russian universities conduct university-level entrance exams to select international students. Representatives of these universities send test assignments to their counterparts in different countries and applicants with the best results are given preferential treatment when enrolling at universities in Russia.

Interviews:

Along with admission tests, some universities also conduct interviews that play a crucial role in the evaluation process of an international applicant.

English Language Proficiency Tests:

For English-taught programs, students will have to qualify English proficiency tests such as the following. The overall and section-wise cutoff for these tests can vary from one university to another:

• International English Language Test System (IELTS)

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic

Admission Process to Study MBBS in Russia

The admission process for Indian students to study MBBS in Russia is pretty simple. One needs to have a good understanding of the basics, eligibility criteria and in-depth knowledge of the admission process to be able to enrol in a medical college in Russia.

Russia has established its reputation as one of the best countries in the world to study MBBS. Some Russian medical colleges have over a century of experience in imparting education, have received recognition from global medical agencies and rank among the top colleges in the world. In addition, with no particular entrance exams for admission and low fees, the country has managed to attract a lot of Indian medical aspirants. Another reason that studying MBBS in Russia is quite attractive for an Indian student is that Russia is relatively nearer when compared to other European and American and Canadian hot spots for MBBS courses.

Owing partly to the strong diplomatic relations between Indian and Russia, there is a significant population of Indians already living in the country. As a result, the influence of Indian culture and food can be seen in all the major Russian cities, which helps students feel right at home.

Due to the high standard of living in Russia, the cost of living in Russia is higher than that in India. However, it is easily offset by the low tuition fees due to which pursuing MBBS from Russia still proves to be much more inexpensive than studying MBBS in India. Plus, due to the fact that most Russian universities are MCI approved, it is quite easy for graduates to begin their medical practice in India.

The course duration of MBBS in Russia is 6 years if you study in the English language and 7 years if you study in Russian. Elementary Russian is taught to all international students in most of Russia’s medical universities to help facilitate interaction with patients during internship and practice.

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Admissions in Russia

In order to secure admission into an MBBS programme in Russia, the candidates must fulfil the following conditions:

• The candidate must be no less than 17 years and no more than 25 years of age as on 31st December of the year of admission.

• The candidate must have secured at least 50% marks in Class 12 in Science stream with Biology, Chemistry and Physics as the major subjects.

• Indian students must hold an Eligibility Certificate (EC). EC can be obtained by clearing the NEET-UG exam.

Entrance Exams for MBBS Admissions in Russia

Russian medical colleges do not conduct an entrance exam for MBBS admissions. However, Indian students must clear the NEET UG exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) to obtain an Eligibility Certificate (EC). Without an EC, students will not be allowed to pursue MBBS in Russia.

Application Process to Study MBBS in Russia

Candidates hoping to pursue MBBS in Russia need to follow the following guidelines to gain admission.

1. Check the top MBBS colleges in Russia and select the university where you wish to enrol.

2. Fill the application form on the selected university’s website. Scanned copy of all or any of the following documents may be required with the final submission of the application form:

• Class 10th Mark sheet (translated into Russian and notarized)

• Class 12th Mark sheet (translated into Russian and notarized)

• NEET Result

• Passport (translated into Russian)

• Medical Certificate including HIV Test

• Proof of proficiency in the Russian language

3. Once your application has been accepted, you will receive an Invitation Letter from the university, confirming a seat for you in the programme.

4. Apply for a student visa. The following documents are required to apply for a Russian visa:

• Passport valid for at least 18 months from the date of visa issue

• Letter of Invitation from a university

• Completed visa application form available on the Russian Consular Department’s website.

• Proof of HIV negative status

• Applicants under 18 years are also required to submit a notarized parental consent to travel.

The student visa fees for Russia varies with the number of entries an applicant has made and the processing time. Processing time for a Russian student visa is usually under 10 days. However, in some cases, it may extend up to 30 days.

Doing your MBBS from a Russian college can give a great boost to your career. There are many advantages to studying in a medical school in Russia:

• You can experience a new country and culture while gaining a world-class education.

• Student visa application process is quick and simplified, and the rejection rate is almost 0.

• The cost of studying MBBS in Russia is generally half to one-fourth to that of pursuing MBSS from India.

• Russian colleges of medicine have global recognition and alumni of Russian universities can be found working in great positions around the world.

All of these factors combined contribute to the success of Russia in attracting international students to its shores. It certainly is the best choice for the students and families who find it hard to afford a medical education in India.