Universities in Russia ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 370 Universities in Russia

The Russian Federation is divided into 85 federal subjects, including republics, krais, oblasts, cities of federal significance, an autonomous oblast, and autonomous okrugs. The majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The following uniRank league tables and sub-rankings consider all federal subjects that include at least one Russian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Adygeya Republic (2)  
Altai Krai (6)  
Altai Republic (1)  
Amur Oblast (4)  
Arkhangelsk Oblast (2)  
Astrakhan Oblast (4)  
Belgorod Oblast (3)  
Bryansk Oblast (3)  
Chechen Republic (1)  
Chelyabinsk (1)  
Chelyabinsk Oblast (7)  
Chuvash Republic (3)  
Dagestan Republic (5)  
Ingushetia Republic (1)  
Irkutsk Oblast (6)  
Ivanovo Oblast (6)  
Kabardino-Balkar Republic (2)  
Kaliningrad Oblast (2)  
Kalmykia Republic (1)  
Kaluga Oblast (1)  
Kamchatka Krai (2)  
Kemerovo Oblast (5)  
Khabarovsk Krai (6)  
Khakassia Republic (1)  
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra (3)  
Kirov Oblast (3)  
Komi Republic (2)  
Kostroma Oblast (1)  
Krasnodar Krai (5)  
Krasnoyarsk Krai (6)  
Kurgan Oblast (1)  
Kursk Oblast (3)  
Lipetsk Oblast (3)  
Magadan Oblast (1)  
Mari El Republic (2)  
Mordovia Republic (1)  
Moscow (66)  
Moscow Oblast (3)  
Murmansk Oblast (2)  
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (7)  
North Ossetia-Alania Republic (5)  
Novgorod Oblast (1)  
Novosibirsk Oblast (9)  
Omsk Oblast (7)  
Orenburg Oblast (4)  
Oryol Oblast (2)  
Penza Oblast (4)  
Perm Krai (5)  
Primorsky Krai (5)  
Pskov Oblast (1)  
Republic of Bashkortostan (5)  
Republic of Buryatia (3)  
Republic of Karelia (2)  
Rostov Oblast (7)  
Ryazan Oblast (4)  
Saint Petersburg (32)  
Sakha Republic (2)  
Sakhalin Oblast (1)  
Samara Oblast (8)  
Saratov Oblast (5)  
Smolensk Oblast (1)  
Stavropol Krai (5)  
Sverdlovsk Oblast (9)  
Tambov Oblast (4)  
Tatarstan Republic (10)  
Tomsk Oblast (6)  
Tula Oblast (2)  
Tuva Republic (1)  
Tver Oblast (3)  
Tyumen Oblast (3)  
Udmurt Republic (4)  
Ulyanovsk Oblast (3)  
Vladimir Oblast (1)  
Volgograd Oblast (5)  
Vologda Oblast (3)  
Voronezh Oblast (6)  
Yaroslavl Oblast (6)  
Zabaykalsky Krai (2)  

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Overview of Russia Universities

Russia's higher education system features a diverse network of institutions established over centuries. The sector is dominated by public universities funded by the federal government, complemented by a smaller private sector. Key characteristics include:

• Types: Comprehensive universities (broad disciplines) and specialized institutions (focus on fields like technology, economics or physics)
• Research Focus: Many top institutions carry "National Research University" status
• Degrees: Follows the Bologna Process with Bachelor's (4 years), Master's (2 years) and Doctoral programs
• Language: Primarily Russian-taught programs, with growing English-medium options

Top 10 Russia Universities

1. Moscow State University (Московский государственный университет) - MSU. Ranked #1 in Russia, #222 globally. Located in Moscow. Public research university founded in 1755. Comprehensive institution offering STEM, humanities and social sciences programs at all academic levels.
2. National Research University Higher School of Economics (Национальный исследовательский университет "Высшая школа экономики") - HSE. Ranked #2 in Russia, #299 globally. Located in Moscow. Public research university established in 1992. Specialized in economics, social sciences and business with comprehensive expansion. Offers bachelor's to doctoral programs.
3. St. Petersburg State University (Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет) - SPSU. Ranked #3 in Russia, #489 globally. Located in Saint Petersburg. Public research university founded in 1724. Comprehensive institution providing diverse programs across all study levels.
4. ITMO University (Санкт-Петербургский национальный исследовательский университет информационных технологий, механики и оптики) - ITMO. Ranked #4 in Russia, #758 globally. Located in Saint Petersburg. Public research university established in 1900. Specialized in information technology, optics and engineering. Offers bachelor's through doctoral degrees.
5. Ural Federal University (Уральский федеральный университет) - UrFU. Ranked #5 in Russia, #838 globally. Located in Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Public research university founded in 1920. Comprehensive institution offering diverse programs at all academic levels.
6. Tomsk State University (Томский государственный университет) - TSU. Ranked #6 in Russia, #851 globally. Located in Tomsk, Tomsk Oblast. Public research university established in 1878. Comprehensive institution providing STEM, humanities and social sciences programs.
7. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (Российская академия народного хозяйства и государственной службы при Президенте РФ) - RANEPA. Ranked #7 in Russia, #860 globally. Located in Moscow. Public research university founded in 1977. Specialized in public administration, economics and business programs across all study levels.
8. Kazan Federal University (Казанский государственный университет) - KFU. Ranked #8 in Russia, #862 globally. Located in Kazan, Tatarstan Republic. Public research university established in 1804. Comprehensive institution offering diverse academic programs.
9. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Московский физико-технический институт) - MIPT. Ranked #9 in Russia, #943 globally. Located in Moscow. Public research university founded in 1946. Specialized in physics, technology and applied mathematics. Offers bachelor's through doctoral programs.
10. Synergy University (Университет «Синергия») - MFPA. Ranked #10 in Russia, #947 globally. Located in Moscow. Private university established in 1995. Specialized in business, entrepreneurship and technology programs across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Analysis of University Types

Russia's higher education landscape shows strong public sector dominance:

• Total universities: 370
• Public universities: 339 (91.6% of total)
• Private universities: 19 (5.1% of total)
• 12 institutions (3.3%) have unreported control type

Public institutions receive significant state funding and typically have larger research portfolios, while private universities often specialize in business and technology fields.

Global Ranking and Standing

Russian universities demonstrate growing global competitiveness:

• 0 universities in the global top 200
• 11 universities in the global top 1,000 (3% of Russia's total institutions)

Top-ranked Russia universities globally concentrate in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, with federal universities in regional hubs like Kazan and Yekaterinburg gaining prominence in international rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Russia's #1 ranked university?
Moscow State University consistently ranks as Russia's top higher education institution.

Are Russian degrees recognized internationally?
Yes, Russian degrees from accredited institutions are globally recognized, especially in STEM fields.

Do Russian universities teach in English?
Many top Russian universities offer English-taught programs, particularly at master's and doctoral levels.

How much does tuition cost in Russia?
Public universities offer lower tuition (typically $3,000-$7,000/year) than private institutions ($4,000-$10,000/year).

Which Russian cities have the best universities?
Moscow and Saint Petersburg host most top-ranked institutions, followed by Tomsk, Kazan and Yekaterinburg.

What are Russia's strongest academic fields?
Russia excels in physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science and space-related technologies.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Russian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Russia
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Russian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Russia
  Search for Russian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Russian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Russian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Russia
  Discover Russian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Russia
  Find out about Russian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Russia
  Explore Russian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Russia
  Look for Russian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Russian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Russia have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Russian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Russia that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Russian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Russia are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Russian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Russia with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.