The rules in plain English
📌 1 Four tracks, not one ‹
Open Doors isn't a single competition — it's four separate competitions under one name: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and post-doctoral. Each track has its own conditions, stages and awards.
Many people read something about one track and apply it to another. If you're entering the Master's track, anything said about the PhD track doesn't concern you.
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📌 2 The single official source ‹
Everything official — documents, preparation materials, results — is published on od.globaluni.ru in Russian and English. Anything outside that site isn't a source.
Plenty of pages and groups pass on outdated or incorrect information. Before any decision, open the official website yourself.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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🔴 3 Who can apply — age and qualification conditions ‹
The competition is open to foreign nationals, stateless persons and Russians living abroad, subject to consent to the processing of personal data. Age is calculated as of the date registration opens (20 August 2026) — not the day you register: • Bachelor's: 16 to 23 years old, holding neither a Bachelor's nor a Master's, and holding (or due to obtain during the academic year) a qualification that entitles you to enter university in your own country. • Master's: 20 to 33 years old, holding neither a Specialist degree nor a Master's, and holding (or due to obtain) at least the equivalent of a Bachelor's. • PhD: 22 to 35 years old, not having completed a doctoral programme, and holding (or due to obtain) a Specialist degree or a Master's. • Post-doctoral: 24 to 39 years old, holding a Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Sciences or PhD.
This reference date changed this year. If you reach the maximum age between 21 August and 1 November 2026 you're still eligible. And if you reach the minimum age after 20 August you aren't eligible this cycle, even if you'd reach it before registration closes.
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📌 4 Two official languages ‹
The competition is held in Russian or English, and you choose the language you compete in.
Your choice of competition language later determines the language your documents must be translated into. And it's important to know: the language you compete in is one thing, and the language you study in at university is something else entirely.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 5 What is a "subject area"? ‹
The competition is divided into subject areas. A single subject area groups together a set of specialisations at the same study level that share a common scientific basis.
You compete within a specific subject area, and ranking happens inside that area. So choosing your subject is a strategic decision, not a formality.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 6 Three statuses you might receive ‹
After the results you may end up with one of three: • Winner — in every track • Runner-up — Bachelor's and Master's only • Participant who completed the olympiad with high achievement — Bachelor's, Master's and PhD
That third status is new this year. It doesn't grant a study entitlement automatically, but it opens the door to applying for financial support under additional conditions.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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🔴 7 What a winner actually receives ‹
Winners in the Bachelor's, Master's and PhD tracks receive the right to study in Russia under the government quota, with tuition covered by the federal budget. They also have priority in choosing their programme at the organising universities — provided they submit proof of command of the language of instruction. The receiving university is the one that confirms or assesses your level at enrolment.
"Priority" is not "guarantee". And the language-proof condition is stated explicitly — so if you don't have proof of your level in the programme's language, that priority may not help you.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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📌 8 The Russian language preparatory year ‹
If you need to learn Russian before your studies, you're entitled to attend the preparatory faculty at the federal budget's expense. Once you complete it at the required level, your place on the Russian-language programme is secured.
This is an important safety net: you don't have to know Russian in order to apply. But note that it adds a full year to the length of your studies.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 9 Runner-up — a conditional entitlement, not a guaranteed one ‹
Runners-up in the Bachelor's and Master's tracks may receive the same entitlements as winners, but only if places remain in the quota after winners have confirmed theirs.
Being a runner-up is a real achievement, but it isn't a guaranteed ticket. The places left over depend on how many winners confirm and how many withdraw — and that isn't under your control.
Bachelor'sMaster's
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📌 10 A post-doctoral winner gets a job, not a study place ‹
A winner in the post-doctoral track receives a job offer as a researcher at one of the organising universities.
This track is different in nature: you aren't applying to study, you're applying for a research post.
Postdoc
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🔴 11 You have to confirm that you accept ‹
Winners confirm their intention to study (or their acceptance of the job offer, in the post-doctoral track) by uploading the required documents in their personal account, within the period specified there. Runners-up in the Bachelor's and Master's tracks do the same.
Winning on its own isn't enough. If you miss the confirmation window, the entitlement is gone — even though you're officially a winner.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 12 You can defer for a year ‹
Bachelor's and Master's winners may use their quota entitlement in the year of the competition or the following year. The same applies to PhD winners, except that they must attend interviews with potential supervisors for the coming year and obtain confirmation from a supervisor willing to supervise them.
Useful flexibility if your circumstances don't allow you to travel this year. But if you're on the PhD track, deferring requires extra work from you, not just waiting.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 13 Financial support — for winners and runners-up ‹
Winners and runners-up in the Bachelor's, Master's and PhD tracks are entitled to apply for financial support from the Russian government, on two conditions: that they have obtained the right to study under the quota, and that they are prepared to study full-time in Russian. Official reference: Government Decree No. 1837 (20 November 2025) and Ministry of Science and Higher Education Order No. 922 (28 November 2025).
The "studying in Russian" condition isn't a small detail — if you'll be on an English-language programme, this support won't apply to you. And the regulations state neither the value of the support nor how to apply, so you'll need to check the official source.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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📌 14 Financial support — for holders of high achievement status ‹
Participants who completed the olympiad with high achievement may be considered for financial support — subject to the same two conditions of the quota and studying in Russian, plus a third: a letter of recommendation from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from Rossotrudnichestvo.
"May be considered" is weaker wording than "are entitled to" in the previous rule. And that letter of recommendation isn't easy to obtain — you'd need to start on it early if this status comes your way.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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📌 15 The competition is entirely online ‹
Everything takes place on the Open Doors electronic platform, and the system verifies your identity and monitors that you're working alone.
You don't need to travel or attend an exam centre. But you do need a device and a connection that can handle the proctoring — and that's on you.
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📌 16 The number of stages depends on your track ‹
• Bachelor's: two stages — the portfolio, then solving the olympiad tasks (final) • Master's: two stages — the same order • PhD: three stages — the portfolio, then the tasks, then interviews with potential supervisors or PhD track directors (final) • Post-doctoral: three stages — the portfolio, then a competition on a video presentation of your research results, then interviews with research project leaders (final)
If you're on the PhD or post-doctoral track, your journey is two months longer. Plan around February 2027, not December 2026.
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🔴 17 Taking part is completely without cost ‹
There are no fees of any kind for taking part in Open Doors — no registration fee, no exam fee, nothing.
Anyone asking you for money to register you or to "secure" you a place in Open Doors is running a scam. You do the registration yourself on the official website.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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🔴 18 Contacting the project office — and the civility rule ‹
If you have a question, get in touch by email at [email protected] or through the "Support" form on the homepage. You must observe the usual standards of courteous communication. If you use offensive or abusive language, or language contrary to general ethical standards, communication with you will be discontinued and any subsequent enquiries will not be considered.
This is a new rule this year. Waiting and stress make people write things they regret — and here the penalty is losing the only official channel of communication at the very moment you need it.
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📌 19 How to register ‹
Go to the official website and select "Registration". Once registration succeeds, your personal account on the platform is opened for you.
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🔴 20 The registration window ‹
Registration is open for all tracks from 20 August to 1 November 2026.
1 November isn't only the registration deadline — it's also the last date for submitting your portfolio and uploading your passport. After it, your account is closed to editing.
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🔴 21 Registration details — and responsibility for them ‹
You'll enter: surname, first name or names, gender, date of birth, nationality, email and phone. You'll also select your subject areas, tracks and competition language, consent to the processing of your data, and take responsibility for the accuracy of what you've entered. If you provide information that is untrue or inaccurate, you may be excluded at any stage, and any status granted to you will be withdrawn even after the results are announced.
"Inaccurate" doesn't have to mean deliberate falsehood — a mistake in spelling your name or entering your date of birth can cause the same problem. Check every field before you save.
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🔴 22 One account only ‹
You're allowed one account and one entry per year. Breaching this may lead to exclusion at any stage, and any status granted to you may be withdrawn after the results.
People create a second account to fix a mistake or try another subject — and that's the fastest route to exclusion. If you need a correction, contact the project office.
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📌 23 After registering you can see the assessment criteria ‹
Registered participants are given access to the portfolio structure and the assessment criteria applied.
These criteria aren't published outside the account, and they differ from subject to subject. Register early so you can see them and plan around them instead of guessing.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 24 Stage 1 — duration and how the competition works ‹
Stage 1 runs from 20 August to 13 November 2026. The portfolio competition is held separately for the Bachelor's and post-doctoral tracks, and jointly for the Master's and PhD tracks.
If you're on the Master's or PhD track, you're competing in the same list — not each in your own. Keep that in mind when you assess your chances.
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🔴 25 What the portfolio consists of ‹
You build the portfolio from your personal account, and it consists of: 1. The entrance test 2. The motivation letter 3. Information about your personal achievements related to the subject you chose 4. Uploading the supporting documents All documents must be issued in Russian or English. If they're in any other language, you must translate them into the language you chose to compete in.
The motivation letter is stated explicitly in this year's regulations — and it isn't a formality, it's an assessed component. The translation rule has also changed: it's now into your competition language, not whichever of the two languages you prefer.
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📌 26 Text fields in an official language ‹
All text fields in the portfolio must be written in one of the olympiad's two official languages.
So nothing can be written in Arabic in the form itself — even where that section feels unimportant.
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🔴 27 Your passport — and matching your name letter for letter ‹
Before registration closes you must upload a scan of the passport you'll use to identify yourself in Russia. The surname, first name, date of birth and nationality in your account must match those in the passport exactly. The name in particular must be entered exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone (MRZ) — the two lines at the bottom of the passport page. After registration closes, changes are made by written request from you, supported by documents demonstrating the need for the change.
This is a major shift: the passport used to be uploaded at Stage 2, and is now a condition of registration. And if your name in your account differs from the MRZ by even one letter, it may stop you at identity verification on exam day or at enrolment.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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🔴 28 The real portfolio deadline ‹
You can submit your portfolio at any point before registration closes.
So the actual deadline is 1 November, not 13 November. The 13th is the date Stage 1 ends and results are published — it isn't your submission deadline.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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🔴 29 The portfolio result is final ‹
Stage 1 results are published in your personal account, and there's no appeal against the portfolio assessment.
There's no second chance here. That means the real work has to happen before you submit — not after you see the score.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 30 Stage 2 — duration ‹
Stage 2 runs from 13 November to 21 December 2026.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 31 Where you'll find out you've passed ‹
The lists of those admitted to Stage 2 are published on 13 November 2026 on the subject pages of the official website, and you're also notified in your personal account.
The lists are on your specific subject page — not on the homepage.
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🔴 32 Electronic proctoring ‹
In the Bachelor's, Master's and PhD tracks, Stage 2 takes place under electronic proctoring according to a published schedule, using dedicated software that verifies your identity and monitors that you're working alone. Your computer screen and webcam are recorded continuously throughout the stage. The stage procedures will be available in your account.
This isn't a formality — the recording is reviewed. And any violation may void your result with no right of appeal.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 33 You book your own slot ‹
The task schedule for each subject is published on the website and in your account. Dates for different subjects may overlap. 180 minutes are allocated to the stage, and you're the one who selects an available slot from your account and registers for it.
Booking is your own responsibility. If you don't book in time you won't be able to sit the exam — whatever your portfolio score. And if you're entered in more than one subject, check the schedule early, because dates can clash.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 34 Device and connection requirements ‹
You must review the Stage 2 procedures in your account before the exam. A stable internet connection without interruption is required throughout the stage, at a speed of at least 1 Mbps. There's also a trial mode you can use to test the proctoring system before the date and confirm your device is ready.
That trial mode is the single most important thing to do before the exam. Run it from the same device and the same place you'll be sitting the exam from — not from somewhere else.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 35 Identity verification on exam day ‹
At the scheduled time, you log into your account and complete identity verification using your webcam and the passport you uploaded at registration. Anyone who fails identity verification cannot enter Stage 2.
You must have the same passport you uploaded — not any other form of ID. And if your passport was renewed between registration and the exam, contact the project office before the date, not on the day.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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📌 36 The written tasks — 175 minutes ‹
Once you've passed identity verification, the written tasks and the mark for each one open up. You have 175 minutes, and you can tackle them in any order and edit your answers until the time runs out.
Knowing the mark for each task before you start is a real advantage — use it to set your priorities and begin with the highest-scoring ones.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 37 The oral task — 5 minutes ‹
After finishing the written tasks, you move on to an oral task for which you have 5 minutes.
Five minutes is very short and leaves no time for lengthy thinking. And this one in particular can never be appealed (Rule 41) — so practise speaking about your subject before the exam.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 38 The platform closes automatically ‹
When the allotted time runs out, the platform closes your access to the tasks automatically. Only answers submitted before the time expired are marked.
Don't leave submission to the last second. Any delay or freeze in those final moments means the answer won't count.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 39 If a technical failure occurs ‹
If your computer or the Open Doors platform fails while you're working on the tasks, you must notify the project office within 24 hours of it happening.
That 24-hour window is narrow. If something fails, report it immediately with screenshots or a recording showing the problem — don't put it off.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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📌 40 Where to see your result ‹
Stage 2 results for the Bachelor's, Master's and PhD tracks are published in your personal account.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 41 Appeals — what against and when ‹
If you disagree with the mark for an advanced-level written task, you can submit an appeal within two days of the mark being published in your account; it's reviewed within 5 days of submission. You must clearly identify the question or part you're contesting and give reasoned justification, and your arguments must be based exclusively on your own answers in your paper. Not open to appeal: the content and structure of the written tasks, the marking criteria, the assessment of the oral task, and any penalties for breaching the regulations. After review, the mark may stay the same, go up or go down. The decision is final with no further appeal.
Two serious points: first, the mark can go down after an appeal — so it isn't a risk-free decision. Second, those two days start from the moment of publication, so you need to check your account daily during that period.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 42 Stage 2 for the post-doctoral track — a video presentation ‹
Stage 2 in the post-doctoral track consists of the assessment of a video presentation in which you set out your research achievements. The result is published in your account and cannot be appealed.
A completely different track — no exam and no proctoring. The video is everything, and it has its own separate deadline (6 December 2026), two weeks before the stage ends.
Postdoc
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📌 43 Stage 3 — duration and format ‹
Stage 3 runs from 22 December 2026 to 26 February 2027, and takes the form of online interviews.
This is for the PhD and post-doctoral tracks only. If you're on the Bachelor's or Master's track, your journey ends on 21 December.
PhDPostdoc
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📌 44 The Stage 3 shortlists ‹
The lists of those admitted to Stage 3 in the PhD and post-doctoral tracks are published on 21 December 2026 on the subject pages, and you're notified in your account.
PhDPostdoc
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📌 45 Up to 6 interviews ‹
A Stage 3 participant may attend up to 6 interviews: • PhD: up to 3 interviews with potential supervisors, plus up to 3 with PhD track directors • Post-doctoral: up to 6 interviews with research project leaders
Each interview is an independent opportunity. If just one supervisor agrees, that's enough to make you a winner — so use the full number and don't settle for one.
PhDPostdoc
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📌 46 The interview schedule ‹
The Stage 3 interview schedule is published in your personal account.
PhDPostdoc
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🔴 47 Identity verification before the interview ‹
Before the interview you must complete identity verification using your webcam and the passport you uploaded at registration. Anyone who fails verification doesn't enter the interview.
Have the passport itself in your hand well before the interview — don't be hunting for it once it's started.
PhDPostdoc
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📌 48 Connection speed and technical failure ‹
During the interview you must ensure an internet speed of at least 256 kbps. If your device or the platform fails, notify the project office within 24 hours of it happening.
PhDPostdoc
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🔴 49 What the PhD interview assesses ‹
The PhD track interview assesses your readiness to carry out research on a specific topic under the supervision of the potential supervisor, and your eligibility for enrolment on a doctoral programme at one of the organising universities.
The key phrase is "a specific topic" — meaning you need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to work on, not with general remarks about your interest in the field. And note that the regulations explicitly advise that a PhD applicant's motivation letter should include a summary of your thesis and your future research plan.
PhD
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🔴 50 What the post-doctoral interview assesses ‹
The post-doctoral track interview assesses your ability to contribute to a specific research project, and how well you fit a research post within that project.
Study the project itself before the interview. Open Doors publishes a "list of research projects" on each subject page — that's your single most important file.
Postdoc
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📌 51 Interview results are final ‹
Stage 3 interview results are final and cannot be appealed.
PhDPostdoc
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📌 52 How winners and runners-up are determined ‹
Winners and runners-up in the Bachelor's and Master's tracks are those with the highest scores in the ranked lists, drawn up separately for each subject within each track, on the basis of the final stage result.
You're competing within your subject and your track only — not against all applicants. Choosing a less crowded subject is a decision with real weight.
Bachelor'sMaster's
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🔴 53 PhD winners ‹
You become a winner in the PhD track if — after Stage 3 — at least one potential supervisor has agreed to supervise your research, or at least one PhD track director has nominated you for enrolment on a doctoral programme.
Winning here isn't decided by scores — it's decided by a person's agreement. That makes the interview more important than anything else in your track.
PhD
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📌 54 Post-doctoral winners ‹
You become a winner in the post-doctoral track if — after Stage 3 — at least one research project leader has agreed to employ you as a post-doctoral researcher on their project.
Postdoc
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📌 55 "High achievement" — Bachelor's and Master's ‹
If you reach the final stage in the Bachelor's or Master's track without becoming a winner or runner-up, you receive the status of "participant who completed the olympiad with high achievement" provided you scored at least 50% of the score of the top-ranked candidate in the same subject and track.
This status doesn't grant a study entitlement automatically — but it does open the door to applying for financial support (Rule 14), subject to a letter of recommendation. Don't underestimate it.
Bachelor'sMaster's
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📌 56 "High achievement" — PhD ‹
The same rule applies to Stage 3 participants in the PhD track who don't become winners: they receive the status if they scored at least 50% of the score of the top-ranked candidate in the same subject and track.
PhD
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📌 57 Where the final lists are published ‹
The lists of winners, runners-up and holders of high achievement status are published on the official Open Doors website.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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📌 58 The electronic certificate ‹
Winners, runners-up and holders of high achievement status receive an electronic Open Doors certificate, sent to their accounts.
That certificate is a genuine addition to your CV even if you don't complete the journey — it's useful for other applications.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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🔴 59 The first step after winning ‹
To activate your quota entitlement, you must submit the documents required for registering international applicants in the information system of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education at russia-edu.minobrnauki.gov.ru The list of documents, the dates and the procedures reach you in your account and by email within 10 calendar days of the winners' and runners-up lists being published.
This is a different system from Open Doors. Watch your email (including spam) during those ten days — the instructions arrive there.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
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🔴 60 Choosing your specialisation and 6 universities ‹
On the quota study form, a Bachelor's or Master's winner or runner-up chooses their language of instruction and a single specialisation corresponding to their competition subject, and ranks up to 6 universities offering that specialisation in order of preference.
That ranking matters a great deal: if the first university doesn't offer the programme you chose, your application passes to the next one. So don't rank six highly competitive universities — include realistic choices. And once the document upload closes, no change is possible.
Bachelor'sMaster's
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📌 61 PhD winners choose a supervisor, not a university ‹
A PhD winner chooses an organising university to study at, and a potential supervisor where available, from among the universities whose supervisors or PhD track directors have confirmed their willingness to accept you onto a doctoral programme.
Your choice is limited to those who have already accepted you — so the interviews determine your options, not your preference.
PhD
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📌 62 Post-doctoral winners choose from those who accepted them ‹
A post-doctoral winner chooses an organising university from among those whose research project leaders agreed to employ them as a researcher.
Postdoc
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📌 63 Informing the organisers of your decision ‹
PhD and post-doctoral winners must inform the organisers of their decision through their personal accounts.
PhDPostdoc
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📌 64 The PhD specialisation on the form ‹
On the quota study form, a PhD winner specifies the research specialisation agreed with the potential supervisor or the track director at the organising university.
Agree the exact specialisation with your supervisor before you fill in the form — not afterwards.
PhD
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📌 65 Instructions for post-doctoral winners ‹
Post-doctoral winners receive instructions on the next steps for taking up the research post, in their accounts and by email, within 10 calendar days of the winners' list being published.
Postdoc
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🔴 66 If you win in more than one subject or track ‹
If you end up a winner or runner-up in more than one track or more than one subject, you must choose just one in which to exercise your entitlements.
Entering more than one subject is permitted and useful (it increases your chances), but in the end you'll choose one. Think early about which subject genuinely serves your future — not which one is easiest.
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhDPostdoc
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