The Cost of Studying and Living in Russia: Know the expenses

Maybe Russia is not the first name to come to your mind when you think about studying abroad. Indeed, there are many educational programs that attract a significant number of students every year in Russia, which is witnessing an increasing economic development. Besides that, the cost of Studying and Living in Russia remains affordable.

After learning about how to enroll in a Russian university and get a study visa in Russia, allow us to discuss with you the cost of studying and living in Russia.

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Cost of Studying for International Students

Studying in the Russian universities is a precious opportunity for the students. It combines between the quality of education and reasonable tuition fees, when compared to other countries.

Students get fundamental education and an internationally-recognized university certificate, all of this together with reasonable tuition fees. The costs of studying in the Russian universities may differ according to the special curricula of each university.

Bachelor Degree

After completing four years of study, the student earns a bachelor degree in one of the chosen disciplines. Students can then pursue studies and take masters program.

Studying a complete bachelor degree would cost you about 240,000-260,000 rubles ($3,690-4,000) per year. The minimum cost is 122,500 rubles ($1,880) and the maximum is 880,000 rubles ($13,540) per year.

Specialist’s Degree

Students have to complete five years of study to obtain the specialist’s degree. It has more practical training than in a Bachelor degree.

The cost of earning a specialist’s degree reaches an average of 240,000-260,000 rubles ($3,690-4,000) per year.

The minimum cost is 122,5000 rubles ($1,880) and the maximum is 632,580 rubles ($9,730) per year.

Studying a specialist’s degree in a medical school in Russia could cost you around 290,000-320,000 rubles ($4,460-4,920) per year.

Master’s Degree

The master’s degree is awarded after two years of training. It offers a deeper knowledge on the selected discipline. You can apply for a master’s degree if you have a bachelor or specialist’s degree.

The costs of a full-time master’s degree program stand at 260,000-280,000 rubles ($4,000-4,300) per year. The minimum cost is 147,000 rubles ($2,260) and the maximum is 460,000 rubles ($7,000) per year.

PhD Degree

Studying for a PhD degree could take at least three years. Graduates with masters or specialist’s degree can apply for a postgraduate program, in case they were interested in research and teaching.

After their thesis defense, graduate students are awarded the degree of Candidate of Science (PhD).

The cost of studying a PhD degree in Russia ranges between 280,000-300,000 rubles ($4,300-4,615) per year. The minimum cost is 79,300 rubles ($1,220) and the maximum is 413,000 rubles ($6,350) per year.

Application service fee

Application fees are another cost you need to include in your studying expenses in Russia. It is mainly the service fee you pay to get the full support service in getting admitted in Russian universities to get paid education under a contract. The amount of this service fee depends on the current visa regime in your home country and the competition for admission in the university you want to apply to.

Students from countries that don’t require a visa have to pay $490 service fee. While students from countries who need a visa to enter Russia pay $590. The service provider might apply some discounts in some cases.

To cover their study expenses, international students can apply for scholarships in Russia. Read our article on the subject to get more info

Cost of Living in Russia for International Students

Accommodation

Types of available student accommodation in Russia differ. Each one has many benefits. The cost of accommodation in the student dormitories ranges between 500 and 5,000 rubles per month, while staying outside the campus could cost you around 15,000-20,000 rubles per month.

Food

The cost of food differs according to the person’s needs and the location in which the student lives. In general, you can spend from $130 to $330 per month. Moreover, if you are living in major cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, Vladivostok, etc. the part of the food in the cost of living will be around $400 per month.

Transport

One journey in Moscow using the subway could cost around $1. Using the student discount, you can get a subway card in Moscow for $6 for one month. This cost could be much lower in other cities.

Health insurance fee

Every international student studying in Russia need a health insurance. And they need to apply for it before or upon their arrival in Russia. This will ensure them to get treated at state hospitals, health centers and student clinics in Russia. Health insurance cost for international students in Russia amounts from 6,000 to 7,000 rubles per year.

This cost depends on the set of services the student gets, but the routine treatment covered include check-ups, tests, medicine prescriptions and specialist consultations. The cost of a covering is usually around $90 to $310.