About us

The Open Doors offers limitless opportunities for education, self-development, and new academic career prospects in Russia for young talented individuals from around the globe. 

The Open Doors has been held annually since 2017. It is organized by the Association of Global Universities, a consortium of leading Russian universities, and is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo.

Each year, over a hundred thousand talented and motivated young people from many countries participate in the Open Doors. The competition covers 14 interdisciplinary subject areas, ranging from engineering and medicine to economics and linguistics, with tracks available for bachelor's, master's, doctoral and post-doc candidates. Participation in the Open Doors is free of charge and the competition is held online. The working languages of the Open Doors are English and Russian. 

Winning the Open Doors gives admission to bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs, or secures a post-doc position in research projects at one of Russia's leading universities through a streamlined, one-stop process. Over the past seven years, more than 6,000 international students have enjoyed his opportunity.

What are the benefits for the winners of the bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral tracks?

• Free tuition for the chosen study program, taught in English or Russian. Students who have selected a degree program taught in Russian are entitled to a year of complimentary Russian language training;
• The opportunity to choose a university and degree program through a streamlined, one-stop system;
• An engaging student life experience and vibrant campus environment;
• Ongoing support and assistance provided at every stage of the academic journey.

What are the benefits for the winners of the post-doc track?

• A post-doc position in a research project at one of Russia's universities;
• The opportunity to choose a university research project through a streamlined one-stop system;
• The opportunity to work under the guidance of world-renowned scientists, using state-of-the-art research equipment;
• Continuous support at every stage of their research work.

How many stages are there in the Open Doors?

There are two stages in the bachelor’s and master’s tracks:

The First stage is a portfolio review and an entrance test. The Second stage is a completion of the Open Doors tasks.

There are three stages in the doctoral and post-doc tracks:

The First stage for both tracks is a portfolio review and an entrance test.

The Second stage for the doctoral track is a completion of the Open Doors tasks; for the post-doc track — a video presentation of achievements in research activity.

The Third stage for the doctoral track is an interview with potential research supervisors, and for the post-doc track — an interview with the leaders of research projects.

Who can participate in the Open Doors?

Foreign citizens or stateless persons, including compatriots living abroad, who can verify the completion of the previous degree of education or who will complete it in the year the Open Doors is held, depending on the chosen track:

• Bachelor’s track – a completed general secondary education;
• Master’s track – a degree of higher education, at least that of a bachelor;
• Doctoral track – a degree of higher education, at least that of a master’s or specialist;

• Participants of the post-doc track should have a PhD or a candidate/doctor of science degree.

   

Seize this unique opportunity to start an educational or academic career in Russia!

For more detailed information, please refer to the Open Doors's Rules of Participation.

The Open Doors team is always available to address any questions that may arise.

Webinars with the Open Doors organizing universities

During webinars, the Open Doors participants will learn about the history and specialization of the universities, as well as programs offered to Open Doors winners and runners-up. They will also get answers to questions about additional available scholarships, accommodation arrangements, employment opportunities during their studies and services for international students. 

Only registered Open Doors participants will be able to join the webinars in real time and communicate with the university representatives directly. The link to the webinar is available in participant`s personal account on the “Portfolio” page. For everybody else we’ll publish the recordings after the webinars are finished on our YouTube-channel and VK.

Webinars begin at 10.00 Moscow time (UTC +3) on the dates indicated.

For the participants of the bachelor`s track:

15.09.2025     Far Eastern Federal University 

                         Tomsk Polytechnic University 

19.09.2025     Ural Federal University

                         University of Tyumen

22.09.2025     HSE University 

                         MGIMO University

26.09.2025     St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”  

                         ITMO University
 

29.09.2025     National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod 

                         Southern Federal University 

03.10.2025     Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba 

                         National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)

06.10.2025     Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education «Bauman Moscow State Technical University 

                         Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University

10.10.2025     Moscow Polytechnic University 

                         Moscow State University of Civil Engineering  

17.10.2025     HSE University

                         MGIMO University

22.10.2025     Tomsk State University 

                         Novosibirsk State University 

31.10.2025     Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology 

                         National University of Science and Technology «MISIS» 

07.11.2025     Samara National Research University 

                         Siberian Federal University

For the participants of the master`s track, doctoral track:

17.09.2025     Tomsk State University 

                         Novosibirsk State University 

24.09.2025     Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University  

                         Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

01.10.2025     Far Eastern Federal University

                         Tomsk Polytechnic University

08.10.2025     Ural Federal University 

                         University of Tyumen

13.10.2025     National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod 

                         Southern Federal University

15.10.2025     Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology 

                         National University of Science and Technology «MISIS»

20.10.2025     St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” 

                         ITMO University

24.10.2025     Siberian Federal University 

                         Samara National Research University 

27.10.2025     Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education «Bauman Moscow State Technical University 

                         Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University

 29.10.2025     Moscow Polytechnic University                      

05.11.2025     Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba                           

11.11.2025     Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University

                         National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)