Foreign citizens who won the Government scholarship of the Russian Federation study at INRTU without cost

According to Anna Melenteva, in 2023 the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation will increase the number of places for foreign citizens to study at Russian universities. Thus, up to 30 thousand students a year will be able to study without cost. Foreign citizens, stateless persons and compatriots living abroad can get a quota fr om the Russian government. The quota allows to study without cost the whole period of time within chosen academic program as well as Russian language course (preparatory faculty). In addition, students are entitled to a place in the dormitory and a monthly scholarship (for the entire period of study regardless of academic performance).

However, a candidate should keep in mind that the quota does not cover travel expenses to the university, living expenses and voluntary health insurance (VHI).

Foreigners go through a competition in order to receive a scholarship. Types of selection may vary depending on the desired degree of education and the sending country. These are entrance exams, Olympiads, tests and portfolio competitions. The selection is carried out on the site of Russia House, which have offices in 80 countries around the world.


«Every year more than 150 foreign entrants indicate our university in their applications. In 2022 we received over 160 applications for studying at INRTU. 34 entrants from 24 countries were assigned to our university. Most of them should learn Russian language at the preparatory faculty. Then 12 students will study at bachelor's degree program, 3 students will study at master's degree program and 16 will continue their education at the postgraduate program.

A lot of students choose programs in the field of subsurface resource management, information technology and data science, power electrical engineering, aircraft construction and mechanical engineering , economics and design», - said Anna Melenteva.


There are several steps to apply. The first step involves registering on the website www.education-in-russia. Also, a candidate should fill out an application form and indicate six Russian universities wh ere he would like to study. Then it is necessary to go through selection procedures in the country of residence. On the third step an applicant should gain an access to a personal account on the website (a notification will be sent to the candidate's e-mail). Then it is necessary to monitor a status of application and placement in one of the selected universities.

Abid Sharef Mehdi, a master's student of the School of Aviation Mechanical Engineering and Transport, shared his personal experience of participation in the quota competition and adaptation in Russia.

He came to Irkutsk three years ago from Algeria. For one semester he studied Russian at INRTU preparatory faculty, then he entered the university on a commercial contract. To pay his tuition fee, he worked part-time. Specialists of International Affairs Department told him about the possibility of receiving a government scholarship. Thus, he applied a quota on the website www.education-in-russia and successfully passed the online language test. In 2021, the selection committee decided to give Mehdi a quota.

According to Mehdi, he worked hard to get a scolarship:

«I came to Irkutsk without even knowing the Russian alphabet. I bought a textbook for children to learn grammar faster. I forced myself to read two pages a day. Gradually I switched to books on mechanics and engineering, movies with subtitles. My perseverance led to good results.

Three years ago my Russian acquaintance in Algeria advised me to enroll in a master's program at one of the universities in Russia. I immediately agreed. I chose Irkutsk. I wasn't afraid of Siberia, because when you have the prospect of quality education and a successful future, the climate is not so important. I am glad that I study at INRTU. This university has a good equipment resources and cooperates with the Irkutsk aircraft plant.

I get a scholarship of 5 200 rubles. An apartment-type dormitory costs only 700 rubles per month. To compare: some of my acquaintances in Moscow universities pay more than 3 000 rubles a month. I consider the lack of xenophobia to be a big plus of studying in Russia. I recently made friends with a local family, we visit each other. I got used to Irkutsk, got used to the local cuisine. I can easily cook borsch, cheesecakes and buckwheat dishes.”


Mehdi works on a research for design of machining parts technological process such as «roller» under the direction of associate professor Andrey Savilov. Vietnamese professor Le Chi Vinh also consults the student. In the near future Mehdi plans to successfully defend his graduate thesis, to get a red diploma and to continue postgraduate studies at INRTU on a budgetary basis.

Kouame Kofi Eric from Côte d'Ivoire also won a government scholarship. In his home country he mastered a profession in the oil and gas sector, and then he studied in Volgograd. Because of the pandemic and closed borders he could not return home and decided to enter postgraduate program at INRTU. He currently studies photoactive compounds under the direction of INRTU PostDoc, Doctor of Chemistry Andrey Lvov.

He spends most of his working time in the laboratory of the Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry named after A. E. Favorsky. With this Institute INRTU develops «INRTU Postdoc Research Support Program». Kouame Kofi Eric regularly exchanges experiences with chemist friends from France and Canada to keep abreast of global industry trends.


Makuakua Florentino Da Julia Almirante from Mozambique, INRTU student, also won a scholarship. He is a fourth-year student of the oil and gas department. In order to receive a scholarship, Florentino applied to the Embassy of Mozambique in Russia through an online platform. For a year the student studied Russian language at the preparatory faculty before admission. Florentino also has academic achievements. He took first place in the university contest of scientific articles. Also, he won INRTU competition «Machine Parts» and successfully performed at a similar competition in Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk). 

Information about the new quota competition for the 2023/24 academic year will appear in October 2022. Follow the information on the website www.education-in-russia.