University olympiad · Years 9–11 · Remote qualifier
The RSUH Olympiad for School Students
Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH)
The olympiad of the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow — in history, Russian language, foreign languages, literature and social studies. Explicitly open to those studying abroad, free to enter, with a remote qualifying stage.
The qualifier is remote, 13 – 27 January, and the final is 21 – 22 February 2027, in person in Moscow — budget the travel now.
128 days left until it opens1 December 2026
Can you apply? Read this first
🟢 You can take part from outside Russia — this is stated outright: the regulation says participation is open to those studying on basic and secondary general education programmes, “as well as persons studying these programmes abroad” (за рубежом). So you are inside the text, not an exception to it. 🔴 But read this line before you prepare anything: the benefit the olympiad page highlights — admission to RSUH without entrance exams — is granted, in the official wording, “where they hold a ЕГЭ result in the subject corresponding to the olympiad profile of no less than 75 points”, and it is for Russian citizens who completed the year-11 tasks. ↳ And ЕГЭ is the Russian state exam — as an international student outside Russia you most likely won't sit it. Which means that benefit is, frankly, not available to you in practice. 🏛️ And your route is a different one — and a stronger one: the olympiad is listed on the Russian Ministry of Science's approved list for 2026/27 (the school students' list) — the list of olympiads whose winners and prize-winners may apply for the Russian government quota. A completely different basis, and nothing to do with ЕГЭ. ↳ So before you prepare: ask the organising committee in writing what is granted to non-Russian citizens — and build your plan on the quota route.
6trackshistory · Russian · foreign languages · literature · social studies
2stagesremote qualifier · in-person final
9–11school yearseligible to take part
Free“no participation fee is charged”
The opportunity
What is this olympiad?
«Олимпиада РГГУ для школьников» — an olympiad run by the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH) in Moscow, one of Russia's most established humanities universities. All the tracks are humanities: history, Russian language, foreign languages (English, German, French), literature and social studies.
It splits into two stages: a remote qualifier (13 – 27 January) and an in-person final at the university in Moscow (21 – 22 February). And participation is free — the official wording: “no fee is charged for participation in the Olympiad”.
🔴 And the thing you need to know from the start: this olympiad has two different benefits, and only one of them is yours. Read the box above — the difference saves you a whole season.
The potential prize
What could you reach?
🏛️ A route into the Russian government quota — the olympiad is listed on the Ministry of Science's approved list for 2026/27, the list of olympiads whose winners and prize-winners may apply for the quota. This is your route.
➕ 3 individual-achievement points when applying to RSUH for anyone scoring 20 points or more — per the official page.
💚 Participation is completely free — “no fee is charged for participation”.
📚 Real experience in a humanities olympiad, and a certificate that strengthens your file in any other application.
🔴 And the most important warning on this page: the benefit the official page highlights — admission without entrance exams — is not available to you in practice: it is conditional on a ЕГЭ result of no less than 75 points and is for Russian citizens. And ЕГЭ is a Russian state exam you most likely won't sit. Don't prepare a season for that benefit. What concerns you is the quota route — backed by the ministry's list, with the ministry issuing the study referral. Winning opens the door, and the last decision is an official one.
How to apply
How do you apply?
Registration is on the olympiad's own portal — not the university's general site:
Create an account on school.rggu.ru — from 1 December 2026
Choose your track from the humanities tracks (history · Russian · languages · literature · social studies)
Sit the remote qualifying stage 13 – 27 January 2027
If you pass: attend the final in person in Moscow, 21 – 22 February — and sort your visa early
🔴 And before all of that: email [email protected] and ask in writing what is granted to non-Russian citizens
📜 The full regulation «Положение об Олимпиаде 2026-2027» is published as a PDF on the official page — read it before you register, especially the benefits clause.
🔴 And if your route is the quota: verify for yourself that the olympiad is on the ministry's list for the year you're applying in. The lists are updated every season and being listed is not permanent.
1 December 2026 – 11 January 2027 at school.rggu.ru.
2
The qualifying stage (remote)
13 – 27 January 2027 — you can take part from your own country.
3
The final stage (in person in Moscow)
21 – 22 February 2027 at the university. If you're outside Russia that means travel and a visa — plan early.
📌 These dates are from the official page and «Положение об Олимпиаде 2026-2027» at the time of writing (27 July 2026). And participation is free per the regulation's own text.
✉️ For direct contact with the organising committee: [email protected] — and that is the best place to ask exactly what is granted to non-Russian citizens.
Tracks
The tracks
The tracks (профили) exactly as announced on the official page:
History (История)Russian language (Русский язык)Foreign languages — EnglishForeign languages — GermanForeign languages — FrenchLiterature (Литература)Social studies (Обществознание)
Eligibility
Who can take part?
🎓
School years 9 · 10 · 11
Those studying on basic and secondary general education programmes.
🌍
🟢 And those studying abroad — in the text
The regulation says “as well as persons studying these programmes abroad” (за рубежом). So there is no residence-in-Russia requirement to take part.
🏠
And even home education
The text covers those studying “in the form of family education or self-education” — unusual flexibility.
🔴
But the headline benefit is ЕГЭ-conditional and for Russian citizens
“Special rights and advantages are granted to winners and prize-winners where they hold a ЕГЭ result… of no less than 75 points”, and for Russian citizens who completed the year-11 tasks. Your route is the quota, not this.
🏛️
And it's on the ministry's quota list
The olympiad is listed on the approved list for 2026/27 — that is the backing that opens your door.
Common questions
Tap any question to open the answer ▾
💬I'm outside Russia — can I even take part?▾
Yes, and it's stated outright. The regulation says participation is open to those studying on basic and secondary general education programmes, “as well as persons studying these programmes abroad”. And the qualifying stage is remote, so you can do it from your own country. But the final is in person in Moscow (21–22 February) — budget travel and a visa.
💬🔴 I read that winning gives “admission without entrance exams” — does that apply to me?▾
Most likely not — and read this carefully before you prepare. The official text says special rights and advantages are granted to winners and prize-winners “where they hold a ЕГЭ result in the subject corresponding to the olympiad profile of no less than 75 points”, and for Russian citizens who completed the year-11 tasks.
ЕГЭ is Russia's unified state exam — an international student studying outside Russia generally doesn't sit it. So that benefit is not available to you in practice, even if you win.
🟢 But your route exists and is stronger: the olympiad is on the Ministry of Science's quota list, and winning opens the door to applying for the Russian government quota — and that basis has nothing to do with ЕГЭ.
💬So what should I do to be sure?▾
Email the organising committee at [email protected] and ask in writing: “I am a foreign national studying outside Russia — what exactly would I be granted if I win?” That is a completely legitimate question and you have every right to the answer before you spend a season preparing. Ask about the quota-route procedure specifically too.
💬Does participation cost money?▾
No. The regulation's own text: “no fee is charged for participation in the Olympiad”. Any payment request from a third party has nothing to do with the organisers.
💬And if I don't win — is there anything in it for me?▾
Yes: the official page says anyone scoring 20 points or more is credited with 3 individual-achievement points when applying to RSUH. And the experience itself — a humanities olympiad in Russian shows you your real language level before you bet a whole season on it.
💬What are the tracks?▾
All humanities: history · Russian language · foreign languages (English, German, French) · literature · social studies. If your field is scientific, this olympiad isn't your route — see our other pages.
Everything here is taken from the official page rsuh.ru and «Положение об Олимпиаде 2026-2027» at the time of writing (27 July 2026), and the quota listing is from the Ministry of Science's approved file for 2026/27. And remember the difference: the benefit highlighted on the university's page is ЕГЭ-conditional and for Russian citizens, while your route is the quota. The olympiad is competitive and not guaranteed — the official site is always the final reference.
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There are months before registration — use them on your Russian, and email the organising committee to ask about the route for non-Russian citizens. And if you sign up with us we'll alert you the moment the door opens.
