In this edition of the Russian Education Forum’s blog, we share our observations on the top Russian universities for Chinese and Kazakh students. These two countries are Russia’s most key markets for international education. As far as we know, Chinese people place more value on international education than locally acquired education.
Similarly, Kazakhstan is Russia’s 1st largest supplier of students. And where China sent just under 29617 students, the fourth-highest total, good for an 11% market share. However, almost 61462 students from Kazakhstan join Russia to study in 2020, 22.8% of total Kazakh students enrolled in Russian universities over a year.
In addition, Citizens of Kazakhstan who want to study at a Russian university can enter the country with their passports. And no visa is necessary. Kazakhstani students applying for admission to Russian universities must have identification. Proof of citizenship, a high school diploma, a health certificate, photographs, and consent to enrolment. Specific documentation standards can vary by university. So check with the university you’ve chosen for more details.
Kazakh people can participate with a successful ranking (EGE) in university tailor-made entrance tests/Unified State Exams. The list of entrance exams is available on the university’s website. A prospective Kazakh student can take the EGE from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science-accredited school or education center in their home country. The EGE website includes exam information.
The annual total number of foreign students enrolled in Russian universities in the 2019/2020 academic year was 315 000. It records about 8% of Russia’s overall student population. According to open data released by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. More than 4 million students were enrolled in Russian universities as of December 2020. For comparison, the number of foreign people studying in Russia in the 2014/2015 academic year was 183000.
For Chinese and Kazakh students moving to Russia, university education has long been the main attraction.
Popular Universities in Russia For Chinese and Kazakh Students
As seen in the lists below, Chinese and Kazakh students are attracted to prestigious universities and large cosmopolitan cities. For several years, this has made Moscow and Saint Petersburg the top destinations in Russia for these students. However, 2020 was no different.
RUDN University: In 2020, of all Russian higher education learning institutions, RUDN University was the top pick for Chinese and Kazakh students. Similarly, Its sterling international prestige and central position in the center of Moscow’s bustling downtown make it a highly appealing destination for students from all over the world. RUDN University is a multidisciplinary institution. Further, brings together over 33,000 undergraduate, doctoral, and postgraduate students, residents, and interns from 157 countries. In addition, the university’s main aspect is its multi-nationality. RUDN has established 5 Centers of Russian Language and Pre-University Training at universities in China, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Jordan, and Morocco.
Kazan Federal University: Kazan Federal University (KFU), like RUDN, is a renowned institution situated in Kazan city of the Volga region. Among Chinese and Kazakh Students KFU was the next choice in the 2020 academic year. Over the last decade, the number of Kazakh and Chinese students in KFU has been progressively increased with a growth rate of 9.13% in 2019.
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University: For decades, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) has had a successful international education and research collaboration with a variety of global higher education and research institutions, as well as manufacturing firms. In 2020, SPbPU, which is located in St. Petersburg, the province’s picturesque capital, got over 175 student applications from China and Kazakhstan. However, this was a decrease of 4.8 % from the previous year.
HSE University: Consistently ranked as one of Russia’s top universities, the Higher School of Economics (HSE) is a landmark in Russian education. And is one of the preeminent economics and social sciences universities in eastern Europe and Eurasia. Over the past two decades, HSE has steadily developed into a well-known academic university, and it distinguishes itself by its international presence and collaboration. Consequently, HSE University was just behind the SPbPU on top elite with the highest search university among Chinese and Kazakh Students. In 2020 HSE received above 165 student applications from these countries.
Statistics say that 33.8% of prospective international students are from China and Kazakhstan.
The list of university-based on the popularity rankings for Chinese and Kazakh students incorporates Ural Federal University, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Sechenov University, Saint-Petersburg State University, National Research Tomsk State University, and Far Eastern Federal University respectively. And are popular among many international students as well.
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global educational world has changed drastically since these figures were published. Meanwhile, China and Kazakhstan have had the best results of any country in combating the virus. Allowing students in those countries to study at university once more. Russia’s effort to stop the virus from spreading may be the biggest x-factor.
