Question 1

Is taking part in Open Doors really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, completely. There are no registration fees, no exam fees and no charge of any kind at any stage.

And if anyone asks you for money to "register" you or to "secure" you a place — that's a scam. You do the registration yourself on the official website, and that's it.

Question 2

Can I take part in more than one subject?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and there's no limit on the number of subjects.

But keep three things in mind:

• You have to write a separate motivation letter for each subject
• Stage 2 exam dates for different subjects may fall on the same day — check the schedule early
• If you win in more than one subject, you'll eventually have to choose just one in which to exercise your entitlement

Question 3

I took part last year — can I use the same account?

Accepted Answer

No. You have to create a new account and enter your details and your portfolio from scratch.

Question 4

I've found a mistake in my personal details — how do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

Once you've completed registration you can no longer edit your details yourself. You need to contact the project office through the support form on the website; they'll review your request and make the change if the regulations allow it.

⚠️ That's why you should check every field carefully before saving — especially your name and date of birth, since they have to match your passport exactly.

Question 5

Will I pay tuition fees?

Accepted Answer

No. Tuition is covered by the Russian federal budget.

But travel, accommodation, food, medical insurance and personal expenses are all on you.

Question 6

How much is the monthly stipend?

Accepted Answer

Open Doors doesn't publish an official figure — it says the amount differs between universities and that you should ask yours.

We're not going to stay quiet about this, because silence lets students imagine a figure far larger than the reality: based on students' experience, the monthly stipend under the quota is usually somewhere around 2,500 to 5,000 roubles — a token amount, not a living income.

⚠️ These figures are estimates from students' experience, not an official number, and they vary by university, level and year.

The bottom line: plan on the basis that you'll need another source of funding to live on.

Question 7

Can I work while I study?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can work online or on-site without needing a work permit.

Most universities help with finding opportunities, and some offer jobs on campus.

Question 8

I've won more than one Russian scholarship — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

The right to study under the government quota is exercised through one competition only. So if you've been accepted for more than one scholarship, review the conditions of each and choose the one you'll enrol under.

Official source · last reviewed: 15 August 2026 · Open the official source ↗

Question 9

Which university do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

Open Doors itself says it doesn't recommend universities — and that you need to research them yourself.

Links to the official websites of all 24 universities are on our universities page, and Open Doors also runs introductory webinars whose dates are published on its website, with links delivered to your account.

Question 10

I didn't win — is there another route?

Accepted Answer

Open Doors advises trying again next year, or looking at other routes into the Russian government scholarship, such as Rossotrudnichestvo.

Some universities offer alternative admission routes, but those have nothing to do with the Open Doors scholarship and need to be discussed with the university directly.

Question 11

Will I get a certificate of participation?

Accepted Answer

An electronic certificate is sent to the accounts of winners, runners-up and holders of "high achievement" status.

Those who don't reach one of these three statuses don't receive a certificate.

Question 12

What's the difference between a winner, a runner-up and a holder of "high achievement" status?

Accepted Answer

• **Winner:** receives the right to study under the quota directly, with priority in choosing a programme.

• **Runner-up:** may receive the same entitlements as a winner — subject to places remaining after winners confirm. A real achievement, but not a guaranteed ticket.

• **Holder of "high achievement" status:** a new status this year, awarded if you score at least 50% of the score of the top-ranked candidate in your subject and track without being a winner or runner-up. It doesn't grant a study entitlement automatically, but it opens the door to applying for financial support, subject to a letter of recommendation from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Rossotrudnichestvo.

Question 13

Which documents are required in Stage 1?

Accepted Answer

Only two are mandatory: your **motivation letter** and **proof of your level of education**.

The motivation letter is written or pasted into the field provided, and educational documents are uploaded in their place. Without them you can't submit your portfolio, enter Stage 2 or become a winner.

And if you haven't received your certificate yet, you can upload an official transcript, the transcript for the current or previous year, or any document proving your level — and submit the certificate later, at enrolment.

The rest of the portfolio documents are optional, but including them raises your score.

⚠️ You must also upload a **scan of your passport** before registration closes (Rule 27).

Question 14

Do I need a certified translation in Stage 1?

Accepted Answer

No, it isn't required at the portfolio stage — though if you have one you're welcome to upload it.

But if you become a winner or runner-up, you'll need to have your translations certified at a Russian embassy or consulate, or by a notary.

⚠️ Note: your documents must originally be in Russian or English; if they're in any other language you must translate them into **the language you chose to compete in** (Rule 25).

Question 15

What should I write in the motivation letter?

Accepted Answer

A suggested structure appears in your personal account after registration.

The letter should cover: your academic and professional goals, your achievements, why you chose this particular subject, and what motivates you to study in Russia.

📌 And if you're on the **PhD track**, Open Doors strongly advises adding a summary of your thesis and your future research plan. That makes your motivation letter closer to a research proposal than a covering letter — which makes sense, because the Stage 3 interview assesses your readiness to work on a specific topic.

Question 16

What are the portfolio assessment criteria?

Accepted Answer

The criteria differ from subject to subject, and the maximum score for each item appears in your account as you fill in your portfolio.

So they aren't published outside the account — register early so you can see them and plan around them instead of guessing.

Question 17

Do I need IELTS or a language certificate?

Accepted Answer

No, no proof of language is required to take part in the competition.

But uploading documents that show your level in Russian or English may raise your portfolio score.

⚠️ And an important point: the new regulations (Rule 7) tie **priority in choosing your programme** to submitting proof of command of the language of instruction. So it isn't a condition of taking part, but it makes a difference at enrolment.

Question 18

Can I edit my portfolio after submitting it?

Accepted Answer

Yes — you withdraw the portfolio from your account, edit it, and submit it again.

⚠️ But note: the official FAQ contains two contradictory answers on the withdrawal deadline (one says 6 November, another says 15 November), while registration itself closes on 1 November.

Our advice: treat **1 November** as the deadline for any change, and don't rely on the later dates. If you need certainty, ask the project office directly.

Question 19

I can't submit my portfolio — what's wrong?

Accepted Answer

Usually a mandatory field is missing — either the motivation letter or the educational documents — or you haven't taken the entrance test, or didn't pass it.

Check those fields first. If everything is in order and the problem persists, contact the project office through the support form and attach a screenshot or recording showing the issue.

Question 20

I've passed Stage 1 — how do I register for Stage 2?

Accepted Answer

From your personal account. After Stage 1 ends you'll receive an email with instructions, and they also appear in your account within a few days.

🔴 Most important: **don't miss the registration deadline**. The last date to register for Stage 2 is 16 November 2026. If you miss it, you won't sit the exam — no matter how high your portfolio score was.

Question 21

I couldn't attend Stage 2 for a valid reason — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

Submit a request immediately to complete the tasks on the **reserve day** — no later than the day of the session itself, not after it.

If the regulations permit, you'll be able to take part on the reserve day, but you must register for it in advance according to the instructions.

⚠️ There's only one reserve day per subject. If you miss it or don't register for it, there's no further chance at all. And your device and your connection are your own responsibility.

Question 22

What am I allowed to use during the exam?

Accepted Answer

Full details appear in your account after Stage 1.

Strictly forbidden: your phone and any other electronic devices, speaking to anyone, opening any browser page other than the Open Doors platform, and capturing the screen in any way.

Each subject decides for itself whether particular software, a calculator, or pen and paper are permitted.

🔴 Any violation may void your result with no right of appeal.

Question 23

I'm having trouble with the proctoring software

Accepted Answer

Follow the instructions in your account first. If the problem persists, contact technical support.

📌 Most problems are caused by an unstable connection. Open Doors advises a wired connection, because mobile data and Wi-Fi can be unstable even when the speed appears high.

A connection of at least 1 Mbps without interruption is required. There's also a trial mode for testing your device before the date — from the same place and on the same device you'll be using for the exam.

Question 24

I disagree with my score — can I appeal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, against the score for the advanced-level written tasks — and you have **only two days** from the result being published in your account.

The appeal is submitted from your account, and the outcome appears there after review (within 5 days).

🔴 Two serious points:

1. The score can go **down** after review, not only up or stay the same. So it isn't a risk-free decision.

2. There's no appeal against the portfolio assessment (Stage 1), the oral task, or the Stage 3 interviews.

Question 25

My portfolio score was high but I didn't attend Stage 2 — do I still have a chance?

Accepted Answer

No. Attending Stage 2 is an essential condition of winning an Open Doors scholarship.

Whatever your Stage 1 score, without Stage 2 there's no scholarship.

Question 26

Why choose 6 universities rather than one?

Accepted Answer

When you apply you choose between one and six universities, ranked in order of preference.

If university number 1 doesn't offer the programme you chose, your application is automatically passed to the next one in your ranking.

📌 So that ranking is a safety net — don't put six highly competitive universities. Include some realistic choices.

The final choice of university is only settled if you win, at the stage of uploading your scholarship documents.

Question 27

Can I change my subject, programme or university after uploading?

Accepted Answer

No. Once the deadline for uploading documents in your account has passed, no change is possible at all.

So take your time over the choice while you're applying — not afterwards.

Question 28

Can I choose any programme I want?

Accepted Answer

You're enrolled in the field of study you specified on the scholarship form. Within that field, you can choose any programme available to international students and offered at the university you selected.

PhD winners, meanwhile, are enrolled at one of the organising universities on condition that a representative of that university has confirmed research supervision.

Question 29

Which language will I study in?

Accepted Answer

Universities offer programmes in Russian or in English depending on the institution and the programme.

If the programme you want is only in Russian and your level isn't sufficient, you can start with a Russian language preparatory year; once you complete it, your place on the programme is held for you for the following year.

⚠️ Two important points:

1. The language you compete in (Russian/English) does **not** guarantee you'll study in that same language. These are two separate decisions.

2. Additional financial support from the Russian government is conditional on studying **full-time in Russian**. So if you choose an English-language programme, that support won't apply to you.

Question 30

Where do I find my registration number on the ministry's website?

Accepted Answer

Once the documents of winners and runners-up are passed to the university they chose, that university becomes responsible for all communication and support up to admission.

To obtain your registration number, contact the university's representative at the email address the project office sends to all winners and runners-up.

Question 31

Can I decline the scholarship after winning it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you decide to decline the right to study under the quota, you need to send a signed letter of withdrawal (in free form) stating your reason.

Send it by email to your university coordinator, with a copy (CC) to the project office at opendoors@globaluni.ru

Question 32

I'm on the PhD track — how do I choose a university?

Accepted Answer

You don't choose a university directly — you choose a **potential research supervisor**.

Once you and the supervisor have confirmed the match, you carry out your research at the university where they work.

📌 So the interviews determine your options, not your preference. Read the "list of potential supervisors" published on your subject page early, and choose who to approach based on how closely your research interests align.

Question 33

How do I prepare for the interview?

Accepted Answer

The interview programme is published on your subject page on the official website — that's the first thing to read.

Then read up on the supervisor themselves and their published research, and prepare something specific to say about the topic you want to work on — not general remarks about your interest in the field.

Question 34

I haven't finished my PhD yet but will soon — can I apply for the post-doctoral track?

Accepted Answer

No. You must already hold a Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences or PhD **at the time you submit your portfolio** for assessment.

The document proving the degree is a mandatory part of the portfolio and is required for evaluation.

Question 35

Why are no subjects listed for the post-doctoral track?

Accepted Answer

Because selection in this track doesn't happen at subject level at all — it happens at the level of the **research project**.

You apply to work as a researcher on a specific project, and you become a winner if at least one project leader agrees to employ you.

📌 That's why your most important document is the "list of research projects" published on each subject page — it's the actual equivalent of a subject list.

Question 36

Can I edit my post-doctoral portfolio after submitting it?

Accepted Answer

Yes — you withdraw it from your account, edit it, and submit it again.

⚠️ The same reservation we noted about withdrawal deadlines on the other tracks applies here: the official FAQ contains contradictory dates, and the safest course is to treat 1 November as the limit.

And note that the Stage 2 video presentation has its own separate deadline: **6 December 2026**.

Question 37

How do I contact them if I have a problem?

Accepted Answer

Through the support form on the official website, or by email at opendoors@globaluni.ru

Attach a screenshot or recording showing the problem wherever you can. The average response time is **24 hours**, and don't send the same message through more than one channel, as that delays your request and other people's.

⚠️ And there's a new rule this year (Rule 18): any offensive or abusive language in your correspondence will lead them to stop communicating with you permanently. Waiting and stress make people write things they regret — and the penalty here is losing the only official channel of communication at the very moment you need it.

Frequently asked questions 37 questions with sourced answers

❓ How much is the monthly stipend?

❓ Will I get a certificate of participation?

❓ Can I edit my portfolio after submitting it?

❓ Can I edit my post-doctoral portfolio after submitting it?