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中文 Greetings, I am writing in hopes of receiving guidance on the application process and requirements for foreign nationals. I am 25 years old, currently reside in Canada, although I was born in Kazakhstan and my father is looking into the possibility of reobtaining his Russian passport and we are considering the possibility of relocating to Russia. I was wondering when taking into consideration an application, in this case would you be looking at high-school credentials if I do not have a post-secondary degree? In other words, would my acceptance to your institution be hindered by a lack of post-secondary education considering my age?
Thank you for you time,
Kind regards
The answer of Aleksandr Babich, Vice‑Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions:
Thank you for your interest in St Petersburg University.
International applicants have a right to be accepted for study at St Petersburg University both on places funded by the Russian Government (within the framework of the quota established by Decree No. 2150 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 18.12.2020) and on fee-paying (contractual) places.
The admissions to St Petersburg University for international applicants on places funded by the Russian Government in academic year 2025/26 are held in the form of the Open International Olympiad for Foreign Students (admission to bachelor’s and specialist’s programmes).
For academic year 2025/26, the application period for participation in the Olympiads lasts to February 19, 2025. All the necessary for participation documents must be submitted via the Personal Account.
The list of the Olympiad subjects with the descriptions of Olympiad tasks and the list of correspondence between the Olympiad subjects and the educational programmes of the according level are published on the SPbU Admissions Committee official website.
The results of the Olympiads will be published no later than March 14, 2025.
According to paragraph 1.7 of "Regulations for the Open International Olympiad for Foreign Students" international applicants, stateless citizens, including compatriots residing abroad, can participate in the Open International Olympiad for Foreign Students if:
- They are studying in Russian Federation or abroad the educational programmes, corresponding to the level of general secondary education or secondary vocational education, and will complete their studies of these programmes in 2025.
- They have already completed the educational programmes, corresponding to the level of general secondary education or secondary vocational education, in Russian Federation or abroad, do not have a higher education degree and will not complete a higher education programme in 2025.
There are no age requirements both for admission on places funded by the Russian Government and for admission on fee-paying (contractual) places.
Information on admission to fee-paying (contractual) basis is published on the official website of the Admissions Committee. The application period for fee-paying (contractual) basis in 2025 will be from 21 April 2025 to 25 June 2025. The lists of applicants who are recommended for admission at St Petersburg University on places under contracts for the provision of paid educational services based on the results of the competitive selection in 2025 will be published no later than 21 July 2025.
The list of available educational programmes and entrance examinations for admission of international applicants to fee-paying (contractual) basis is published on the SPbU Admissions Committee official website.
Tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year will be published on the SPbU Admission Committee official website no later than June 1, 2025.
The majority of the degree programmes of St Petersburg University are implemented in Russian. For foreign citizens who want to improve their Russian language skills, St Petersburg University implements an additional educational programme "Preparatory Department (for International Applicants)" and courses in Russian as a foreign language.
If you need any further information, feel free to contact International Admissions Office of the University by e-mail: admission@spbu.ru, or phone: +7 (812) 363-66-33.