How to apply

Choose your program

INRTU offers more than 200 degree programs, delivered both in English and Russian languages. Included also in our offering, are double degree programs and short term study opportunities such as foundation courses, foreign languages and summer school.

In case of uncertainty on program choice, we encourage you to schedule a zoom meeting with our Admissions Manager for a qualified consultation on choosing the perfect program for you. Contact us to schedule a meeting by email: admission@istu.edu.

Check the application deadlines

We advise you to submit your application at least 2 months before your program schedule start period to facilitate timely issuance of invitation letter necessary for processing your visa.

Late applications will still be processed though you might miss the beginning of your studies as visa processing takes time.

There is one intake for degree programs:

September / October

There are several intakes for non-degree programs:

  • Foundation course (10 months) – October, November;
  • 6-month Russian language course – January, February;
  • 4-month Russian language course, 15-month Russian language course – April.
Prepare required documents

The list of required documents for initial assessment includes:

  • duly filled in application form (see below);
  • a high-quality scan copy of international passport (must be valid during the next 1,5 years);
  • a high-quality scan copies of your education certificate(s) and academic transcript.
Application Form_en_full_version (pdf, 222.29 Kb)
Submit your application

Send your documents to admission@istu.edu or contact one of our managers.

You may also submit your application in INRTU online application system.

Our admission team will process your documents and contact you within 5-10 business days with results of the review process.

Pass the entrance examinations

Take the entrance exams online. We offer up to 80% tuition fee discounts for English-taught programs and up to 34% discounts for Russian-taught programs. Your score on the entrance exams determines the tuition discount offered to you.

To read more about exams and tuition discounts.

A sample English and Maths exam (rar, 4.75 Mb)
Wait for your INRTU acceptance letter

Upon successful completion of your entrance exam, you will receive a conditional letter of acceptance within 1-2 business days from our admissions team.

Proceed with documents legalization

In most cases, documents are required to be certified in the applicant’s home country.

Applicants from some countries will also have to go through a procedure of recognition of their diplomas or certificates in Russia.

There are 2 types of legalizations:

Consular legalization

This procedure is carried out in 2 stages:

Stage 1. Witnessing of documents by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of issue of the document (depending on legislative requirements of the country of issue: generally the original, in some countries – copies) – the corresponding stamps with the indication of the position and the signature of the assuring person are put down;

Stage 2. Witnessing of documents by Consulate/Embassy of the Russian Federation in the country of issue of the document – the corresponding stamps with the indication of the position and the signature of the assuring person are put down.

«Apostille» – a simplified legalization procedure, read more.

Without legalization

• No legalization of education documents is required if the country of issue and the Russian Federation have executed a treaty on no legalization.

• As of 2020, these countries include:

• Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria . China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan , North, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

• An updated list is available on the website or you can get more information at the Russian Embassy in your country.


Sign the agreement and pay tuition fee

Admission team will send you an invoice in INRTU online application system. You can pay via online payment system. We will refund your payment in case you decide not to study or your student visa is denied. 

Reсeive an invitation letter for Russian Visa

The invitation letter is issued by the Federal Migration Service within 30-45 days. An electronic version of invitation letter will be sent to you by email.

Apply for a visa

Visit Russian Embassy in your country, the issuing time for student visa is approximately 10 days.

We are waiting for you in Irkutsk. Welcome!