Russia is the largest country in the world, covering over six million miles of land. Russia covers all of northern Asia and spans nine different time zones. So why study in Russia? Studying in Russia is a popular choice for international students with a wide variety of interests, be they literature, art, history, or Russian language studies. International students in Russia will receive a high quality education in a culturally diverse environment.

Studying in Russia allows for students to study a wide variety of interesting subjects. Russia is a perfect destination for students interested in the arts, as Russia is historically known for its excellence in literature, ballet, painting, and classical music. International students in Russia studying literature will have the opportunity to study some of the world’s most famous writers such as Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Anton Chekhov, and Leo Tolstoy in these authors’ home country.

Students wondering why study in Russia may also be drawn to the country’s music and dance world. Students studying in Russia will have many opportunities to experience and appreciate the works of some of the most famous composers of classical music in the world, such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky. Additionally, the Bolshoi Ballet still performs many works both classical and contemporary, some of which were performed by such renowned Russian dancers as Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Another popular area of study for international students in Russia is Russian language studies, as Russia is the only destination in the world for total language immersion. Studying in Russia is the perfect opportunity for students interested in learning Russian, particularly those whose home institutions do not offer courses in the language.

History students studying in Russia will find that there are few better places for studying their subject. Russia is home to the Red Square in Moscow, as well as the nearby Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the most famous - not to mention infamous - historical figures have called Russia home. Russia is rich with cultural history, and perfect for students interested in studying history.

Russia possesses one of the best mass-education systems in the world, and has a long-standing tradition of high-quality education for all citizens. Russia’s education system produces a 98% literacy rate, exceeding that of most Western European countries. Russia’s top universities are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg being the most well-known. The top universities in Russia have extremely competitive entry requirements, and hold special entry exams each year.

Destination Russia, a Nations Online Project Profile of the world's largest country. The country, officially the Russian Federation, which is commonly referred to as Russia, is located partly in Eastern Europe and partly in North Asia; it borders the Arctic Ocean to the north.With an area of 17,098,242 km², the country is more than twice the size of the contiguous United States. It is the largest country in the world (by area) and covers more than 11% of the Earth's landmass. However, vast regions of the country were uninhabited or uninhabitable.

Russia is a country with a low population density (8.5 people/km², compared with Germany 226 people/km², and the USA about 33 people/km²). But still, Russia has a population of 146.8 million people (in 2020), it is the number 9 in the Top 10 of the most populous countries. Most Russians live in the westernmost fifth of the country in the European part of Russia.
The capital and largest city is Moscow, the core of political power and the center of culture and trade. St. Petersburg, the former imperial capital, is Russia's second-largest city and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea.

Most of the country has a continental climate, with long, cold winters and brief summers. There is a wide range of summer and winter temperatures and relatively low precipitation. January temperatures are in the range of 6°C (45 °F) on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea. A record low temperature of -71°C (-96 °F) was recorded in 1974 at the northeast Siberian village of Oymyakon, the lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere in the world for an inhabited region. In many areas of Siberia the soil never thaws for more than a foot. 

Annual precipitation decreases from about 64–76 cm (25–30 in) in the European region to less than 5 cm (2 in) a year in parts of Central Asia. The tundra has long winters, with summers lasting one or two months, and receives from 8 to 12 months of snow or rain. The far northern forest, like most of the country, has long severe winters, short summers, and extremely short springs and autumns. Precipitation is low but falls throughout the year, varying from 53 cm (21 in) at Moscow to between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 in) in eastern Siberia. The steppes have very cold winters and hot, dry summers. 

The cost of studying / tuition fee in Russia depends upon the university and programme one prefers to pursue. The average cost of studying medicine in Russia can range from 3 lakhs to 55 lakhs. The cost of pursuing other degrees is mentioned in the table below. 

The universities in Russia offer several scholarships to international students which help in reducing the cost of studying and tuition fee in the country.

International students are only allowed to pursue higher education in Russia if and when they have a valid Health Insurance for the duration of their stay in the country. This is one more cost that international students need to consider. Having Health Insurance can help international students in cutting off the medical care expenses by a great margin as it can be expensive.

One more cost that students need to add up to their list of studying expenses in Russia is the cost of student visa for Russia. The Russian student visa remains valid for only three months and then students need to apply for a visa extension

Accommodation Cost In Russia

For an international student, it is crucial to find the best option for lodging within their budget. The most common accommodation options for international students in Russia are rental apartments, university dormitory/hostels and a host family. It is important to consider all the pros and cons of an option to ensure that the decision is cost-effective and not heavy on a student’s pockets.

The accommodation fee of a university dormitory is decided by the university itself. So, it may vary for different universities. These dormitories are fully-furnished and a much cheaper option than renting apartments in Russian cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. These two cities offer the most expensive rental apartments whereas, in Novosibirsk, students can get the same options for a half price. Some universities also provide the option of finding a host family for the students. 

The average cost of accommodation in Russia can be seen in the table below.

Transportation Cost In Russia

In a vast country like Russia where the distances are enormous, the transportation is not very expensive. There are various forms of transportation available in Russia. From regular buses to private taxis to suburban trains, students can find all kinds of public transport in Russia. In some major cities of the country, express trains are operated from airport terminals. 

The average cost of a person per day in urban transport can be around 130 - 150 INR. However, transportation cost varies from city to city. The bigger the city, the higher the transportation cost. The same journey that costs 50 RUB (48 INR) in Moscow will cost 45 RUB (43.23 INR)  in St. Petersburg and 32 RUB (30 INR) in Yekaterinburg. Cities like Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, etc offer lower transportation cost than Moscow and St. Petersburg. 

The following table represents the transportation cost in different cities of Russia.

Cost Of Food In Russia

In order to make a budget to plan the monthly expenditure, one must know the cost of food and the daily expenditure of having three-time meals in Russia. The cost of restaurant meals in Russia varies from city to city. A cappuccino in a coffee shop can cost from 240 to 260 RUB. The monthly meal expenses in Russia can range from 8,000 to 20,000 RUB.

Here is the approximate cost of fruits, vegetables and restaurants meals in Russia.