Russian education is available to foreign nationals, including Argentina residents. Read the article on how to get into a Russian university.
Prospective Argentinian students have been increasingly interested in studying in Russia. They often prefer humanities and creative jobs and also show an interest in linguistics, Russian and foreign literature and study of art. Physics, mathematics and bioengineering have also been popular.
Domestic universities have been making efforts to attract prospective students from Argentina. Some universities have developed Spanish versions of their websites. Studyinrussia.ru has a Spanish version, too, offering all information on applying to Russian universities as well as direct application to universities without middlemen.
Every year, the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Buenos Aires (4266, Rivadavia) arranges meetings for prospective students to provide information on applications, document requirements and education programmes and answer their questions. The centre invites Russian universities alumni to share their impressions of studying in Russia.
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The first things you have to do
If you want to study in Russia, choose your profession, education programme and university first. Use our search tool. See the location of the host city: Russia is a large country with different climatic zones, so consider this factor when selecting your study destination.
Choose the language of instruction. Russian and English-medium programmes are available. If you plan to study in Russian, you'll have to show your TRKI certificate or take an examination to confirm your language proficiency level for any programme, even for an engineering major. If you are not sure that your language skills are sufficient to study at a Russian university, you can brush up your Russian at a summer or winter language school. Those who do not speak a word of Russian can opt for pre-university training. They can have a year-long course in Russian and profession-oriented subjects, and take final examinations to apply for a major. If you select an English-medium programme, you'll have to confirm your proficiency as well. As a rule, the Admissions Board asks you to produce your English proficiency certificate; otherwise you have to take a test.
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Both self-funded and quota students have to pass competitive selection to gain admission to a Russian university.
Paid education
Education in Russia is more affordable than at European or American universities. Students pay 99,000 rubles ($1,520) to 350,000 rubles ($5,380) a year for undergraduate programmes in language study and literature; graduate programme fees range from 100,000 rubles ($1,540) to 320,000 rubles ($4,920) a year and PhD programmes from 79,780 rubles ($1,230) to 290,000 rubles ($4,460) a year. These programmes are available at Novosibirsk State University, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Higher School of Economics, University of Tyumen, Ural Federal University etc.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in art history range from 228,100 rubles ($3,509) to 280,000 rubles ($4,308) a year, a graduate programme in the same field is priced at 140,000 rubles ($2,150) to 370,000 rubles ($5,690) a year and a PhD programme at 104,600 rubles ($1,609) to 405,000 rubles ($6,230) a year. These programmes are offered by Far Eastern Federal University, Kazan Federal University, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University etc.
Russian universities offer many programmes of different levels in the fields of physics and maths. Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in maths and engineering range from 99,000 rubles ($1,520) and 400,000 rubles ($6,154) a year, graduate programme fees range between 109,000 rubles ($1,677) to 340,000 rubles ($5,230) a year and PhD programmes from 104,000 ($1,609) to 312,000 rubles ($4,800) a year.
An undergraduate major in physical sciences and technology costs 187,760 rubles ($2,888) to 293,000 rubles ($4,508) a year, a graduate programme fee ranges from 196,810 rubles ($3,030) to 306,000 rubles ($4,708) a year.
Higher education in the fields of physics and maths is offered by Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, ITMO National Research University, National Research Tomsk State University, National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Samara University, Lobachevsky University and other Russian higher education centres.
The fees for undergraduate programmes in industrial ecology and biotechnology vary between 200,000 rubles ($3,080) and 400,000 rubles ($6,154) a year, graduate programmes rates range from 199,000 rubles ($3,060) to 275,000 rubles ($4,230) a year and PhD programmes rates from 112,224 rubles ($1,727) to 305,000 ($4,690) a year. These programmes are available at Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Siberian Federal University etc.
These are reference fees; the final price depends on several factors such as the region, mode of study etc.
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Scholarship study
If you do well and have achievements in research or plan to continue studies on graduate or PhD programmes you can try to get a government-funded place. Consider the following options:
- Take part in an international Olympiad.
Every year, Russian universities arrange academic competitions in different fields for international applicants. Winners and laureates get incentives, from extra points to admission without entrance examinations. The type of incentive depends on the Olympiad level (I, II or III). For example, the International Youth Olympiad is held for those who plan to enrol in undergraduate studies. Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project is an Olympiad for prospective master's students. Talent + + is an academic competition for students planning to start PhD studies. Competitions are held online or onsite.
- Take part in the scholarship (quota) contest.
Every year, the Russian government sets aside 15,000 places at domestic universities for international prospective students. In the academic year 2017/2017, 30 places were allocated to Argentina. The quotas are handled by the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) which has an office in Buenos Aires. Contact the Rossotrudnichestvo office over scholarship issues.
Document requirements
An Argentinian national has to email the initial application and the required package of documents to a Russian university's Admissions Board. As a rule it includes copies of your education certificate and passport, a filled-out application (the form is available on the university website), photos and notarised translation of the documents. Requirements differ across universities, so ask representatives of the university you have chosen for details. You can contact them using your personal account.
Legalisation and degree recognition
Before entering a Russian university, applicants who have received Argentinian education documents do not need to legalize them in their country.
However, the prospective students have to complete the degree recognition procedure in Russia. There are two options:
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The documents have to be submitted to the Main Centre for Education Evaluation.
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If you apply to one of 46 universities which handle qualifications recognition on their own no need to submit documents to the Main Centre for Education Evaluation.
If the prospective student from Argentina graduated from a foreign university whose qualifications are automatically recognised in Russia, the recognition procedure is not necessary. See the list of those universities. Look up the details in the section on Russia's requirements for foreign education documents.
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Russia entry rules for Argentinian nationals
Argentinian applicants planning to study in Russia have to get a student visa with the passport valid for no less than 18 months. Contact the Russian Embassy consular department over all visa issues in Buenos Aires, Guido 1677. A student visa can only be obtained on the strength of an invitation issued by the Russian Interior Ministry's General Administration for Migration Issues upon the host university's request.
Registration with Russian migration authorities
An Argentinian applicant should register with Russian migration authorities within seven days from the date of arrival in Russia. If you live in a dormitory, its administration will complete the registration for you. If you want to rent an apartment, you should first prepare a package of documents (you can ask the University's International Office staff for assistance) and pass them to the owner who will take them to the local migration administration. More information on migration rules for foreign nationals is here.
