By HT Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 13
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kathmandu has announced applications for 40 scholarships for Nepali citizens for the academic year 2026/2027.
The scholarships are available for bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate research programmes at various universities across Russia. Of 40 scholarships, five are allotted in the medical sciences. The list of participating universities and available programmess can be found on the official portal https://education-in-russia.com
The application process for foreign students started on September 15, 2025, and closes on January 15, 2026. The first phase of the selection process will be conducted by the Russian House in Kathmandu (Cultural Section of the Russian Embassy). The final selection of candidates will be made by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, in coordination with the respective Russian universities.
The Embassy has also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology of Nepal to disseminate the information widely among students and educational institutions.
Upon enrolling in the chosen Russian universities under the scholarship schemes, foreign students have to study a one-year course in the Russian language. Learning the Russian language is considered necessary to acquaint oneself with the Russian culture, society and lifestyle.
Scholarships enhance human resources in Nepal: Khokhlova
Anastasia Khokhlova, Director of the Russian House in Kathmandu, said that every year, scores of Nepali students go to Russia for higher education.
“By providing scholarships to Nepali students, Russia wants to develop human resources here. Russia is a global hub for quality education with affordable tuition fees and cost of living,” Khokhlova said.
More than 7,000 Nepalis have studied in Russia under its scholarship scheme since Nepal and Russia established their diplomatic ties in 1956. The Russian-graduated Nepali students have shone in diverse fields such as medicine, civil engineering, business and industry, contributing to the overall development of the country.
“This scholarship programme reflects a strong educational and cultural partnership between Russia and Nepal,” added Khokhlova.
Quality education and low cost of living
According to education-in-russia.com, in Russia, one can gain fundamental knowledge across a wide range of different fields of study and specializations, and Russian universities have centuries-old traditions and extensive experience working with international students—international applicants began to appear at Russian universities in the late 19th century.
Every year, over 300,000 students from around the world come to study at Russian universities, and this number is constantly growing. “This level of trust in the quality of Russian education makes the country one of the most popular destinations for international students,” stated.
Tuition fees at Russian universities are significantly lower than at universities in the US, Canada, and the UK. In 2020, tuition fees for full-time undergraduate programmes at Russian universities started at 83,000 rubles per year ($1,186), depending on the major. The maximum tuition at the country’s most prestigious Moscow universities reached 586,000 rubles per year ($8,371), according to the website.
Russia a melting pot of Asia, Europe
Education-in-russia.com said that modern Russia is a melting pot of Asia and Europe, a place where everyone can find a piece of home. “Throughout history, Russia has bordered a wide variety of countries and peoples, absorbing their traditions and values, resulting in a wide ethnic and cultural diversity.” Today, the country is home to over 200 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages and dialects.
Most universities provide dormitories for their students, so applicants don’t have to worry about rushing to find housing in a new country. Dormitory accommodation is either free or costs a nominal fee, which can’t be compared to, say, European prices.
It stated that overall, living expenses in Russia are lower than in Europe or North America. For example, a kilogram of apples in France costs 2.43 euros, in Greece 1.37 euros, while in Russia it’s only 0.74 euros. The difference is especially noticeable for students coming from countries where the official currency is the dollar or euro, due to the favorable exchange rate for the ruble.