Kazan Federal University

About Kazan (Volga region) Federal University

Kazan Federal University is an acknowledged center of academic excellence engaged in various forms of international cooperation. The second oldest university in Russia, it offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs taught in English. Find out more here.

Over 10,500 international students from around 101 countries are enrolled on academic programs at Kazan Federal University. The university’s international outlook is also reflected in both research and exchange opportunities – KFU students and faculty members participate in bilateral research and exchange programs with 370+ partners in 70 countries. With Kazan Federal University, which has always been considered as a bridge between East and West, you can discover a world of ideas, diversity and culture. You will learn, grow, and explore your potential both in and out of the classroom.

KFU is ranked among the top 350 universities in the world, in the QS World University Rankings® 2021-2022. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, it’s in the global top 100 for engineering – petroleum, top 150 for education, top 200 for linguistics, history and english language, and top 250 for modern languages. KFU has also been rated five plus overall in the QS Stars evaluation system.

Famous alumni of the university include the acclaimed novelist Leo Tolstoy, the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, the chemist Alexander Butlerov (whose name was given to a crater on the moon), Nikolay Zinin and many more.

The mission of Kazan Federal University has been set forth as:

- development of a strong research and academic hub with the support of innovative regional and country development by providing world class academic programs, research and technological development;

- development of competitive human resources in the Volga Region, the most dynamically developing region in Russia in the fields of petrochemistry, biotechnology, IT and machine building.

- promotion of Kazan as a creative city and world class academic center, preservation and development of its unique cultural and educational heritage in the ethnically and religiously diverse transitional region between Europe and Asia.

ADMISSION

Undergraduate

Russia’s Kazan Federal University (KFU) offers a broad selection of bachelor’s programs (222 by total), including:

• Bachelor’s degree in “Economics. International Business”;
• Specialist degree in “General Medicine” and “Dentistry”;
• Bachelor’s degree in “Petroleum Engineering”;             
• And many more fascinating courses, listed here!

Undergraduate programs at KFU last four years if studying full-time, and usually involve 26 to 30 hours of study time per week.

Admission requirements

To apply for an undergraduate degree at Kazan Federal University, you must:

1. Have completed your secondary education;
2. Prove your Russian language proficiency (minimum TORFL-1);
3. Pass KFU’s entrance exam (a Russian language test, plus tests in two basic subjects relevant to the academic field chosen).

KFU provides courses in Preparatory school for those students who have little or no knowledge of the Russian language before they begin Russian-taught degree programs. Within 10 months of pre-university instruction, students gain the Russian language proficiency that meets the demands of CEFR level B1 or TORFL level 1, study in a chosen academic field (“professional profiles”) and adapt to the new educational environment and routine life. Upon completing Preparatory School, students are expected to be ready to enter the Russian-taught full-degree programs at KFU and other Russian institutions of higher education. Full information about available programs can be found here.

Postgraduate

Russia’s Kazan Federal University (KFU) offers a great number of master’s degrees and doctoral programs, including:

• Mathematics;
• Fundamental Informatics and Information Technologies (Data Science);
• Geology (Stratigraphy of Oil and Gas Basins);
• Petroleum Engineering;
• And many more programs, listed here.

Master’s degree programs at KFU require two years of full-time study and the duration of PhD programs is 3 years of full-time study.

Admission requirements for master’s degree

To be eligible for a master’s degree program at Kazan Federal University, you must:

1. Have completed a bachelor's degree (or specialist diploma);
2. Prove your Russian language proficiency (minimum TORFL-2) – if the program is taught in Russian;
3. Pass the entrance examination, which features a Russian language test and a test in basic subject relevant to the academic field chosen.

KFU provides courses in Preparatory school for those students who have little or no knowledge of the Russian language before they begin Russian-taught degree programs. Within 10 months of pre-university instruction, students gain the Russian language proficiency that meets the demands of CEFR level B1 or TORFL level 1, study in a chosen academic field (“professional profiles”) and adapt to the new educational environment and routine life. Upon completing Preparatory School, students are expected to be ready to enter the Russian-taught full-degree programs at KFU and other Russian institutions of higher education. Full information about available programs can be found here.

Admission requirements for doctoral programs

In Russia the doctoral degree system is two-tier: First doctoral degree (“Candidate of Science in …”) and Second doctoral degree (“Doctor of Science in …”).

Admissions for first doctoral degree:

• Specialist diploma or a master’s degree;
• Russian language proficiency (min torfl-2).

Studies last 3 years and they prepare students for research and professorial activities. Students must acquire skills in teaching methods and information technology, and pass qualifying exams in foreign language, history of sciences and in specialization. The program includes independent research as well as preparation and public defense of a thesis. After graduation students get diploma of a researcher and after preparation and public defense of the thesis, the candidate is awarded the first doctoral degree (“Candidate of Science”).

Second doctoral degree is an individual program with no fixed duration. It follows the degree “Candidate of Science”. After advanced research, preparation and public defense of the thesis, the candidate is awarded the second doctoral degree (“Doctor of Science”).