Open Doors Scholarship 2027 in Russia for International Students

Last updated: 22 September 2026

The Open Doors Scholarship 2027 in Russia is an international scholarship competition that allows eligible foreign citizens and stateless persons to pursue higher education in Russia. The programme, officially known as the Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project, is organised by the Global Universities Association.

For the 2027 intake, the competition covers Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral (PhD), and Postdoctoral tracks. Winners of the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral tracks can receive the right to study in Russia under the country’s education quota for foreign citizens.

Registration for the current competition opened on August 20, 2026, and the registration deadline is November 1, 2026. Participation is free, and the competition is conducted online in English and Russian.

Summary of Open Doors Scholarship 2027

What is the Open Doors Scholarship in Russia?

The Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project is an international academic competition for prospective students and researchers from outside Russia.

Rather than functioning like a conventional scholarship where applicants simply submit a scholarship form, Open Doors uses an Olympiad-style selection process. Participants register online, select an appropriate study track and subject area, build a portfolio, and complete subsequent competition stages.

The programme provides a pathway to tuition-free study in Russia for successful participants. The official rules state that winners of the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral tracks receive the right to study in the Russian Federation through the education quota for foreign citizens.

The programme is therefore particularly relevant to international applicants looking for opportunities to study in Russia without going through the standard admission route alone.

Who Can Apply for Open Doors Scholarship 2027?

The competition is open to foreign citizens and stateless persons, including compatriots residing outside Russia. Eligibility depends on the selected track and the applicant’s age and academic qualification.

Bachelor’s Track

Applicants for the Bachelor’s track must:

• Be between 16 and 23 years old as of the registration opening date.
• Not already hold a Bachelor’s, Specialist, or Master’s degree.
• Hold, or be expected to obtain during the relevant academic year, an educational qualification that allows them to enter higher education in their country of study.

Master’s Track

Master’s applicants must:

• Be between 20 and 33 years old as of the registration opening date.
• Not hold a Specialist or Master’s degree.
• Hold, or be expected to obtain during the relevant academic year, a qualification equivalent to at least a Bachelor’s degree.

Doctoral Track

Applicants for the Doctoral track must:

Be between 22 and 35 years old as of the registration opening date.
Not have completed a doctoral programme.
Hold, or be expected to obtain, a Specialist or Master’s degree.

Postdoctoral Track

Applicants for the Postdoctoral track must:

• Be between 24 and 39 years old.
• Hold a Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences, or PhD degree.

These age and qualification requirements are based on the official Open Doors 2026 competition rules for the 2027 academic intake.

What Fields Can You Study Through Open Doors?

The Open Doors competition covers a broad range of academic fields.

The official programme currently lists subject areas including:

• Biology and Biotechnology
• Business and Management
• Chemistry and Materials Science
• Clinical Medicine and Public Health
• Computer and Data Science
• Earth and Environmental Sciences for Sustainability
• Economics and Econometrics
• Education and Psychology
• Engineering and Technology
• Physical Sciences and Technology
• Politics and International Studies
• Russian Language and Culture
• Urbanism and Civil Engineering

Applicants should select the subject area that corresponds most closely to their intended academic direction.

Documents Required for Open Doors Scholarship 2027

The exact documents required can depend on the selected track and applicant. During registration, applicants provide personal information including:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Citizenship
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Selected subject area
• Selected track
• Language of participation

Participants must also upload a scanned copy of the passport they intend to use for identification in Russia. The information entered in the account must correspond with the passport details.

During the portfolio stage, applicants are required to provide information about relevant personal achievements and upload supporting documents.

The official rules also specify that supporting documents should be issued in Russian or English. Documents in another language must be accompanied by a translation into the language selected for participation.

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