Подготовительное (языковое) отделение в России

What is a preparatory programme for?

To start a Russian-taught programme at a university in Russia, you need to be able to follow the language in which classes are taught. For international students whose Russian is not yet at this level, the universities' preparatory faculties (also referred to in Russian as «подфак») serve as a bridge. These programmes are not just a language course; they also introduce students to the concepts of their chosen field and speed up their adaptation to the Russian education system.

A preparatory programme generally makes sense for the following students:

• Those aiming for a Russian-taught bachelor's or master's programme but without a language certificate
• Those who want to build a solid foundation in terminology-heavy fields such as medicine or engineering
• Those who want to get used to a new country, city and campus routine within the first year

If your target programme is in English, the preparatory requirement may be waived or may differ; in this case, an English proficiency certificate or the university's own exam is usually required.

Programme content

The preparatory curriculum consists of two main blocks. The first is the language block: reading, writing, listening and speaking skills are taken from scratch up to academic level. The second is the subject block, which is shaped according to the target programme:

• Technical track: Courses focused on mathematics and physics; preparation for engineering and IT programmes.
• Health track: Courses focused on chemistry and biology; for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy candidates.
• Social track: History, social sciences and academic text work; for fields such as international relations, economics and law.

Throughout the programme, students also get used to the exam and course structure at Russian universities. Sources state that students who successfully complete the preparatory programme generally reach B1–B2 level.

Duration and 1.5-year options

The standard preparatory duration is generally one academic year. Sources also mention 6-month intensive programmes and 1.5-year extended options. A longer programme can offer a more comfortable pace, especially for students starting from scratch or aiming for a programme with a heavy language load, such as health sciences. In the source tables, the 1.5-year option is noted for Kazan Federal University and Ural Federal University. Which duration suits you depends on your starting level and the language expectations of your target programme.

Preparatory fees stated in the source

Preparatory fees vary by university, city, programme language and duration. We would particularly like to point out that different pages of our partner sources give different amounts for the same university. Below, we first give the figures from the table on the preparatory page, followed in brackets by the values appearing on other source pages (all annual, USD):

• Lomonosov Moscow State University: 11,000 (9,600 on the top 10 universities page and in the table labelled 2025–2026)
• St Petersburg State University: 8,800, 9,750 for the English-taught programme (8,500 and 8,200 for English on other pages; 7,300 Russian / 8,200 English in the 2025–2026 table)
• Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN): 9,300, 9,800 for the preparatory programme for health programmes (9,100 and 9,500 for English on other pages)
• Kazan Federal University: 6,850, 7,500 for the English option, 9,000 for the 1.5-year programme (6,800 – 7,500 in the second table on the same page; 6,500, 7,300 for the English option and 8,300 for the 1.5-year programme on other pages; 6,000 / 6,500 / 8,300 in the 2025–2026 table)
• Tomsk State University: 7,300 (6,900 on other pages; 6,100 in the 2025–2026 table)
• Saratov State University: 6,750 (6,350 on other pages; 5,450 in the 2025–2026 table)
• Ural Federal University: a range of 7,250 – 8,500 including the English and 1.5-year options (5,600 – 6,300 in the 2025–2026 table)
• Bauman Moscow State Technical University: 8,750 (8,400 on other pages; 7,700 in the 2025–2026 table)

These differences can largely be attributed to different update periods; nevertheless, rather than drawing firm conclusions, we recommend treating the amounts as a range. Current amounts may change from term to term, and the exact fee should be confirmed from the university's official announcement during the enrolment period. The sources also emphasise that fees are higher in large cities and at universities in high demand, and that English-taught and extended options are priced separately.

What you need to apply

• High school diploma and its notarised Russian translation
• Valid passport and its certified translation
• Application form and passport photograph
• A medical report and HIV test after admission
• A student visa application based on an invitation after admission

The source states that the first student visa is issued for a short period and that, after arriving in Russia, the extension file must be prepared at least 30 working days before the visa expires. Not missing this date is important for maintaining legal stay.

The preparatory programme and TORFL

TORFL (ТРКИ in its Russian abbreviation) is an official exam certifying the level of learners of Russian as a foreign language across six levels from A1 to C2. It has five sections: reading, listening, writing, speaking, and vocabulary and grammar. According to the source, candidates are generally required to score at least 66% in four of these sections and at least 60% in the remaining one.

The level most often required for Russian-taught bachelor's programmes is ТРКИ-I, which corresponds to B1; some programmes may require B2. Preparatory programmes are designed with this goal in mind. However, not every university requires a TORFL certificate: many apply their own internal exam at the end of the preparatory programme, and the result of this exam may be valid only at that institution. If you are considering transferring to a different university or using the certificate in another official process, a TORFL certificate obtained from an authorised centre offers a more flexible option.

You can get support from our team to assess your current Russian level and target programme together and determine the preparatory duration and university that suit you.