Higher education in Russia is available to citizens of all countries including Morocco. Read the guidelines for Moroccan nationals on contacting university representatives, preparing documents and applying to a university.
Russian-Moroccan relations have a long history. The first trade contacts were established in 1777, while in 1897, the Russian Empire opened its consulate general in Tangier. Morocco is currently one of Russia’s key partners in North Africa. The countries cooperate in many fields including power engineering. Russia has a rich experience in building hydroelectric and thermal power plants in Morocco. IT partnership is also developing. Russian companies engage in the automation of mining in Morocco. The country is launching an electronic payment system based on Russian software.
In 2017, two-way trade increased by 13 percent year on year with overall sales volume reaching 1.4 billion dollars. Russia mostly exports fuels to Morocco and imports Moroccan foodstuffs.
Tourism is another area of bilateral cooperation. Moroccan resorts are becoming increasingly popular with Russians. Moroccans like travelling to Russia, too; many fans from that country came to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to support their team.
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Moroccan youths take a great interest in Russian higher education. The most sought-after study tracks are medicine, engineering, computer science, economics, management and linguistics. The number of applicants from this country increases every year. In 2014/2015, Russia was providing training to 1,853 Morocann students, in 2015/2016 to 2,121 and in 2016/2017 to 2,612. More than 97 percent of them are self-funded students. Russian universities are interested in attracting talented prospective students from Morocco. Every year, Russian universities participate in the Casablanca education fair.
Where do I start?
If you decided to study in Russia, choose the university, profession and programme using our search tool. Our website shows 3,500 programmes in medicine, engineering, IT and humanities. Russian- and English-taught programmes are available.
If the applicant wishes to study in Russian but cannot speak it well enough, they can enter the Preparatory Department which is available at a majority of Russian universities. You’ll learn the language and field specific subjects. As a rule, Preparatory Departments offer training in engineering, humanities, natural sciences etc. Your choice depends on your future field of study. After completing pre-university training, you can enrol in degree programmes. More information on Preparatory Departments is here.
Russian universities offer international students many English-taught programmes. To enrol in these programmes you have to be proficient in the language. Some universities hold tests or interviews in English while others recognise international language certificates. Contact representatives of the chosen university over entrance exams in advance. Forward your questions from our website. Create a personal account and write to the university; it is free. University representatives will reply to you within ten workdays.
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Funding options
Self-funded study
Education in Russia has many advantages. Universities offer discounts on public transport and tickets to museums, theatres, exhibitions and movies, as well as comfortable and inexpensive dorm rooms. Students have the opportunity to go in for sports, have a good time and get to know the rich Russian culture. Affordable tuition fees that are lower than Europe and America are one of the key advantages; Russian universities are a good value for money.
Health care professions are among the most popular with Moroccan applicants. Russian universities offer quality medical education. Such programmes are available at I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Novosibirsk State University, Far Eastern Federal University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University etc. Tuition fee ranges from 159,300 rubles ($2,450) to 650,000 rubles ($10,000) a year.
Tuition fee for electric and heat power engineering: 112,000 rubles ($1,720) to 325,000 rubles ($5,000) a year. Universities: National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Siberian Federal University, Samara University, South Ural State University, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University etc.
Civil Engineering: 134,430 rubles ($2,070) to 354,900 rubles ($5,460) a year. Universities: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Far Eastern Federal University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University etc.
Information Technology: 90,000 rubles ($1,380) to 357,500 rubles ($5,500) a year. Universities: National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, University of Tyumen etc.
These are reference tuition fees for popular programmes. Use the search tool to find out precise education costs.
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Russian government scholarships
There are several ways for prospective Moroccan students to get into a Russian university as scholarship students:
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Take part in an international Olympiad. Every year, Russian universities hold academic competitions for foreign nationals, including Moroccans. Among the Olympiad organisers are Higher School of Economics (International Youth Olympiad), Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Phystech.International Olympiad in mathematics and physics), National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Rosatom Olympiad in physics and maths), Global Universities Association (Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project) etc. See the complete list. Olympiad winners enjoy various incentives such as extra points for individual achievements, tuition fee discounts and admission to the university without entrance examinations.
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Win the Russian government scholarship contest. Every year, the Russian government sets aside university places for foreign nationals. In 2017/2018, Russia allocated 21 scholarships to Moroccan applicants. The competition is tough; only the most talented applicants who have good grades and academic achievements can get into a university as quota students. Rossotrudnichestvo handles the distribution of scholarships. Rossotrudnichestvo’s Morocco Office address: 12, rue Annasr, Rabat. Contact it over scholarship issues.
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Universities sometimes provide scholarships for foreign nationals. Contact the university in advance to learn about scholarship opportunities. Just create a personal account on our website and write to the university you have chosen.
Meeting document requirements
After you have selected the programme and funding option, you have to prepare documents for application. In initial application, your have to send a filled out application form, a copy of passport, secondary education certificate or university degree and a photo. The education document has to be apostilled. It is an approximate list of required documents; requirements might differ, so contact representatives of the chosen university for details.
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Entry into Russia
Moroccan nationals who plan to get higher education in Russia need a student visa. To get a visa, they have to prepare a package of documents. Contact the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Rabat over visa issues.
Students have to register with Russian migration authorities within seven days from the date of arrival in Russia. If you plan to live in a dormitory, its administration will help you get registered. If you plan to rent a room or apartment, ask the owner for help.
