Many Armenian applicants choose Russian universities for the quality of education and its affordable costs.
According to the State Statistical Service1, Russian universities were providing training to more than 2,600 undergraduate, specialist and masters students from Armenia last year. Russian universities offer education in engineering, natural sciences and humanities. Armenian applicants often select engineering majors such as nuclear power engineering. The programme is popular due to Russian-Armenian close cooperation in this field. Russia’s Rosatom corporation is upgrading the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant off the town of Metsamor; it also supplies nuclear fuel to the NPP and is interested in training specialists for the industry. Economics and law are also popular.
Russian universities are interested in attracting talented prospective students from Armenia. Every year, universities present their programmes at the Education: 21st Century fair at the Russian Science and Culture Centre in Yerevan. Ten Russian universities attended the fair in 2018 including Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
© UTMN
What should I start with?
If you decided to get a higher education in Russia, choose your profession and the university. Use our search tool to find the education programme. Sign into the website and send your application to the university directly. University staff will reply within ten days; they will inform you about admission, document and examination requirements.
Tuition fees for Armenian nationals
Tuition fees at Russian universities are lower than in America or Europe while the quality of education is high. Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in nuclear power engineering and technology range from 213,460 rubles ($3,557) to 632,580 rubles ($10,543) a year. Graduate programme fees range from 393,640 rubles ($6,560) to 415,200 rubles ($6,920) a year. For postgraduate programmes, universities charge a minimum of 112,224 rubles ($1,870) to a maximum of 413,400 rubles ($6,890) a year. Programmes in nuclear power engineering are offered by National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in economics start upwards of 98,732 rubles ($1,645); the maximum fee amounts to 440,000 rubles ($7,333) a year. Graduate programme tuition fees range from 75,000 rubles ($1,250) to 370,000 rubles ($6170) a year. PhD programmes tuition fees vary from 79,780 rubles ($1,330) to 325,000 rubles ($5,120) a year.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in law range from 112,700 rubles ($1,880) to 390,000 ($6,500) a year. Masters programmes tuition fees: from 95,000 rubles ($1,580) to 380,000 rubles ($6,300) a year. PhD programmes: from 131,000 rubles ($2,184) to 324,000 rubles ($5,400) a year.
© TPU
Double degree programmes are available. National Research Tomsk State University runs a double degree masters programme in finance jointly with University of Coimbra (Portugal). Tuition fee is 150,120 rubles ($2,502) a year. ITMO National Research University offers a double degree graduate programme “Physics and Technology of Nanostructures” in collaboration with Aalto University (Finland) for 219,000 rubles ($3,650) a year. Higher School of Economics has a joint programme in economics with University of London for 715,000 rubles a year ($11,917).
Scholarship options
If you’re talented and have good grades in your education certificate, you can apply for a government-funded place at a Russian university. There are several options to get a scholarship.
Armenian nationals can take the Unified State Exam (EGE); it requires excellent linguistic proficiency as the EGE is only held in Russian. The examination takes place at special venues in Russia or Armenia. In Armenia for example, the EGE can be taken at the school of FSB Border Service unit 2089 in Yerevan, the school of FSB Border Service unit 2392 in Artashat and other centres. The examinations are usually held from March till July. Contact the Russian Embassy in Armenia, Yerevan, or the Federal Service for the Supervision of Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor) over the EGE and the location of EGE centres. If you choose this option but are not confident of your language skills you can take an intensive Russian course at universities or participate in a summer or winter language school.
Some Armenian applicants can enter a Russian university as compatriots2 if they successfully pass the internal university examinations. The students taking this option have to show the documents confirming the compatriot status.
Armenian nationals can also participate in Olympiads held by Russian universities and university associations in partnership with the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. ITMO National Research University holds the Olympiad in informatics in Yerevan which gives the winners the opportunity to enrol in engineering programmes without taking entrance examinations. National Research Nuclear University MEPhI holds an Olympiad in physics and maths in Yerevan for high school students. The competition comprises two stages; the winners enjoy free tuition at MEPhI and other Russian engineering universities. Several Russian universities including Higher School of Economics, Ural Federal University and National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University arrange the Olympiad Vysshaya Proba (Tiptoppers) for residents of former Soviet republics. The competition covers more than 20 subjects; the winners get different incentives, from extra points to admission without entrance examinations. Every year, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia holds the Open Olympiad in several engineering subjects (physic, maths and computer science in 2018) which offers incentives for prospective undergraduate and graduate students. See the complete list of intellectual competitions for foreign nationals here.
© HSE
Scholarship quota contest is the next option. The Russian government annually sets aside 15,000 places at Russian universities. In 2017, 187 places were reserved for Armenians, and in 2018, 205 scholarships were allocated. Priority is given to applicants enrolling in natural science programmes. The information on competitive selection is published on the website of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) in December-February. Contact Rossotrudnichestvo over scholarships at Proshyan St. 1st Lane, 20 Building, №14, Yerevan, Armenia.
Document requirements
An Armenian national who applies to a Russian university submits a package of documents including the application, education certificate, passport, medical certificate and photos. If the candidate is still studying and cannot show their degree or secondary education certificate, they should deliver a transcript of their academic record. Document requirements might differ from university to university so contact the Admissions Board in advance for details using your account on studyinrussi.ru.
Russian university degree recognition in Armenia
Under a Russian-Armenian agreement3, education certificates issued in Armenia are recognised by Russian universities and do not require legalisation. This agreement also provides for Armenia’s recognition of Russian academic degrees. An Armenia national with a degree from a Russian university can continue studies in their homeland or land a job in their profession. The same applies to degrees in medicine.
© FEFU
Entry into Russia
Residents of Armenia do not require a visa to enter Russia; they can cross the border with a foreign travel or national passport. Students have to register with Russian migration authorities within 30 days from the date of arrival in Russia. Registration rules changed in 2018; students have to register their de facto address, not the university’s legal address as they did before. You can request assistance from the host university staff; they will tell you how to do it.
