Russia–Africa

Education, Skills and Human Capital

Knowledge unites continents.

Students from Africa working in a Russian university laboratory

A growing partnership

Russia and Africa are expanding and deepening cooperation in science and higher education. Today, this partnership goes beyond academic exchanges.

intergovernmental and interagency agreements
>80
inter-university agreements
>1 800
research projects
>60
Ambassadors of Russian Education and Science from African countries
>10

African students in Russia

graduates from the 1950s to 2025
>80 000
students in the 2025/2026 academic year
>37 000

Top countries by number of students

  1. Egypt9 076
  2. Morocco4 574
  3. Cameroon3 161
  4. Algeria2 527
  5. Nigeria2 481

Popular fields of study

  • General Medicine and Biotechnology
  • Cardiology, Ophthalmology and Surgery
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Agronomy
  • Oil and Gas Industry
  • Management and Economics
  • International Relations

Studying in Russia through African students’ eyes

Students share their experiences at Russian universities.

Study opportunities

Russian Government Quota

Study at Russian universities with tuition funded by the federal budget.

>4 800African citizens received the quota in 2025

  1. Submit your application
  2. Pass the selection
  3. Receive a study referral
  4. Complete entry paperwork
  5. Arrive in Russia to study
How to apply

Grant support

>400grant holders from Africa in 2025

study tracks
4
profiles
14

Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral studies.

Engineering and technical fields, exact sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Grant package

  • Round-trip travel to the place of study
  • Monthly scholarship
  • Health insurance
  • Accommodation

Science and education across borders

Russian language learning centres

Learning Russian promotes educational and cultural cooperation, strengthens ties between countries and expands access to education.

11centres supported by universities of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education

  • Mali — 6 centres
  • Burkina Faso
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Angola
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
Map of Russian language learning centres in Africa from the English brochure
Location of centres as shown in the brochure

Russian universities in Africa

The Kazan Federal University branch building in Cairo

2branches in Cairo

  • Kazan Federal University
  • St. Petersburg State University

>3 000students

  • General Medicine
  • Dentistry
  • Pharmacy

RAFURussian-African Network University

A unified space provides equal access to educational resources for consortium members.

African countries
17
African universities
71
Russian organisations
105

Summer Multidisciplinary University — 2026

programmes
19
universities
14
participants
375

Research projects

  • Student Startups
  • Advanced Engineering Schools
  • Youth Laboratories
  • Young Scientists Congress
  • Space Industry Projects

Outstanding alumni

Names and educational backgrounds as presented in the brochure.

John Dramani Mahama

John Dramani Mahama

Institute of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU (1987–1988)

João Lourenço

João Lourenço

V. I. Lenin Military-Political Academy (1983–1987)

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Higher Komsomol School under the Central Committee of the Komsomol (1975–1976)

Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos

Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos

Lomonosov Moscow State University (1989–1994)

Amadou Keita

Amadou Keita

Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (2020–2023)

Kamel Baddari

Kamel Baddari

Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University for Geological Prospecting (1983–1991)

Bourema Kansaye

Bourema Kansaye

St. Petersburg State University (1990–1995)

Pindi Hazara Chana

Pindi Hazara Chana

RUDN University (1991–1994)

Tapsoba Aristide Rapugdonaba Ludovic

Tapsoba Aristide Rapugdonaba Ludovic

Russian State Hydrometeorological University (1988–1994)

Student life

Russian universities create opportunities for international communication, cultural exchange and professional communities.

  • Student councils and regional student associations
  • Festivals and conferences
  • Sports events
  • Language and discussion clubs
Students from African countries sharing their culture at a university festival
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