Open Doors 2026: Your Gateway to Fully Funded Study in Russia
Registration is open for Open Doors 2026, a Russian Government-backed scholarship competition offering international students tuition-free study, monthly stipends, and admission to 24 leading Russian universities.
Registration has officially opened for the Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project, an international academic competition that offers students and researchers worldwide the chance to study tuition-free at some of Russia's most prestigious universities, fully funded under a quota established by the Government of the Russian Federation.
Since its founding, the programme has attracted over 618,000 participants from more than 200 countries, producing over 16,700 winners to date. Registration for the 2026 cycle began on August 20, 2026, and international applicants, including students from Nigeria and across Africa, are encouraged to apply early given the scale of global competition.
What the Scholarship Covers
Winners and runners-up are admitted tuition-free to their chosen degree programme and receive a monthly stipend, the amount of which varies by university. However, applicants should note that travel, accommodation, food, communication services, and medical insurance are not covered and remain the student's responsibility. Most universities offer relatively affordable campus housing, and information on this is typically available on individual university websites.
Available Tracks and Subject Areas
Open Doors runs across four academic tracks, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral (PhD), and Postdoctoral, spanning 14 subject areas, 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
Applicants may apply to more than one subject area, though a separate motivation letter is required for each.
The 24 Participating Universities
Winners can be placed at any of 24 leading Russian institutions, including HSE University, ITMO University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Sechenov University (First Moscow State Medical University), MGIMO University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), RUDN University, Ural Federal University, Novosibirsk State University, Tomsk State University, and Far Eastern Federal University, among others, located across major Russian cities. Applicants may select up to six universities in order of priority when registering.
How the Competition Works: Three Stages
First Stage (August 20 – November 13, 2026): Applicants register, select a track and subject area, and submit a portfolio consisting of an entry test, a motivation letter, and supporting documents demonstrating academic and professional achievements. Only a motivation letter and proof of education level are mandatory; all other portfolio items are optional but can boost an applicant's score. Registration for the First Stage closes on November 1, 2026, after which no further edits to documents are permitted.
Second Stage (November 13 – December 21, 2026): For Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral applicants, this involves a proctored, 180-minute online task session in the applicant's chosen subject area, held via the platform's online proctoring software. Postdoctoral applicants instead submit a video presentation showcasing their research achievements, due by December 6. Results are announced December 21, with Bachelor's and Master's winners named the same day.
Third Stage (December 22, 2026 – February 26, 2027): Reserved for Doctoral and Postdoctoral applicants, this stage consists of interviews, Doctoral candidates meet with prospective research supervisors, while Postdoctoral candidates are interviewed by research project leaders. Final results and winners for both tracks are announced on February 26, 2027.
Key Things Applicants Should Know
- No certified translations are required at the First Stage, though winners must later have documents notarized at a Russian Embassy, Consulate, or public notary.
- Language of instruction varies by university and programme, some are taught in English, others in Russian. Applicants needing to improve their Russian may begin with a one-year preparatory language course before starting their degree.
- Work is permitted while studying, either remotely or in person, with no work permit required; many universities assist with job placement.
- Applicants can only accept one Russian Government scholarship at a time, those who win multiple competitions must choose one.
- Certificates of participation are only issued to winners and runners-up, not all applicants.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can register directly at od.globaluni.ru, where full rules, subject-area details, sample tasks, and a live countdown to key deadlines are published. The programme is run in partnership with Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Rossotrudnichestvo, and updates are also shared via its official VKontakte and Telegram channels.
With registration already open and the First Stage deadline set for November 1, 2026, prospective applicants are advised not to wait until the final weeks to begin preparing their motivation letters and portfolios, given the scale of global competition for a limited number of places.
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