If you want to receive a high-quality higher education in Russia, Russian Scholarship Project is your key to early admission and tuition-free studies at a leading Russian university.
Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project «Global Universities» Association
The Open Doors competition is held in two stages for the bachelor’s and master’s tracks, and in three stages for the doctoral and postdoctoral tracks.
The first stage, which is common to all tracks, consists of completing an entrance test, submitting a motivation letter, and preparing a portfolio of academic achievements.
The second stage for the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral tracks requires completing subject specific tasks under online proctored supervision to ensure academic integrity. In the postdoctoral track, this stage takes the form of a video presentation in which participants demonstrate their research results.
The third stage involves online interviews with prospective research supervisors for doctoral students and with research project leaders for postdoctoral candidates.
Stages of the Olympiad:
In 2024, over 146,000 participants from 185 countries took part in the competition, and 6,500 of them became winners or runners-up.
The results of the Olympiad 2024:
Eligible participants include foreign citizens, stateless individuals, and compatriots living abroad. The specific requirements for each track—age limit, educational background, and academic degrees—are detailed in the rules of participation.
Who can participate in the Olympiad?
Officially known as the Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project of the Global Universities Association and internationally recognized under the Open Doors brand, this academic competition has been conducted annually since 2017 under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
Since what year has the Olympiad been held?
The Global Universities Association will open registration for the Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project on September 1, 2025.
The start of registration for the Olympiad:
The subject areas of the Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project include Business and Management, Biology and Biotechnology, Engineering and Technology, Clinical Medicine and Public Health, Computer and Data Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Education and Psychology, Politics and International Studies, Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, Russian Language and Culture, Urbanism and Civil Engineering, Physical Sciences and Technology, Chemistry and Materials Science, and Economics and Econometrics.
The Olympiad profiles:
The Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project spans 14 broad subject areas and offers four academic tracks: bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral. Participation is entirely free of charge, fully remote, and open to open to candidates from around the world.
Which tracks does the Olympiad include?
Winners of the competition are granted the opportunity to enroll tuition-free in leading Russian universities without entrance exams (bachelor's, master’s, doctoral tracks) or to join research projects run by the organizing universities (postdoctoral track).
What are the benefits of doing the Olympiad?
All stages of the competition are held online in both English and Russian.
What is the language of the Olympiad?
About Russian Scholarship Project
About Krasnoyarsk
The city is full of young people, and students play a significant role in its development, contributing to creative and innovative fields. Krasnoyarsk is a vibrant and dynamic place where everyone can find their place.
Krasnoyarsk is known for well-developed infrastructure and offers its residents a high level of culture. The city is served by Yemelyanovo International Airport, which provides regular flights both within the country and abroad.
The social infrastructure includes a wide range of healthcare, education, cultural, and recreational institutions. This area hosts a broad variety of prominent institutions, including leading universities, theaters and museums, sports complexes and medical facilities specializing in various fields.
By 2025, the population of the city amounts to 1.1 million. The majority of residents are Russian, however, people from various regions of Russia and neighboring countries also live here, including Tatars, Khakas, Evenks, Armenians, Kyrgyz, and Kazakhs.
Krasnoyarsk Krai has a sharply continental climate characterized by cold winters and warm summers. Average January temperature is -18°C, and average July temperature is +20°C. These conditions promote the development of winter sports and active recreation.
The average cost of living in Krasnoyarsk is relatively reasonable. The average monthly expenses for one person are around $ 500 to $ 600, covering rent, food, transportation, and entertainment.
Krasnoyarsk is known by many names: the capital of Siberia, the city of fountains, the city on the Yenisei, the theater city. Each of these names reflects its unique character.
Krasnoyarsk is the largest city in Eastern Siberia and one of the most important economic, industrial, educational, and cultural centers of this vast region.
32
Base departments
Laboratories
108
6
Research and education centers
Branches
3
22
Specialized institutes
The university’s organizational structure reflects its scale and diversity:
0
Students from 55 countries
Students
0
The university ranks among the top 20 leading universities in Russia (only 5 of them are located in the regions, while the rest are in Moscow and St. Petersburg).
Siberian Federal University (SFU) is the first federal university in Russia and one of the 10 such institutions in the country.
in the world (2023)
401-600
in the world (2024)
251-300
in Europe (2022)
475th
in the world (2024)
1 001-1 200
in the world (2025) Petroleum Engineering
101-150
in the world (2025) Physics & Astronomy
601-675
in the world (2024)
1 001-1 200
in the world (2020)
201-250
in the world (2025)
801-1 000
in the world (2025)
601-800
in the world (2025)
801-1 000
place in the world (2025)
1 672nd
place in the world (2025)
5 568th
RUR Subject Rankings
place in the world (2024) Life Sciences
192nd
Round University Rankings
place in the world (2024)
477th
place in the world (2024)
1 546th
place (2020)
109th
place in the world (2024)
69th
in the world (2023) Chemistry
251-300
place in the world (2025)
262nd
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Russian Scholarship Project winners can enroll in SFU without entrance exams for bachelor’s, specialist’s, and master’s degree programs.
Presentations of research supervisors and potential research topics:
Specialization: Chemistry and Materials Science
Field of Study:
04.06.01 Petroleum and Gas Industry Chemistry
1. Advanced Technologies for Deep Oil Refining;
2. Enhancing Performance Characteristics of Motor Fuels;
3. Oilfield Chemistry
Potential Research Topics:
Academic Profile:
Specialization: Chemistry and Materials Science
Specialization: Biology and Biotechnology
Field of Study:
06.06.01 Biological Sciences
1. Bioluminescent Biosensors;
2. Biochemistry of Luminescent Bacteria;
4. Enzymatic Toxicity Bioassays
Academic Profile:
3. Bioluminescent Analysis;
Research Focus Areas:
Specialization: Biology and Biotechnology
Pyotr V. Polyakov
Specialization: Chemistry and Materials Science
Field of Study:
2.6.2 Metallurgy of Ferrous, Non-Ferrous, and Rare Metals
1. Behavior of Liquid Metal Electrodes in Metal Production and Refining Phase Interactions in High-Temperature Metallurgical Systems;
Focuses on electrochemical metallurgy (vs. conventional pyrometallurgy)
Technical Specificity:
Academic Profile:
2. Impurity Control Strategies for Rare Metal Extraction
Research Focus Areas:
Pyotr V. Polyakov
Specialization: Chemistry and Materials Science
Specialization: Education and Psychology
Olesya V. Volkova
Specialization: Education and Psychology
Field of Study:
5.3 Psychology (Developmental Psychology)
Research Focus Areas:
1. Volitional Action in Frequently Ill Preschool Children;
2. Learned Helplessness in Somatic Health Conditions: Phenomenology, research methodology, and psychological support system
Academic Profile:
Specialization: Physical and Technical Sciences
Sergey P. Polyutov
Specialization: Physical and Technical Sciences
Field of Study:
1.3.6, 2.2.7 Optics, Photonics
Research Focus Areas:
1. Development of Novel Theoretical Methods for X-ray Spectroscopy of Complex Quantum Systems with Ultrahigh Temporal and Energy Resolution, Including Synchrotron-Based Pump-Probe Techniques for Investigating Phase Transition Dynamics in Molecular and Condensed Matter Systems;
2. Photonic Nanostructures for Advanced Light Concentrators and Sensors;
3. Precision-Engineered Metal Clusters and Their Hybrids with Plasmonic Nanostructures for CO₂ Conversion and Clathrate-Based Product Storage
Academic Profile:
Specialization: Economics and Econometrics
Svetlana K. Demchenko
Specialization: Economics and Econometrics
Field of Study:
5.2.1 Economic Theory (Economic Sciences)
Potential Research Topics:
1. Theoretical Analysis of Economic Policy and Government Regulation Under External Shocks;
2. Theory of Consumer Behavior and Demand;
3. Theoretical Approaches to Studying Economic Growth, Development, and Fluctuations;
4. Behavioral and Experimental Approaches in Economics;
5. Theory of Economic Systems Transformation
Academic Profile:
Specialization: Economics and Econometrics
Svetlana B. Globa
Specialization: Economics and Econometrics
Field of Study:
38.04.01 Regional and Sectoral Economics
Potential Research Topics:
1. Smart City Development: Best Practices and Opportunities;
2. Spatial Development Strategy for Cities and Regions;
3. Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development;
4. Sustainable Development of Northern Regions: Economic and Environmental Aspects;
5. Taxation Specifics and Challenges;
6. Optimization of Material Flows in Urban Mining Concepts;
7. Environmentally Friendly Technologies
Academic Profile:
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Evgeny D. Agafonov
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Field of Study:
27.04.03 System Analysis and Control
Potential Research Topics:
1. Intelligent Methods for Identification and Control;
2. Synthesis of Guaranteed-Stable Adaptive Control Algorithms;
3. Development of Novel Ensemble-Based Classification Algorithms
Academic Profile:
Specialization: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Field of Study:
2.8.8 Geotechnology, Mining Machinery
Academic Profile:
Igor V. Zenkov
Specialization: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Field of Study:
Academic Profile:
2.3.1 System Analysis, Control, and Information Processing, Statistics
Alena A. Stupina
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Fields of Study:
1. 1.2.1 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning;
2. 2.3.1 System Analysis, Control, and Information Processing, Statistics
Academic Profile:
Oleslav A. Antamoshkin
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Specialization: Economics and Econometrics
Fields of Study:
1. 5.2 Economics;
Academic Profile:
2. 5.2.4 Finance
Yulia I. Cherkasova
Specialization: Economics and Econometrics
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Field of Study:
Academic Profile:
2.3.1 System Analysis, Control, and Information Processing, Statistics
Lev A. Kazakovtsev
Specialization: Computer and Data Science
Fabricio Herrera
Ecuador
Master’s degree, 2nd year
Institute of Petroleum and Gas Engineering
«Studying and living in Krasnoyarsk has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. True adaptation requires more than just a two-week visit — it takes time to embrace the local customs, traditions, and cultural norms. Here, I’ve gained invaluable knowledge and unforgettable experiences while meeting incredible people from across Russia and around the world in our university campus. I’ve formed lasting friendships, and together we explore, relax, and share our unique perspectives on life in a new country.»
Brian Corrales
Colombia
Graduate
Institute of Petroleum and Gas Engineering
«This experience has been transformative both personally and professionally. The university offers exceptional research facilities and a serene campus environment ideal for student life. I’ve had the privilege of meeting remarkable individuals and forming friendships across cultures. Krasnoyarsk combines safety and natural beauty — from winter sports (skiing/snowboarding) to pleasant summer temperatures of 26−30°C. Yet Siberia’s unique culture remains its most captivating feature.»
Rachon Chaikhakan
Thailand
Master's degree
Institute of Pedagogy, Psychology and Sociology
«Studying at Siberian Federal University’s Institute of Pedagogy, Psychology and Sociology has been an extraordinary journey. As someone who never imagined pursuing education abroad while living in Thailand, my parents' encouragement led me to Russia. I chose SFU based on strong recommendations from friends who studied here.
Arriving in Krasnoyarsk was daunting — my first time so far from home. Yet I discovered surprising similarities to my hometown. Despite my initial lack of Russian, everyone showed remarkable patience and willingness to help. Contrary to stereotypes about Russian dormitories, I found the accommodations excellent — comparable to Thai condominiums with all necessary comforts.
Currently pursuing my master’s research comparing Russian and Thai educational assessment systems, I benefit immensely from my advisor’s dedicated guidance. My early concerns about loneliness proved unfounded — I’ve built meaningful friendships with Russian and international students alike. We support each other constantly, creating a true sense of community.»
Ten Lei
China
Master’s degree, 2nd year
Institute of Philology and Language Communication
«My journey began in China, but at six years old I moved to Krasnoyarsk where my mother worked. My parents ensured I maintained strong ties to Chinese culture — we spoke only Mandarin at home, observed traditions, and kept our culinary heritage alive.
Among the Chinese community here, I’ve become somewhat of a local celebrity. The cultural gap between China and Russia is significant, and many struggle with adaptation. Students often refer others to me — 'Ask Ten Lei' — and I always help, because living abroad intensifies your connection to your roots. We celebrate festivals together, preserve our customs, and support each other.
My graduate studies have been exceptionally rewarding. Not once have I regretted choosing SFU. The faculty are true professionals to whom I’m deeply grateful. To all teachers, current and future students — I wish you growth, success, and new discoveries.
My career goal is translation — I love working with texts, and China currently faces a shortage of qualified Russian linguists. Given our countries' evolving relations, this represents an exceptional professional opportunity. After two years of translation experience in China (both written and interpreting), I now work in SFU’s translation department, handling documents and preparing to assist with Chinese delegations.»
Joseph Yaw Dawson
Ghana
Master's in Banking and Finance
Institute of Economics, Management and Environmental Studies
«My name is Joseph Yaw Dawson. I was born and raised in Anomabo, a historic town near Cape Coast — the first capital of Ghana in West Africa. Holding an initial degree in education, I worked as a teacher for over a decade before coming to Krasnoyarsk. Currently, I’m pursuing a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance at the School of Economics, Management and Environmental Studies of Siberian Federal University. After completing my first two degrees at the University of Cape Coast, I decided to broaden my horizons through international education.
I applied to universities in various countries, but Russia was always my top choice — and now I’m here! Compared to other countries, tuition fees in Russia are quite affordable. The admission process turned out to be remarkably straightforward: I submitted my application independently, and within just a few months received my invitation letter and successfully applied for my student visa.
My impressions of Siberian Federal University and Krasnoyarsk can be summarized as follows:
First — the university infrastructure. I was pleasantly surprised to find dormitory rooms equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, and washing machines. The campus boasts an excellent library, modern lecture halls, and comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage. The university provides numerous sports facilities available to all students. In my free time, I play football and table tennis, and practice weightlifting. After workouts, I particularly enjoy walking through the nearby forest.
Second — the breathtaking natural beauty of Krasnoyarsk. Though Ghana has many remarkable tourist destinations, I was awestruck by the Stolby Nature Reserve’s towering rock formations, the majestic Golubka Cliff, and the mighty Yenisei River — all surprisingly accessible from the city center.
Third — the exceptional warmth of Krasnoyarsk’s residents. People here are genuinely hospitable and helpful. I’ve always found support when needed, thanks particularly to SFU’s Volunteer Center and International Student Support Group, which provide invaluable assistance to foreign students.
In the future, I hope to continue my academic journey in SFU’s PhD program. This remarkable university offers exceptional opportunities with its highly qualified faculty. My master’s program features lecturers from diverse international backgrounds — Russia, Italy, France, the United States, and beyond. The research skills I’ve gained here will undoubtedly serve as strong foundation for pursuing my doctoral degree.
With small class sizes, learning becomes truly engaging and personalized. My classmates are exceptionally diligent — we share a collective drive for academic excellence. SFU’s multicultural environment has allowed me to build friendships spanning continents: China, Pakistan, India, Italy, and of course Russia. My Russian friends show genuine interest in cultural exchange, always eager to learn about Ghana’s rich heritage.»
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SFU Partners
Contact Information
International Admissions Office:
82 Svobodny Avenue, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
20 Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, Russia
Organizing Committee:
Official website of the Olympics:
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