Rising demand for Russian universities reflects Moscow’s pivot toward deeper ties with the Global South, experts say
Russia has climbed to seventh place worldwide by number of international students, Vedomosti reported on Wednesday, citing the latest research data.
The number of students from China, India, Egypt, and Iran more than doubled between 2019 and 2024, while enrollment from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries rose by 15-20%, the Russian International Affairs Council said in a report seen by the outlet. In total, citizens from 170 countries are studying in Russia.
UNESCO data showed that about 6.4 million students studied abroad in 2023. Russia ranked seventh globally in 2024, hosting 376,000 foreign students, or 8.5% of total enrollment, Vedomosti said, citing the Education Ministry.
That figure put Russia closer to the US (957,000 in 2023), Britain (675,000 in 2022), Australia (467,000 in 2023), and Germany (423,000 in 2023). It trailed Canada with 842,000 and France with 505,000, the outlet said, citing data from New York-based Institute of International Education.
Rising interest in Russian universities among applicants from outside the former Soviet Union reflects Moscow’s foreign policy shift and its drive to deepen ties with the Global South, experts said.
“For example, representatives of the higher castes of Indian society, who are not entitled to free higher education at home, are now enrolling more often in Russian institutions,” Evgeny Varshaver, senior researcher at RANEPA, was cited as saying. “Given that Russian diplomas are valued in India, studying in Russia turns out to be much more advantageous for them.”
Foreign students in Russia most often choose economics, medicine, pharmacy, linguistics, and education, while popular technical fields include information technology and construction, data showed.
The appeal of Russian universities lies in a mix of affordability and quality, flexible study programs, state migration policies, job prospects for graduates, and opportunities for tuition-free education, according to the report.
About 45,000 foreign students studied on government scholarships last year, up from just 18,000 in 2021, with only around 8% coming from CIS countries. The Education Ministry estimates that up to 10% of foreign graduates remain in Russia to live and work.
