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Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27: Fully Funded Study Opportunities in Russia

 


Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27 offers an outstanding opportunity for talented international students and researchers to pursue higher education and academic careers at leading Russian universities.

Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27 — Quick Overview

Feature

Details

Scholarship Name

Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project

Academic Year

2026–27

Organizer

Association of Global Universities

Supported By

Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia & Rossotrudnichestvo

Eligible Applicants

Foreign citizens and stateless persons

Tracks

Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral and Postdoctoral

Official Languages

English and Russian

Application Fee

Free

Registration Opens

20 August 2026

Registration Deadline

1 November 2026

First Stage

20 August – 13 November 2026

Second Stage

13 November – 21 December 2026

Third Stage

22 December 2026 – 26 February 2027

Study Mode

Online competition

Tuition

Funded for winners under the applicable quota

What Is the Open Doors Russian Scholarship?

The Open Doors is an international academic competition that provides talented students and researchers with an opportunity to gain admission to leading Russian universities through a streamlined selection process.

The project has been held annually since 2017 and has attracted hundreds of thousands of participants from around the world. More than 618,000 participants from over 200 countries have taken part since the project's launch, while more than 16,700 participants have become winners or runners-up.

The competition covers a wide range of academic disciplines, from engineering, computer science and medicine to economics, education, linguistics, politics and artificial intelligence.

Open Doors Scholarship 2026–27 Registration

Registration for all four Open Doors tracks — Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral and Postdoctoral — begins on 20 August 2026. The final date to register is 1 November 2026.

Applicants should not confuse the registration deadline with the end of the First Stage. Registration closes on 1 November 2026, while the First Stage continues until 13 November 2026.

During registration, applicants create their personal participant account and provide information including their name, date of birth, citizenship, email address, telephone number, selected track, subject area and language of participation.

Who Can Apply for the Open Doors Scholarship?

1. Bachelor's Track

·       Be between 16 and 23 years old on the registration opening date.

·       Not already hold a Bachelor's, Specialist or Master's degree.

·       Hold, or be expected to obtain during the relevant academic year, a qualification equivalent to general secondary education that permits admission to higher education in their country.

2. Master's Track

·       Be between 20 and 33 years old on the registration opening date.

·       Not hold a Specialist or Master's degree.

·       Hold, or be expected to obtain during the academic year, at least a Bachelor's degree or equivalent higher education qualification.

3. Doctoral Track

·       Be between 22 and 35 years old on the registration opening date.

·       Not have completed a doctoral/PhD degree.

·       Hold, or be expected to obtain, a Specialist or Master's degree.

4. Postdoctoral Track

·       Be between 24 and 39 years old.

·       Hold a PhD, Candidate of Sciences or Doctor of Sciences degree at the time of registration.

What Benefits Do Open Doors Winners Receive?

Benefits for Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral Winners

·       Free tuition under the applicable Education Quota for foreign citizens.

·       Study programs may be available in English or Russian.

·       Russian-language preparatory training may be available when additional language preparation is required.

·       Opportunity to select eligible universities and degree programs through the streamlined system.

·       International student and campus experience.

·       Academic and administrative support throughout the admission process.

Benefits for Postdoctoral Winners

·       A research position at an organizing Russian university.

·       Opportunity to select an eligible research project.

·       Opportunity to work with internationally recognized scientists.

·       Access to modern research facilities and equipment.

·       Continued support during the research appointment.

Open Doors Scholarship Subject Areas 2026–27

·       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

Which Universities Participate in Open Doors?

·       Far Eastern Federal University

·       Bauman Moscow State Technical University

·       Sechenov University

·       HSE University

·       ITMO University

·       Kazan Federal University

·       MGIMO University

·       Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

·       Moscow Polytechnic University

·       Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

·       Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod

·       National Research Nuclear University MEPhI

·       Tomsk Polytechnic University

·       Tomsk State University

·       Novosibirsk State University

·       RUDN University

·       Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

·       Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”

·       Samara National Research University

·       Siberian Federal University

·       Southern Federal University

·       University of Science and Technology MISIS

·       University of Tyumen

·       Ural Federal University

How Many Stages Are There in the Open Doors Competition?

Bachelor's and Master's Tracks

There are two stages. Stage 1 is a portfolio competition, including the required entry and portfolio materials. Stage 2 is the final completion of Open Doors tasks.

Doctoral Track

The Doctoral track has three stages: portfolio competition, Open Doors tasks, and online interviews with prospective research supervisors and/or Doctoral Track managers.

Postdoctoral Track

The Postdoctoral track has three stages: portfolio competition, assessment of a video presentation of research achievements, and online interviews with research project leaders.

Open Doors 2026–27 Important Dates

Date

Event

20 August 2026

Registration opens

1 November 2026

Registration deadline

13 November 2026

First Stage ends

13 November – 21 December 2026

Second Stage

21 December 2026

Second Stage results / Third Stage admissions

22 December 2026 – 26 February 2027

Third Stage interviews

How Does the Online Open Doors Test Work?

The Open Doors competition is conducted online through the official Open Doors IT platform. For Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral candidates participating in the Second Stage, the competition is conducted under proctored conditions.

Identity verification is performed using a webcam and the passport submitted during registration. The participant's computer desktop and webcam feed are recorded during the Second Stage.

The required internet connection speed for the Second Stage is at least 1 Mbit/s. Participants can test the proctoring system before the actual competition.

How Long Do Participants Have to Complete Stage 2?

Participants receive 180 minutes for the Second Stage session. After identity verification, participants have 175 minutes to complete the written-response tasks. After the written portion, participants complete an oral-response task, for which they have five minutes.

Once the allotted time expires, the system automatically closes access to the tasks. Only answers submitted before the deadline are considered.

Is the Open Doors Scholarship Free to Apply?

Yes. There is no application or participation fee. The Open Doors competition is conducted online, so eligible applicants from around the world can participate without paying a competition registration fee.

Applicants should rely on the official Open Doors website and published competition rules for application information.

What Happens After Winning the Open Doors Competition?

Winning the competition is a major achievement, but successful candidates must still complete the required admission procedures. Winners and eligible runners-up must submit the required documents through the relevant Russian Ministry information system and their participant accounts.

Bachelor's and Master's applicants select their language of instruction, relevant field of study and eligible universities according to the applicable procedure. Doctoral winners select an organizing university and, where applicable, a prospective research supervisor. Postdoctoral winners select an organizing university from among those whose research project leaders have agreed to employ them.

What Is the Difference Between a Winner and a Runner-Up?

In the Bachelor's and Master's tracks, winners and runners-up are determined based on their ranking after the Final Stage. Winners receive the relevant rights under the applicable quota. Runners-up may receive the same rights if places remain available after winners have confirmed their entitlement.

Participants who do not become winners or runners-up may still receive the status of “participant who completed the Open Doors with high achievements” if they meet the required performance threshold. Electronic Open Doors certificates are issued to winners, runners-up and qualifying high-achievement participants.

Can Open Doors Winners Receive Additional Government Grant Support?

Under the current competition rules, eligible winners and runners-up may also be able to apply for additional grant support from the Government of the Russian Federation, subject to the applicable requirements. This support is linked to obtaining the right to study within the relevant quota and being prepared to undertake full-time study in Russian in the Russian Federation.

Why Should International Students Consider Open Doors?

The Open Doors project brings several advantages together: no application fee, an online competition, multiple academic disciplines, access to leading Russian universities and tuition-funded opportunities for eligible winners.

For ambitious students and researchers, this combination makes Open Doors a scholarship opportunity worth serious consideration.

Tips for Applicants Applying for Open Doors 2026–27

Register Early: Create your account as soon as registration opens on 20 August 2026.

Select Your Subject Area Carefully: Choose a subject area that matches your academic background, achievements and future goals.

Prepare a Strong Portfolio: Collect academic records, certificates, awards, publications, research achievements and other relevant evidence.

Write a Strong Motivation Letter: Explain your academic interests, achievements, future goals and reasons for choosing your field.

Prepare Your Documents: Make sure your passport and educational documents are ready. Documents not issued in English or Russian require the appropriate translation.

Check Your Technology: Test your computer, webcam, microphone, internet connection and required software.

Practice Time Management: Stage 2 includes written and oral tasks under strict time limits.

Read the Official Rules: Review the current rules carefully before submitting your application.

Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27: Final Thoughts

The Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27 is a major opportunity for international students and researchers who want to pursue higher education or develop an academic career in Russia.

With four tracks — Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral and Postdoctoral — and 14 interdisciplinary subject areas, the competition offers opportunities across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines.

The key dates are: Registration opens 20 August 2026; registration closes 1 November 2026; First Stage runs through 13 November 2026; Second Stage runs from 13 November to 21 December 2026; and Third Stage interviews run from 22 December 2026 to 26 February 2027.

Participation is free, and the competition is conducted online. Eligible applicants should begin preparing their academic documents, portfolio, motivation letter and technical setup well before the deadline.

Official Resources

Official Open Doors Website:

Website Link


Official Rules of Participation:

Link for Rules

For the latest announcements, eligibility requirements, deadlines and admission procedures, applicants should always verify information on the official Open Doors website.

Disclaimer: Scholarship rules, participating universities, admission procedures and deadlines may be updated by the organizers. Applicants should verify all requirements and announcements on the official Open Doors website before submitting an application.

If you want to prepare scholarship documents:

1. Research Proposal and thesis writing

2. Study Plan

3. Statement of Purpose

4. Motivational / Cover Letter and many more.

5. Documents Translations

Then Contact us on the following social media platforms.

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