Universitäten in Moskau

Studying at university in Moscow: the capital through a student's eyes

Moscow is usually at the top of the list for students considering going to Russia to study. The most tangible reason is that a significant proportion of the country's long-established public universities and research institutes are concentrated in this city. It is possible to find options in a wide variety of fields, such as medicine, the natural sciences, engineering, aviation, economics and international relations. Our partner sources list 20 universities in Moscow.

The city is also Russia's financial, industrial and technological centre. This diversifies internship and project opportunities, especially for engineering and economics students. Thanks to the extensive metro network, getting between campuses and around the city is easy; museums, theatres and concerts are plentiful enough to fill your time outside classes. On the other hand, the sources emphasise that Moscow is the Russian city with the highest cost of living, and the winter months are long and cold. We recommend taking these two points into account from the start when making your plans.

Leading universities in Moscow

The information below has been compiled from the university pages in our partner sources. Fees are the ranges stated in the source; as they may change depending on the exchange rate, programme and academic year, the current amount must be confirmed before applying.

Moscow State University (Lomonosov)

With its founding dating back to 1755, the university is regarded as one of the country's oldest academic institutions. The source lists General Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacy, International Relations, Law and International Law among its leading programmes. The language of instruction is given as Russian in the university record. The annual bachelor's fee stated in the source is 4,550 – 5,888 USD (410,000 – 530,000 RUB), and the master's fee is in the range of 4,550 – 6,000 USD. A figure of around 100 – 200 USD per month is given for the dormitory.

Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Stated in the source to have been founded in 1830, Bauman is one of the institutions most frequently asked about by engineering-oriented students. Its leading fields include rocket systems and space science, applied mathematics, robotics and mechatronics, and electrical and electronic engineering. Teaching is in Russian. The annual fee stated in the source is 379,000 – 749,000 RUB for a bachelor's and 369,000 – 725,000 RUB for a master's; the monthly dormitory fee is given as approximately 70 – 150 USD.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

Founded in 1758, Sechenov is a university focused on health sciences. Its main programmes are General Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing and Clinical Psychology. The language of instruction is listed as Russian in the record. The annual fee stated in the source is 800,000 – 1,250,000 RUB, and the monthly dormitory fee is in the range of 80 – 200 USD. It should be noted that it has one of the highest fee ranges on our list.

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN)

Founded in 1960, RUDN is known for its large number of international students and offers programmes in Russian and English. Its faculties of medicine, engineering, law, economics and international relations stand out. The source gives average annual ranges by field: 2,000 – 4,000 USD for social sciences and business, 2,500 – 5,000 USD for computing and IT, 2,200 – 4,500 USD for engineering programmes and 9,000 USD for General Medicine. It states 1,500 – 3,000 USD for the preparatory programme and 60 – 120 USD per month for the dormitory.

Higher School of Economics (HSE), Moscow

Founded in 1992, HSE is a popular choice in economics, business administration, software engineering, political science and international relations. While the language of instruction appears as Russian in the university record, the table on the city page also mentions an English-taught option; checking by programme is recommended. The annual fee stated in the source is 5,700 – 8,000 USD, and the monthly dormitory fee is in the range of 100 – 250 USD.

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

MIPT is known for its analytically demanding programmes such as mathematics, applied mathematics and physics, software engineering, electronics and biotechnology. The language of instruction in the record is Russian. The annual fee stated in the source is 767,000 – 893,000 RUB, and the monthly dormitory fee is 100 – 250 USD.

Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

Founded in 1944, MGIMO appeals to students interested in diplomacy and the public sector with its programmes in international relations, international law, international economics and journalism. It has programmes in Russian and English. The annual fee stated in the source is 9,800 – 11,500 USD for Russian-taught programmes and 12,800 USD for the English-taught programme; the dormitory fee is given as 120 – 300 USD per month.

National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI)

Founded in 1942, MEPhI specialises in fields such as nuclear physics, nuclear energy, materials science, applied mathematics and photonics; a General Medicine programme is also listed in the source. The annual fee stated in the source is 250,000 – 800,000 RUB, and the monthly dormitory fee is 100 – 250 USD.

Other options in Moscow

• Moscow State University of Civil Engineering: Founded in 1921; architecture and civil engineering stand out. The source states an annual fee of 2,980 – 4,900 USD (268,000 – 350,000 RUB) and a dormitory fee of 50 – 200 USD per month.
• Plekhanov Russian University of Economics: Offers programmes in economics, finance, logistics and international trade; annual fees of 390,000 – 700,000 RUB for Russian-taught programmes and 600,000 RUB for the English-taught programme are given.
• Moscow Polytechnic University: The source lists an annual fee of 397,000 – 840,000 RUB for its applied informatics, energy and mechanical engineering programmes.
• National University of Science and Technology (MISIS), Moscow: Known for materials and nanotechnology; the annual fee is stated as 312,500 – 408,500 RUB.
• Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation: Founded in 1971; it offers pilot training and aviation-related technical programmes, with a monthly dormitory fee given as 50 – 150 USD.
• In addition, Moscow State Linguistic University for languages and translation, Moscow Pedagogical State University for teaching, Synergy University (1995) and the Russian New University (1991) for business and digital fields, and the Russian Technological University (MIREA) for technology are also worth considering.

A brief note on rankings and recognition

In our partner sources, the QS values for Moscow universities differ from page to page; for example, different values such as 316 and 359 for RUDN and 456 and 503 for MIPT appear. Moscow State University, meanwhile, is shown in the sources within the top 100 band worldwide. For this reason, we recommend reading the ranking as an approximate band rather than a single number and checking the current list during the application period. In terms of recognition, as summarised in the source, the 2024 YÖK regulation sets different rules based on the top 400, the top 1000 and ranking requirements; each application is assessed according to YÖK's current legislation.

Life in Moscow and the student budget

In the breakdown on the city page, a student's monthly budget allocates 80 – 400 USD to housing, 200 – 300 USD to food, 20 – 30 USD to public transport and 70 – 150 USD to social spending. While the same source gives a monthly total of 400 – 800 USD, the university pages give an average living cost of 500 – 900 USD. For a realistic budget, it is safer to base your plans on the upper limit.

There are also differences between the sources on accommodation: the city page gives 30 – 100 USD per month for university dormitories, while the individual university pages list amounts varying between 50 – 300 USD. For those who want to live outside a dormitory, renting a room is stated at 250 – 450 USD and a one-bedroom flat at 500 – 900 USD. Current amounts may change from term to term.

Who is Moscow suitable for?

• Those who want to study medicine, the natural sciences or advanced engineering at a long-established institution
• Those aiming for a career in fields such as international relations, economics and public administration
• Those who enjoy the pace of a big city and want to live close to cultural events
• Those who can afford a higher education and living budget than in other Russian cities

If you are looking for a quieter city or a lower budget, alternatives such as Kazan, Tomsk or Saratov may also interest you. At Weroglobal Student, we can compare Moscow options with you based on your target programme and budget.