The Financial University International Youth Olympiad
Financial University
The Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation — one of Moscow's most established universities in economics and finance. Its international youth olympiad is online and free to enter, explicitly open to international participants up to age 35 — and the opportunity may lead to state-funded (federal budget) study per the official rules.
Registration expected: 1 أكتوبر — according to the official source. We'll alert you the moment it's confirmed.
Deadline expected: 27 فبراير — according to the official source. We'll alert you the moment it's confirmed.
OnlineQualifying round, then final
35Age limitOpen to a wider age range than usual
Economics & financePlus mathematics, IT and financial law
FreeParticipation is entirely free
The opportunity
What is the Financial University olympiad?
An international youth olympiad from the Financial University in Moscow and its branches — in its eleventh edition, online and entirely free to enter. What makes it distinctive is that it's broader than school olympiads: the official regulation covers those studying on basic and secondary education programmes as well as higher education, and graduates of foreign educational institutions and students of foreign universities — all of them under the age of 35.
🎓 And it has a full Master's track — the official site carries two separate tables: tracks for Bachelor's/Specialist applicants, and 7 tracks for Master's applicants. So if you're a Bachelor's graduate, this opportunity is for you too.
🇬🇧 And there is an English-language route: the «International economics» and «Political sciences» tracks are held in English, and the olympiad's two official working languages are Russian and English.
The fields: economics, finance, management, law, mathematics, information technology, sociology, political science, linguistics, tourism, philosophy and media communication.
The potential prize
What could you gain?
🏛️ Winners: the possibility of admission within the Russian government quota on federal budget allocations — the regulation's own text. Our old uncertainty here is resolved: the link to the quota is stated outright.
💸 Prize-winners: a discount on tuition when applying on a paid contract — the site says 50% for the whole period of study.
🗓️ The certificate is valid for two years — so if you can't use it this year, you still have next season ahead of you.
🎓 Official diplomas (дипломы) from the Financial University for winners and prize-winners.
The wide age window (up to 35) keeps this open to people who aren't finding other olympiad opportunities.
🔴 Read the discount condition carefully — the site presents it more simply than it is: the olympiad page says “50% discount for prize-winners”, but the regulation itself says prize-winners “may be granted discounts by decision of the university's academic council and on condition of successfully passing the entrance examinations”. So it is not automatic. 🔴 And appeals are ruled out entirely: “appeals against the results of the work performed are not held” (the regulation), and you cannot view your paper — so there is no second chance after the test. And like the rest, this opportunity is competitive and not guaranteed.
The path
The stages — the “profile” system
1
Choose one track — and only one
The regulation (the regulation): “the participant has the right to choose one track from the olympiad's tracks, and it comprises two subjects”. Choose the track that matches the programme you actually intend to enter — the official tables on the site map each track to its programmes.
2
An official example from the rules
Chose «Management (менеджмент)» at Bachelor's level? Your profile is: mathematics + Russian language. And at Master's level, for instance, «International economics» = economic theory (in English or Russian) + the English language.
3
Stage one: registration + the motivation letter
Registration is at anketa.fa.ru, and you upload a motivation letter in Russian or English on the registration page, using the template attached to the regulation. Last season: 1 October – 27 February.
4
Stage two: the proctored computer-based test
A computer-based test with mandatory remote electronic proctoring. Duration: no more than 4 academic hours. Last season: 1 December – 28 February, with the lists published no later than 10 March.
5
🔴 Test-day rules — these catch people out
Only an identity document, writing materials and drinking water are allowed on your desk. Forbidden: reference materials · means of communication · any electronic devices. And you may not speak to anyone during the test. A violation means exclusion from continuing, with no right of appeal. If you're late you can still enter, but your time is not extended. And if you are under 18, your guardian is the one who signs the data consent.
👥 The olympiad is for applicants from outside Russia: the regulation (the regulation) excludes holders of a Russian internal passport with permanent residence registration in Russia, and the rules page widens the exclusion to: Russian citizens resident permanently or temporarily in Russia during the selection stages — including those completing their education in Russia. And winners and prize-winners are determined by ranking results within each track. The exact document requirements should be checked on the official website before applying.
One of the widest age brackets among the olympiads — suitable even if your school years are behind you.
🌍
A foreign national, a stateless person, or a citizen resident abroad
Participation is individual, voluntary and free of charge in the regulation's own words.
🎓
School student · university student · graduate
The regulation covers those studying on basic and secondary education programmes as well as higher education, and graduates of foreign educational institutions and students of foreign universities. So it isn't only for schools.
🗣️
Russian or English
The olympiad's two official working languages, and there are whole tracks held in English.
👥
For applicants from outside Russia
The olympiad is aimed at people not resident in Russia. The regulation excludes holders of a Russian internal passport with permanent residence registration in Russia, and the rules page widens the exclusion to Russian citizens resident permanently or temporarily during the selection stages — including those completing their education in Russia.
Common questions
Tap any question to open the answer ▾
💬Up to what age can I take part?▾
Up to age 35 per the official source — one of the widest age windows among the olympiads, so it's still an option even if you missed the school-level opportunities.
💬What is the “profile” system?▾
Per the official rules: you choose your target field of study at the university, and you sit the corresponding olympiad profile — each profile is two subjects (official example: Management = mathematics + Russian language).
💬Does it lead to the government quota?▾
Yes — and our old uncertainty is resolved. The official regulation says in as many words: “winners of the olympiad are given the possibility of admission within the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation for foreign citizens and stateless persons, including citizens residing abroad”. And the olympiad page calls it the “self-selection quota” on federal budget allocations.
💬I'm a Bachelor's graduate — is this olympiad for me?▾
Yes. The official site has a separate table titled “olympiad tracks for applicants to Master's programmes” — 7 tracks: economics and management · international economics (in English) · information technology · sociology · law · political science (in English) · political science (in Russian). Between them they cover dozens of Master's programmes.
💬If my result is poor, can I appeal?▾
No — and you need to know this before you sit it. The procedural regulation: “appeals against the results of the work performed are not held”, and the official rules page adds: “viewing of papers and appeals are not conducted”. So your test is a single shot — study well and sleep well beforehand.
💬How long is the certificate valid?▾
Two years per the official site. So if you win and can't complete an application this season, your certificate still works next season — don't throw it away.
💬What shouldn't I confuse it with?▾
The same university has another school olympiad called «Миссия выполнима» — that's different from the international youth edition this page is about.
This opportunity is competitive and not guaranteed, and the dates are set for each season — the final reference is the official olympiad page on fa.ru. And remember: there are no appeals and no viewing of your paper, and the prize-winners' discount is conditional on a decision of the academic council and on passing the entrance examinations.
Share
Know someone this could matter to?
Send it to them — a minute from you could change a year of theirs.
