Russia opens 2026–27 government scholarships for Indian students

Applications have opened for the Russian government’s scholarship program for Indian students seeking admission to universities in Russia for the 2026–27 academic year, expanding opportunities for higher education across multiple disciplines and regions.

Under the program, Indian students can apply to a wide network of Russian universities located in cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, and others.

Lomonosov Moscow State University and MGIMO are excluded from this scholarship scheme. Applications must be submitted through the official portal education-in-russia.com.

Russia continues to attract a large number of Indian students, with official figures indicating that more than 27,000 Indians are currently enrolled in Russian higher education institutions.

The scholarship is open across academic levels, including bachelor’s, specialist’s, master’s, MPhil, and advanced training programs.

Students may apply for courses in a wide range of fields, including medicine, pharmacy, engineering, architecture, agriculture, economics, management, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, aviation, space sciences, sports, and the arts.

Russian authorities have indicated that several programs, particularly in medicine, will be taught in English, allowing students to begin their studies without prior knowledge of the Russian language.

Applicants who wish to gain language proficiency may opt for a one-year preparatory Russian language course before starting their main degree.

Several Russian universities participating in the broader higher education system continue to feature in global rankings.

According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, institutions such as Bauman Moscow State Technical University, RUDN University, Saint Petersburg State University, HSE University, Kazan Federal University, and Novosibirsk State University are among those ranked internationally.

The selection process for the scholarship does not involve entrance examinations. Candidates are assessed based on previous academic performance and the strength of their portfolio.

Supporting documents may include research work, recommendation letters, certificates from national or international competitions, Olympiads, and other academic achievements.

Applicants are allowed to indicate preferences for up to six universities. Final placement, however, depends on institutional evaluation and seat availability.

The process is conducted in two stages, beginning with document screening and shortlisting, followed by allocation of universities and issuance of documents required for visa processing by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

With international education options gaining traction among Indian students, the Russian government scholarship program is expected to see significant interest for the 2026–27 academic cycle.