Best Universities in Russia

Best Universities in Russia for International Students

With an international student population in the country that exceeds 242,000 and has increased by 17% between 2015 and 2016, there is no doubt that Russia is a melting pot of cultures hailing from around the world. The country ranks 6th when it comes to most popular destinations for study, with an education system that places at number 26, worldwide.

The country offers a wide variety of academic opportunities, programs, fields of study, and or course universities catering to students in multiple languages. The reasons students choose to study here are numerous and broad [link to Why Study in Russia], much like the opportunities the country provides.

Russia’s over 3000 higher education institutions are known for their wide range of programs and their variation in teach languages - though most courses are in English or Russian. This gives students the opportunity to study in and learn some of the world’s most widely spoken languages.

With so many options, how are students to decide which university and program is best for them? We’ve compiled top university rankings in Russia for international students based on a variety of attributes:

Top Russian Universities

Of course, students are looking to travel to a new destination to study among the best and brightest. These universities attract just that: students who have dedicated themselves to their studies and who are committed to becoming the best they can be at the best universities Russia has to offer. According to Times Higher Education, the top 10 universities in Russia are:

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University
2. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
3. Tomsk Polytechnic University
4. Higher School of Economics
5. Kazan Federal University
6. National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
7. Novosibirsk State University
8. Saint Petersburg State University
9. ITMO University
10. Tomsk State University

Top 10 Russian Universities by International Student Percentage

It’s no doubt the going to a new country with a culture, language, and setting that differs from that which is familiar can be taxing on a student. The experience of learning new customs and engaging in new locations is one of the most exciting and daunting opportunities a student can undergo. So, it’s not surprising that many benefit from a university that invites many international students, all experiencing the same culture shock and excitement together. Here are the top 10 Russian universities for welcoming international students to their campuses:

1. RUDN University (32% of Student Body is International)
2. Tomsk Polytechnic University (24%)
3. National University of Science and Technology (MISiS) (24%)
4. Lomonosov Moscow State University (22%)
5. Tomsk State University (22%)
6. Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University (20%)
7. Novosibirsk State University (18%)
8. Novosibirsk State Technical University (16%)
9. National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (15%)
10. Far Eastern Federal University (14%)

Top 10 Russian universities for Student-to-Staff Ratios

Some of the highest-quality education comes from maintaining direct access to a teacher or professor. It follows that students engaging in studies far from home will want a smaller student-to-teacher ratio (meaning a smaller difference between the number of students and faculty). Russia has many options in this regard - in fact, here are the top 10 Russian universities with the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the country:

1. Bauman Moscow State Technical University (Student-to-faculty ration of 4:1)
2. Saint Petersburg State University (5.8:1)
3. Novosibirsk State University (6.5:1)
4. Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University (6.8:1)
5. Lomonosov Moscow State University (7.3:1)
6. Southern Federal University (7.4:1)
7. National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (7.6:1)
8. Tomsk Polytechnic University (8.2:1)
9. Tomsk State University (8.3:1)
10. Far Eastern Federal University (8.3:1)