A Crib Sheet For Rankings Of Russian Universities 2020

Who takes the top spot?

Russia is a country of great opportunities. And that’s not about the size of its territory. Russian universities take an active part in national and global rankings continuously improving the quality of education and developing science and technology. Such ranked lists give extra help to applicants choosing a university. What should we focus our attention on using them as a reference? Let’s see how it works with major rankings.

Statistics show that university brand awareness on the global stage is one of the key incentives for attracting applicants. Top universities are always on everyone’s lips. To date, over a third of students have used international rankings to choose their university*. If you keep an eye on these mysterious lists too but have a fear of digging too deep into scientific descriptions and figures, follow our tips on reading global tops called the Big Three.

* According to the Hobsons international agency

Times Higher Education, THE

It rates the quality of teaching and research, the level of knowledge and innovation dissemination, and income.

1,400 universities from 92 countries
47 Russian universities

World University Rankings QS

It rates academic reputation, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, graduate employment prospects, etc.

1,002 universities from 80 countries
28 Russian universities

Academic Ranking Of World Universities, ARWU

It is particularly useful to those planning to build a research career. The universities participating in ARWU are rated depending on their research level. ARWU takes into consideration the volume of publications in top journals, the number of highly cited researchers, international co-authorship, the number of staff winning prestigious awards.

1,000 universities of the world
11 Russian universities

Looking into one or another global ranking, we should always remember that universities are rated as scientific centers first. So, such rankings are targeted at those applying for Master’s and PhD degrees outside their country.

Rating agencies publish their research findings annually. Traditionally, Lomonosov Moscow State University has been a leader among Russian universities. It is followed by nearly the same universities taking positions in a different order and in different rankings.

Here Are Some Of These Universities:

• Belgorod State University*
• Higher School of Economics*
• Far Eastern Federal University
• Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University
• Moscow State Institute of International Relations
• Bauman Moscow State Technical University
• Lomonosov Moscow State University
• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology*
• Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod*
• Novosibirsk State University*
• Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
• Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas*
• Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia
• D.Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
• Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
• Saint Petersburg State University
• Saint Petersburg Mining University
• Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
• St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University)*
• Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
• National University of Science and Technology MISIS*
• National Research Tomsk State University*
• Tomsk Polytechnic University*
• Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin
• National Research Nuclear University MEPhI*

* National Research University

Let’s Try Another Tack

If you’ve already resolved to choose a particular field of study, delve into subject rankings (and rankings by broad subject area) from the same Big Three. Let’s take some subject areas and see which universities are good at them according to ARWU.

How Do We Use Rankings?

First, you should always bear in mind that rankings are a kind of beacon in the ocean of higher education that helps you single out a suggested pool of universities and then familiarize yourself with the university websites.

Why Do We Need National Rankings?

To find out how universities are positioned in national rankings, you should address the most prestigious ones such as RAEX-100, Interfax, National Aggregate Ranking.

To get more detailed information on a university, it's not enough to rely on global rankings. And here is why. For example, Clinical Medicine, one of the world’s most popular fields of study, is represented in global rankings by the only Russian university – Lomonosov Moscow State University, while Russia has dozens of medical universities that offer a wide variety of programs in Medicine and Healthcare, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, which are popular and sought-after fields of study. You will find out about these universities from national rankings.

Let's look at some other examples. Another popular field – Meteorology – refers you to Top 3 largest classical universities, while Russia boasts specialized Russian State Hydrometeorological University that implements programs and conducts research in such an important and interesting area as Arctic Research, in particular.

This also holds true for agricultural science or a broader area i.e. life sciences. There are no references to specialized agrarian universities that can be found in almost every region and develop numerous fields of study important to the Russian and regional economies.

Why is this all happening? Global academic rankings are primarily focused on universities’ research achievements as well as the highest academic achievements of university graduates and teachers.

Lucrative Compensation

And finally, for the most patient readers, we suggest estimating how much they can earn with a diploma from one of the top Russian universities. The ranking of salaries (in Moscow) of specialists who graduate from engineering, law, and economics universities is compiled annually by the SuperJob portal. Let’s see how the universities are ranked by their graduates’ salary (over 100,000 rubles) in one of the sectors.

• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology* - ₽ 180,000 / ≈ $ 2,332**
• Bauman Moscow State Technical University - ₽ 160,000 / ≈ $ 2,073**
• St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University)* - ₽ 160,000 / ≈ $ 2,073**
• Lomonosov Moscow State University - ₽ 155,000 / ≈ $ 2,008**
• National Research Nuclear University MEPhI* - ₽ 150,000 / ≈ $ 1,943**
• Higher School of Economics* - ₽ 145,000 / ≈ $ 1,879**
• Novosibirsk State University* - ₽ 140,000 / ≈ $ 1,814**
• Saint Petersburg State University - ₽ 135,000 / ≈ $ 1,749**
• Moscow Power Engineering Institute* - ₽ 125,000 / ≈ $ 1,620**
• National University of Science and Technology MISIS* - ₽ 115,000 / ≈ $ 1,490**
• Moscow Aviation Institute* - ₽ 115,000 / ≈ $ 1,490**
• Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University - ₽ 115,000 / ≈ $ 1,490**
• Bonch-Bruevich Saint-Petersburg State University of Telecommunications - ₽ 110,000 / ≈ $ 1, 425**
• National Research University of Electronic Technology* - ₽ 110,000 / ≈ $ 1, 425**

We thank our respected experts: Alexei Chaplygin, Head of National University Ranking Group, Interfax, and Oleg Solovyev, Editor of Round University Ranking (RUR), for useful tips for applicants and assistance in preparing this article. /

If the university of your dream is ranked among the world’s top universities in prestigious rankings, be ready to meet high standards. Go for it and good luck!

* National Research University
** At the exchange rate of the Central Bank of Russia as of September 25, 2020