Admission

Application

Prospective students who wish to study at TUSUR must complete the following steps:

1. Choose one of the educational programs:
   • pre-university training program;
   • undergraduate level;
   • graduate level;
   • postgraduate programs;
     Admission to the pre-university program opens on May 1. Admission to degree programs opens on June 20.
2. Follow the application instructions and register for the entrance exams. Take the exams and demonstrate your knowledge. Admission to degree programs is competitive and is based on exam results and prepayment of tuition.
3. Once your admission is confirmed, contact the Division of International Cooperation to request your student visa invitation.
4. Receive your invitation letter for entry into Russia within one month after you apply.
5. Obtain a student visa from the Russian consulate in your country.
6. Before leaving for Tomsk, make sure all your education documents are in order:
   • the original education certificate and its official transcripts;
   • a legalized copy and a certified Russian translation of your education certificate and its official transcripts.
     Make sure your name in the Russian translation matches exactly the name on your student visa. If it does not, ask the translator to redo the translation.
7. Plan your arrival as close as possible to the start date of your program, but no later than two months before your visa expires.
8. Coordinate your arrival with university administrators in advance: pre-university course students should email inter@main.tusur.ru, and degree program students should email inter@tusur.ru.
9. Upon arrival in Tomsk, submit your documents for migration registration to the Passport Officer at your dormitory (passport and migration card).
10. Within 30 days of arrival, complete the mandatory medical examination and fingerprinting procedures.

Expenses

Tuition fees for full-time study at TUSUR for the 2026/27 academic year range from RUB 190,500 to RUB 250,500 per year for degree programs, and RUB 155,000 for the complete pre-university course. Tuition may be paid in monthly installments, per semester, or as a lump sum for the entire year, as specified in your study contract.

Living costs in Tomsk are much lower than in large cities. International students are provided with accommodation in university dormitories, with costs starting at about RUB 600 per month.

International students may also rent private accommodation, provided that their landlord provides official residence registration. Rent typically starts at around RUB 30,000 per month.

Lunch at a student café costs RUB 300–400, and a one-way public transport trip costs about RUB 38.

Visa extension costs RUB 6,000.

The migration medical examination costs RUB 7,500.

Another important expense for international students is medical insurance, which costs about RUB 5,000 per year. This insurance covers a wide range of medical services in the event of an insured incident.

Recognition of Foreign Education Certificates

For a foreign education certificate to be accepted as proof of prior education for admission, it must be reviewed against the standards established for the corresponding level of education. TUSUR carries out a preliminary review to determine whether a certificate can be accepted as is (usually where an intergovernmental agreement to that effect exists) or whether it must undergo the recognition and validation procedure under the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

This procedure is administered by the National Accreditation Agency. It involves submitting the applicant’s documents electronically for review and, once the preliminary check is complete, sending the original documents to Moscow for final verification. Once the procedure is complete, the applicant receives a certificate of equivalence for their level of education, which can be used to apply to any Russian university. The state fee payable to the National Accreditation Agency for this procedure is RUB 6,500.

Copies and translations used for the recognition and validation procedure must be duly notarized and legalized. The student’s name in any translation must match exactly the name on their visa.

About Tomsk

Things to know

The city of Tomsk was founded in 1604. It is situated in the eastern part of West Siberia, on the banks of the Tom River. The city has a population of about 500,000. Tomsk is the heart of Siberian science, education, and innovation. It is home to 6 major universities, 15 research institutes, and a Special Economic Zone.

Tomsk is serviced by the Bogashevo International Airport, which is located just 25 km away from the city.

Climate

Winters in Tomsk are very cold and summers are quite warm, as is typical of Siberia in general. The average January temperature is about -19°C, while the average July temperature is about +18°C. Cold days outnumber warm days throughout the year. Winters are snowy, and summers can be rather rainy. If you come from a much warmer country and plan to study in Siberia, be sure to bring warm clothes and shoes.

Friendly atmosphere

Tomsk is truly a city of students. There are six major universities here, and every fifth person is a student. Most of them come to Tomsk from other cities and countries to study. That is why, when you first arrive in Tomsk, you cannot help noticing how many young people there are around you. Walking along Lenina Avenue, you pass three universities in a row, each with its own identity, history, and distinct character.

The old city is brought to life by young voices, laughter, and music. Students have many favorite places in Tomsk, such as cycling clubs, dance clubs, coffee houses, sports grounds, and art theaters. Indeed, this colorful diversity is the essence of student life in Tomsk.

We are confident that Tomsk will leave you with a very pleasant impression. You will have a great time here in any season and will never forget the unique spirit of this city – the spirit of youth and energy combined with the wisdom and charm of its old streets.

Visa and invitation

Foreign nationals from outside the CIS need a Russian visa to enter the country. International students may enter Russia only with a student visa. Other visa types cannot be used for a long-term stay for full-time study or for accommodation in a university dormitory.

To obtain a Russian student visa, you must first receive a formal invitation from TUSUR. The invitation is issued electronically by the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the university’s request within one month of application and will be forwarded to you by a university staff member once it is available. To apply for a formal invitation, please contact the Division of International Cooperation at inter@tusur.ru.

The visa issued on the basis of an invitation is a single-entry visa valid for up to 90 days. Your student visa will be extended by the university after your arrival. Applications for visa extension must be submitted at least 40 days before the end date of the single-entry visa.

Please note that university invitations may not be used for tourist purposes.

Accommodation

Living costs in Tomsk are much lower than in large cities. International students are provided with accommodation in university dormitories, with costs starting at RUB 600 per month.

TUSUR dormitories are ranked by comfort level and available amenities, with apartment-style Dormitory No. 1 reserved for high-achieving and highly disciplined students.

Students may also rent private accommodation, provided that their landlord provides official residence registration. Average rent starts at around RUB 30,000 per month.

Education in Russia

The education system of the Russian Federation offers a wide selection of promising majors, as well as unique experience and diplomas recognized around the world. Russian education in the natural sciences and engineering is among the best and enjoys well-earned respect globally, making graduates highly competitive in the international market.

To prepare for programs taught in Russian, international applicants are first expected to complete a preparatory course, which usually lasts one year.

International applicants seeking a bachelor’s or specialist degree must have completed secondary education equivalent to secondary (full) general or secondary vocational education in the Russian Federation.

Those who wish to obtain a master’s degree should have completed a bachelor’s program in a relevant field.

Foreign nationals who have completed higher education and obtained a specialist or master’s degree may be admitted to postgraduate programs.

To be admitted to the university at any level of education, applicants must legalize their previous education documents and establish their equivalence to the relevant level in the Russian education system (see the “Recognition of Foreign Education” section).

International students who meet the curriculum requirements and successfully pass the final examinations receive state-standard diplomas for the relevant level of education and are awarded an academic degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or specialist).

Foreign postgraduate students who successfully complete postgraduate education and defend their Candidate’s dissertation are awarded the Candidate of Sciences degree and the corresponding state-standard diploma.

Foreign nationals who successfully prepare and defend their doctoral dissertation are awarded the Doctor of Sciences degree and the corresponding state-standard diploma.

Explore the educational offerings of Russian universities via the Study In Russia platform.

Migration legislation

To ensure that their stay in Russia is legal, international students must have a valid passport, migration card, student visa, residence registration, and medical documents throughout their studies. Russian migration legislation is very strict and regards expired documents as a serious violation that may result in large fines or deportation.

Upon entry into Russia, all foreign nationals receive a migration card, which must be kept together with their passport and registration.

Upon arrival in Tomsk, international students must obtain residence registration with the migration service. To do so, students living in university dormitories must visit the campus Passport Officer on the next day after arrival and submit their passport and migration card for registration. Students renting private accommodation must ask their landlord to provide them with migration registration within three days of arrival.

Registration must be renewed whenever a new visa is issued or the current registration period expires; renewal must be completed before the last day of the current registration period. Registration is cancelled and must be renewed after international travel, hospitalization, hotel stays, or termination of the dormitory accommodation agreement. Registration is cancelled if a student is expelled.

Within 30 days of arrival, international students must complete the mandatory medical examination and fingerprinting procedures. The medical examination must be renewed once a year.

Foreign nationals who lose their student status (whether because of completion or termination of studies) must leave the country within three days of the official completion/termination order, unless they have other grounds for staying, such as a residence permit.

Medical insurance

International students must have medical insurance for the entire duration of their studies. The university does not restrict students’ choice of insurance company, but recommends paying attention to the coverage amount, appointment booking methods (some insurers offer phone-only appointments, which can be difficult for students still learning Russian), and the list of partner hospitals.