Russia Opens Applications for Open Doors 2025 Scholarship

• Russian Open Doors Scholarship opens September 1, closes November 16, 2025.
• Covers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral studies across 14 disciplines.
• Fully funded program offers tuition, language training, and academic support.

Registration for the Russian Open Doors Scholarship will begin on September 1 and continue until November 16. This Russian scholarship is designed for international students wishing to pursue studies in Russia at the undergraduate, masters, doctoral, or postdoctoral levels.

This program includes 14 areas of interdisciplinary studies, spanning from natural sciences and technology to social sciences. Open Doors, fully funded by the Russian government, is among the top pathways for obtaining higher education overseas.

Every educational level has distinct age requirements and academic qualifications. For undergraduate programs (S1), applicants should be aged 16-23, must not possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and must have finished secondary education equivalent to university.

For the master’s program (S2), candidates between 20 and 33 years old, who do not possess a master’s degree, and have either finished or are currently pursuing their studies. The doctoral program (S3) targets individuals aged 22-35 who do not currently possess a doctorate and who have either graduated or are in the process of completing a master’s degree.

The postdoctoral program, on the other hand, mandates participants to be between 24 and 39 years old and to possess a doctorate (PhD or equivalent). This criterion guarantees that only those applicants who satisfy the educational standards and age criteria can participate in the selection process.

The selection process for Open Doors Scholarships occurs in phases based on the educational level. For undergraduate and master's programs, the selection process includes two phases: the portfolio competition and the execution of Open Doors tasks. These two phases seek to evaluate the educational skills and capabilities of future students.

For those applying to doctoral programs, the selection process is more rigorous and consists of three stages. Following the portfolio competition and Open Doors tasks, participants are required to attend interviews with potential research supervisors or doctoral program directors. This procedure aligns research interests with the capabilities of the supervising instructor.

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The selection process for postdoctoral positions occurs in three phases. The initial step is the portfolio competition, followed by an interview selection determined by the sub doctoral program, a research video presentation, and finally, an interview with the project leadership. This procedure guarantees that solely the top candidates obtain the research position.

This scholarship provides multiple benefits that render it highly competitive. Tuition fees for S1, S2, or S3 scholarship recipients are entirely covered for programs conducted in Russian and English. Furthermore, individuals can select universities and fields of study based on their preferences via a streamlined unified platform.

Students enrolled in Russian language programs will receive complimentary language courses for a year. Ongoing academic assistance is provided during the study duration, ensuring that international students need not be concerned about adjustment challenges.