Scholarships in Russia without IELTS 2026 | Russian Scholarship

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Russia has become one of the most welcoming and affordable study destinations in Europe and Asia, especially for international students seeking high-quality education without the cost or stress of IELTS/TOEFL. Many top Russian universities accept a simple Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate an official letter from your previous school/university confirming that your prior degree was taught and assessed entirely in English instead of requiring IELTS/TOEFL.

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For the 2026 intake, students from all over the world can access numerous partially funded and fully funded scholarships in Russia without IELTS, and tuition-waiver scholarships at public and private universities in Russia and often with no English test requirement. Russia offers safe cities, very low tuition and living costs, English-taught programs, and strong career prospects in energy, engineering, IT, medicine, and research. Also apply for Scholarships in France Without IELTS

Why Study in Russia Without IELTS?

  • Many universities accept MOI certificates instead of IELTS/TOEFL
  • Tuition fees are very low even without scholarship (often $2,000–6,000/year for non-CIS students)
  • Living costs are extremely affordable ($400–800/month)
  • Safe, multicultural society with English widely spoken in universities
  • Post-study work visa (up to 1–3 years depending on degree and region)
  • Over 300,000 international students from 170+ countries already studying there
  • English-taught programs in almost every field (over 1,000 full degree programs in English)
  • Strong career prospects in oil/gas, aerospace, IT, medicine, and nuclear energy

Top Universities in Russia Without IELTS (MOI Accepted)

These institutions commonly accept an English Proficiency Certificate / Medium of Instruction letter instead of IELTS/TOEFL:

  • Tomsk State University (TSU)
  • Novosibirsk State University
  • Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)
  • Saint Petersburg State University
  • National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University)
  • Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU)
  • Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)
  • Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI)
  • Bauman Moscow State Technical University
  • Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

Always email the admissions office to confirm MOI acceptance as most reply quickly and positively.

Major Scholarships Without IELTS 2026

  1. Russian Government Scholarship (Open Doors / Federal Scholarship)
    • Fully funded Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
    • Covers tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, medical insurance, travel allowance
    • MOI accepted instead of IELTS
    • Fields: almost all (science, engineering, humanities, medicine, economics, IT, etc.)
    • For more details of Russia Scholarship: Visit Here 
  2. HSE University Scholarships
    • Full/partial tuition waivers + stipend for Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
    • MOI accepted
    • Strong in economics, social sciences, computer science
    • For more details of HSE Scholarship: Visit Here 
  3. Skoltech University Scholarship Program
    • Fully funded Master’s & PhD
    • Tuition + monthly stipend (≈ $2,000–3,000) + medical insurance + relocation support
    • MOI accepted
    • Fields: IT, energy, robotics, data science, AI, space technology, biomedical sciences
    • For more details of Skoltech Scholarship: Visit Here 
  4. Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project
    • Full tuition waiver for Master’s & PhD (with stipend in some cases)
    • MOI accepted
    • Merit-based, open to all nationalities
  5. Siberian Federal University Scholarships
    • Full/partial tuition + stipend
    • MOI accepted
    • Strong in science, engineering, environmental studies
  6. Eastern European University Association Scholarships
    • Partial to full tuition waivers
    • MOI accepted
    • Multiple universities participating
  7. University-Specific Scholarships
    • Moscow State University: Merit & Excellence Scholarships
    • Saint Petersburg State University: International Student Scholarships
    • Tomsk Polytechnic University: International Academic Excellence Awards

Also check:

How to Study in Russia Without IELTS

  1. Request a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate from your previous institution (letter stating your degree was taught and assessed in English)
  2. Choose a university/program that accepts MOI (all listed above do)
  3. Apply online via the university portal or through Rossotrudnichestvo / Study in Russia portal
  4. Submit MOI certificate instead of IELTS/TOEFL
  5. Receive conditional offer → apply for student visa (invitation letter from university required)

Tip: Email admissions to confirm MOI acceptance as most Russian universities are very flexible.

Living Costs in Russia

Single $400–800/month (Numbeo Jan 2026) Moscow / St. Petersburg: $600–1,000 Other cities (Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Kazan): $400–700 Shared rent: $200–400 Food: $150–250 Transport: $30–50

Scholarships (especially government-funded) cover tuition + living costs very well.

Application Checklist

  • Request MOI certificate early
  • Choose universities/programs that accept MOI
  • Prepare transcripts & passport
  • Write strong motivation letter / research proposal (PhD)
  • Apply online early
  • Track application status
  • Prepare student visa documents

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not confirming MOI acceptance with the university. Applying to programs that strictly require IELTS. Late application. Weak motivation letter. Incomplete document upload.

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