Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project has just been launched by the Russian Association “Global Universities” and is considered to be one of the steps Russian higher education institutions (HEIs) are making towards internationalisation. Supported by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and the Rossotrudnichestvo Federal Agency, this contest is open for students from all over the world and offers an opportunity to enrol in a Master’s programme in Russia without entrance exams. The study choice contains more than 500 universities in 80 Russian cities, from Kaliningrad to Siberia and the Far East. The competition – conducted entirely online - is open to all foreign citizens, as well as Russian citizens permanently living abroad, who already have a Bachelor’s degree or are completing their Bachelor’s education in 2018. The winners of the competition will be entitled to fee-free studies in a Russian university of their liking. The languages of the competition as well as the languages of instruction are Russian and English.

This year, the competition is held in four subject areas: Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, and Physics. Winners of the contest can select any program track within a subject area of their choice, and then apply to one or several Russian universities that have educational programs corresponding with the track that interests them. The contest consists of two rounds of selection – first a portfolio contest and then an online test in the second round. The deadline for students’ applications is December 30, 2017. 

The Association of Global Universities was established in February 2014 and brings together 21 Russian universities aiming to enhance their international competitiveness in research and education and participating in the 5-100 Russian Academic Excellence Project.