In short
- The preparatory faculty teaches Russian and the subjects of your future degree, usually over one academic year.
- The year ends with exams in Russian and in your track subjects, and a certificate of completion.
- B1 (TORFL-1) is the usual level to start a bachelor's degree taught in Russian.
- The state quota usually includes the preparatory year if you need it.
If your degree will be taught in Russian and you do not speak Russian yet, you will usually start with a preparatory year. This guide explains what it involves and how to get ready.
What the preparatory year is
The preparatory faculty (подготовительный факультет) prepares international students for a degree taught in Russian. You learn the language and the subjects your future degree builds on, all in Russian.
Most programs last one academic year. Some last a year and a half. Under national rules, a program includes at least 2,160 academic hours, with at least 612 hours of Russian in class.
You need it if your degree is in Russian and your level is below what your university asks for. If your degree is taught in English, ask your university whether you need a preparatory year.
What you study
Russian is the main subject. You work on reading, writing, listening and speaking, and on the vocabulary of your future field.
You also follow a track that matches your degree, for example:
- medicine and biology
- engineering
- economics
- humanities
Each track teaches the school subjects your degree builds on, in Russian, such as biology and chemistry on the medical track. The exact list depends on the university.
Final exams and certificate
At the end of the year you take final exams in Russian and in the subjects of your track. If you pass, you receive a certificate of completion. Ask your university how it counts when you move on to your degree.
Russian levels and the TORFL test
TORFL (ТРКИ in Russian) is the standard test of Russian as a foreign language. Its levels match the European scale:
| TORFL level | European level |
|---|---|
| Elementary (TEU) | A1 |
| Basic (TBU) | A2 |
| TORFL-1 | B1 |
| TORFL-2 | B2 |
| TORFL-3 | C1 |
| TORFL-4 | C2 |
B1 is the usual level needed to start a bachelor’s degree taught in Russian. Below B1, lectures and textbooks are hard to follow. Some master’s programs, and language fields, ask for B2 or C1. Check the level your program requires and how the university tests it.
Dates, the state quota and work
Start dates
The academic year begins on 1 September. Preparatory programs usually start later, often between late September and November, and many universities accept late arrivals. Ask your university for its exact dates before you book a flight.
The state quota
If you win the Russian Government scholarship (state quota) and need Russian, the scholarship usually covers the preparatory year as well as your degree. The application window usually runs from mid-September to mid-January, and our admissions guide explains the steps.
If you pay for your studies, fees vary by university, program and city. Check the current amount on the university’s official website.
Work
During the preparatory year you are not yet in a state-accredited degree program. This means you can work without a work permit only:
- during the holidays, or
- at your own university or its companies.
Once you start a full-time, state-accredited degree, you may also work in your free time. Parts of the work rules are due to change in 2027. Read our work guide and check the current rules before you accept a job. Plan your budget without counting on regular work.
Get ready before you leave
The more Russian you know when you arrive, the easier your first weeks will be.
- Learn the Cyrillic alphabet. It has 33 letters. Some look like Latin letters but sound different: Р is “r” and Н is “n”.
- Learn everyday phrases: greetings, numbers, prices and directions.
- Take a course. RusBridge runs Russian courses from A0 to B1, plus Russian for medical students and for engineers. See our Learn Russian page.
- Speak every week. Our weekly online speaking club, with native speakers and volunteers, is free for RusBridge students.
Your next step
Read our admissions guide to see how to apply, including for the state quota. If you would like help planning your year, tell us about it through the Start Your Journey form. We will reply by email, in your language.
Your preparatory year checklist
Before you act on this guide
Rules, fees and dates change. Check the official sources below, or ask us and we will help you confirm what applies to you.