Russia to offer 70 scholarships to Kurdistan Region students for 2025-2026 academic year

This scholarship program represents a significant opportunity for students in the Kurdistan Region to pursue higher education in Russia, fostering academic and cultural ties between the two regions.

In this aerial photo taken from a remote controlled helicopter the Savior of Spilled Blood Cathedral is bathed in light in St.Petersburg, Russia. (Photo: AP/Dmitry Lovetsky)
In this aerial photo taken from a remote controlled helicopter the Savior of Spilled Blood Cathedral is bathed in light in St.Petersburg, Russia. (Photo: AP/Dmitry Lovetsky)

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Russian government will provide 70 fully funded scholarships to students from the Kurdistan Region for the 2025-2026 academic year, as part of its broader initiative to support international education and cultural exchange.

This announcement was confirmed by the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Elbrus Kutrashev, on September 29, 2024.

The scholarship program, administered by the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs (Rossotrudnichestvo), is part of Russia's effort to offer 30,000 free scholarships to foreign students, including those from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Rossotrudnichestvo, operating under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, oversees international humanitarian cooperation and foreign aid, particularly within Central Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

However, despite the announcement, Abbas Akram, the spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, revealed that the ministry has not yet received the official letter confirming the scholarship offer.

Scholarship Terms and Conditions

To apply for the Russian government’s scholarship, candidates must meet several key requirements:

The applicant must be a citizen of the Kurdistan Region.

The passport must be valid for at least one and a half years.

High school graduates must have their graduation certificates approved in English or Arabic by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, and the Department of Foreign Relations of the KRG.

Master’s degree holders must have their certificates validated by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Justice, and the Department of Foreign Relations of the KRG, and then translated into Russian at the Russian Consulate.

Students who have previously completed their studies in Russia can submit their documents directly without further approvals.

For applicants who are employed by the KRG, specific guidelines must be followed:

Employees applying for master’s or PhD programs must have at least two years of service after obtaining their most recent degree.

The field of study for both master’s and PhD applicants must match their previous degree.

Employed applicants will be granted a study permit with basic salary and allowances, while the successful candidates will receive additional financial support from Russia, approximately $50, depending on the city and university.

Applications are made directly through the official scholarship website, meaning there is no need for applicants to visit government offices until the scholarship results are announced.

For more details on application procedures, prospective students can refer to the scholarship website.

This scholarship program represents a significant opportunity for students in the Kurdistan Region to pursue higher education in Russia, fostering academic and cultural ties between the two regions.