The Open Doors Scholarship 2026 gives talented international students across the globe the chance to study in Russia for free. Winners can enroll in top Russian universities without taking entrance exams and the Russian government covers their tuition. This fully funded scholarship is available for undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral programs.
Applicants can choose programs taught in English or Russian depending on their university and field of study. The scholarship also uses a simple single-window system, allowing students to apply to any participating Russian university.
Scholarship Overview
- Host Country: Russia
- Level: Undergraduate | Master’s | PhD | Postdoctoral
- Eligible Countries: All countries
- Reward: Full tuition coverage and early admission
- Deadline: November 16, 2025
Who Can Apply
The competition is open to foreign citizens, stateless individuals, and expatriates. For the Master’s track, candidates must have or be completing a Bachelor’s degree. For the Doctoral track, a Master’s or Specialist’s degree is required. Participants must also agree to the processing of personal data.
Application Process
- Register online in the Olympiad system between September 1 and November 16.
- Create a personal account with your email and password.
- Submit a portfolio for the first round.
- Complete a problem-solving challenge in the second round.
- Doctoral and postdoctoral applicants will interview with research supervisors or project leaders in the final round.
After registration, participants can access guidance on portfolio structure, evaluation criteria, and demo tasks for the second stage. Only one account per participant is allowed, and any rule violation leads to disqualification.
READ MORE: ASUS Scholarship 2026 for International Students at Taiwan Tech University
Scholarship Benefits
- Free tuition for Bachelors, Masters, and PhD programs
- Early admission to any participating Russian university
- Opportunity to select research supervisors for doctoral studies
- Programs taught in English or Russian
How to Apply
Click the “SIGN UP” button on the Open Doors Olympiad website to start your application and secure a chance to study in Russia without financial burden.
