Open Doors Russia Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded): Registration Is Now Open

If you have been waiting for a fully funded scholarship that does not ask you for IELTS, application fees or a pile of recommendation letters, this one is worth your time.

Registration for the Open Doors International Olympiad opened on August 20, 2026, and it closes on November 1, 2026. Winners get free admission to a Russian university with tuition covered by the Government of the Russian Federation, plus a monthly stipend. The whole thing happens online, so you can compete from Kigali, Musanze or anywhere with a decent internet connection.

Here is everything you need to know, in plain language.

Quick note on the name. The organisers call this edition Open Doors 2026 because registration runs in 2026. Everyone else calls it the 2027 scholarship because that is when you actually start your studies. Same competition, two names. Do not let it confuse you.

Official website: here

What Is Open Doors, Really?

Think of it as a scholarship competition rather than a normal application. Instead of sending documents and waiting for someone to like your CV, you compete. You build an online portfolio, you sit an online problem-solving round, and if you place well enough, you win a seat.

It is organised by a group of leading Russian universities together with the Russian government. Over 618,000 people from more than 200 countries have taken part so far, and more than 16,700 have won. Those are big numbers, but they also tell you something useful. This is a real, established programme, not a one-off.

The competition runs in English and Russian, and there are four tracks:

Bachelor's (undergraduate)
Master's
Doctoral (PhD)
Postdoctoral research

What You Actually Get

Winners and runners-up receive:

Full tuition coverage at your chosen Russian university, paid by the Russian Federation
A monthly stipend (the amount depends on the university, so ask them directly)
Free admission through the foreign student quota, with no entrance exam
Your pick of 24 participating universities
Study in English or in Russian, depending on the programme
A free one year Russian language preparatory course if your programme is taught in Russian and your language is not ready yet. Your place is held for the following year
PhD winners choose a research supervisor and do an interview
Postdoc winners can join one of the offered research projects as researchers

What is not covered

Be realistic about this part. You pay for your own flight, accommodation, food, medical insurance and personal expenses. University housing in Russia is generally cheap, and most universities publish the costs on their websites, but you still need to budget for it. You are also allowed to work while studying, remotely or on site, and no work permit is required. Many universities help with job placements.

Who Can Apply

Foreign citizens and stateless persons, including compatriots living abroad. If you are reading this from Rwanda or anywhere else outside Russia, you qualify on nationality
For the Master's track: you hold a Bachelor's degree, or you will finish it during the year of the final
For the Doctoral track: you hold a Master's or Specialist degree, or you will finish it during the year of the final
You agree to the processing of your personal data under Russian law
You register only once. Creating multiple accounts can get you disqualified
You meet any extra academic requirements set by your subject area or chosen university

One more thing. If you took part last year, your old account will not work. Create a fresh one and upload your portfolio again.

Subject Areas Available

You can apply in more than one subject area, and there is no limit on how many. Just remember that each one needs its own motivation letter, and the second stage sessions may fall on the same day, so check the schedule before you overcommit.

The fields are:

Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence
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

The 24 Participating Universities

You choose where you want to study, so it pays to look these up early rather than picking a name at random on deadline day.

Far Eastern Federal University
Bauman Moscow State Technical University
First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
HSE University
ITMO University
Kazan (Volga region) Federal University
MGIMO University
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Moscow Polytechnic University
Moscow State University of Civil Engineering
Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
Tomsk Polytechnic University
Tomsk State University
Novosibirsk State University
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN)
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI"
Samara National Research University
Siberian Federal University
Southern Federal University
University of Science and Technology MISIS
University of Tyumen
Ural Federal University (UrFU)

The organisers will not advise you on which university to choose. That research is on you. Start with their official websites and social media pages, and watch the Open Doors webinars, which are announced on the website with links sent to your personal account.

Documents You Will Need

Nothing exotic here, but get them scanned and ready before you start filling forms:

Valid personal identification
Your academic records and degree certificates
The information needed to build your online portfolio
Proof of academic achievements and other relevant accomplishments
A motivation letter for each subject area you enter
Anything extra requested for your specific track

The exact requirements appear in your personal account once you register, so read that page carefully instead of guessing.

How To Apply, Step By Step

Go to the official Open Doors platform:link
Click SIGN UP and create your account
Fill in your personal details, email address and password. Double check the spelling of your names here, because you cannot edit this yourself later
Log in to your personal account
Build your portfolio following the instructions given there
Read the evaluation criteria and pick your subject area or areas
Take part in the required stages of the competition
Follow the instructions in your account about the next stages and university admission

How the competition works: the first stage is portfolio-based. The second stage is a problem-solving round. For the PhD track, later stages include choosing a research supervisor and doing an interview.

If you need to change or add documents to your portfolio, you have to withdraw it first, and withdrawal is only possible until November 15. Track and subject changes are allowed only during the first stage and only if you have not submitted your portfolio yet.

Things People Always Get Wrong

Registering twice. One account per person, per year. That is it.

Typing names carelessly. Once registration is complete, you cannot fix your personal details on your own. You have to write to the feedback form and hope it is allowed under the rules.

Choosing a university at the last minute. After the document upload deadline passes, your subject area, degree programme and university are locked in. Choose the first time carefully.

Winning two scholarships. You can only study in Russia under the government quota through one competition. If you win more than one, compare the terms and pick one.

Using unofficial links. Only use the official Open Doors site and platform. Anyone asking you for money to "process" this application is scamming you. The competition is free.

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026.

Portfolio withdrawal, if you need to fix something, closes November 15, 2026.

That is roughly two months from now, which sounds like plenty until you start writing motivation letters. Register early, then take your time with the portfolio.

Final Word

A fully funded degree with no entrance exam, no application fee, and no travel required just to compete is rare. Yes, it is competitive, and yes, you will have to actually sit a test. But thousands of students from Africa and Asia have gone through this exact process and are studying in Russia right now.

If your field is on that list of 14 subject areas, there is very little reason not to try.

Apply here: Click Here