Altai State University
Алтайский государственный университет
The first multidisciplinary university of Russia's Altai Krai, teaching in Russian in the Siberian city of Barnaul since 1973.
- International
- 27%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18.5:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- RUB 124.9K
- 2023-24
- Founded
- 1973
About AltSU (ASU)
Altai State University opened in September 1973 in Barnaul as the first multidisciplinary university in Altai Krai, in southern Siberia. It started with five faculties (history and philology, law, economics, chemistry and biology, physics and mathematics) and has grown into a classical university with institutes of biology and biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceutical technology, digital technology and physics, economics and management, geography, history and international affairs, humanities, law, and mathematics and IT, plus branches in Biysk, Belokurikha, Rubtsovsk and Slavgorod.
The university reports more than 30 applied research laboratories and centres, 15 of them joint laboratories with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, four research institutes and a library of more than one million items. Priority research areas include agro-bio industry, biotechnology, ecological monitoring of the Altai region and mathematical modelling.
Teaching is in Russian only: the university states that admission tests and teaching in foreign languages are not provided, so most international students first take a one-year Russian language course. It suits students from Russian-speaking countries and Central and East Asia who want a low-cost classical degree in Siberia. International applicants should check their own government's travel advice first; the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), for example, advises against all travel to Russia (advice updated 18 September 2026).
Ваше будущее начинается здесь!
“Your future starts here!” — university motto
Why students choose AltSU (ASU)
Full-time bachelor's tuition in Biology or Chemistry was RUB 62,445 per semester in 2023-24, with discounts of 3-15% for high entrance scores.
A one-year Russian as a foreign language course prepares students to enter a degree programme.
15 joint laboratories with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences support student research.
Student clubs include a tourist club, an archaeological club and a literature and music club, with access to Krasilovo Lake and the South-Siberian Botanical Garden.
Admissions
2027 intake (latest published details from the 2024-25 English admission pages)
Selectivity
No acceptance rate is published. Russian applicants compete on Unified State Exam (USE) scores for state-funded and fee-paying places; paid places require at least the minimum passing USE scores. Foreign applicants submit legalised documents and proof of Russian proficiency.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate | With transcript, legalised, recognised if required and translated into Russian with notarisation |
|---|---|
| Russian language | Documentary proof of Russian proficiency; a one-year Russian course is available for those who need it |
| Medical certificate | Including HIV test, Wassermann reaction and chest X-ray results |
Deadlines
- Visa support application (previous cycle) Non-binding1 June
Deadline stated on the university's English admission page for the application form needed for visa support.
- Document submission window (previous cycle) Non-binding20 June to 29 September
Electronic or in-person submission to the Admission Board.
Dates are from the university's archived English admission page (last modified 10 July 2024). The visa-support page carries a 2017 modification date, so treat the 30-40 business-day processing time as indicative. The university's site could not be reached directly on 2026-09-30; confirm 2027 dates and the current fee list with the International Relations Office.
How to apply
Send the application form to the International Relations Office before 1 June for an invitation letter (processed via the migration service in about 30-40 business days), then apply for a Russian study visa at a consulate. Submit your documents to the Admission Board between 20 June and 29 September, electronically or in person; originals must be presented in person in Barnaul.
What admissions looks for
- A completed secondary education with legalised and translated documents.
- Proof of Russian proficiency, since all teaching and entrance tests are in Russian.
- For Russian applicants, USE scores in the required subjects.
- A medical certificate with the required tests.
Tips for applying to AltSU (ASU)
- 1 If your Russian isn't strong, apply for the one-year Russian as a foreign language course at least 3 months before it starts.
- 2 Send the application form before 1 June: the invitation letter for your visa takes 30-40 business days.
- 3 High entrance-exam totals (200+) cut fee-paying tuition by 3-15%.
- 4 Check your government's current travel advice and confirm with the International Relations Office how fees can be paid from your country.
Costs & financial aid
2023-24 · figures in RUB
Russian citizens compete for state-funded places on USE scores. Fee-paying tuition can be paid once, yearly or (in hardship) per semester, and is reduced by 3%, 7.5% or 15% for entrance totals of 200-219, 220-239 or 240+. The university also lists support for orphans and low-income graduates and state-supported education loans. The university states tuition may be paid in one payment for the whole period, per year, or per semester in difficult financial circumstances (assessed individually).
- 3% (200-219 points), 7.5% (220-239), 15% (240+)
- Entrance score discount on paid tuition
- 10 (vs 120 state-funded)
- Fee-paying places, Biology bachelor's
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters
Biology
A 4-year full-time programme with profiles in botany and molecular genetics, zoology, bioecology, physiology and biochemistry; 120 state-funded places.
Chemistry
Theoretical and experimental chemistry with 50 state-funded places, in an institute that also offers pharmacy and chemical technology.
Biotechnology
Linked to the university's research priority in agro-bio industry and biotechnology.
Geography
Draws on geo-ecological monitoring of the Altai region, one of the university's priority research areas.
Russian as a foreign language course
One-year preparatory course that brings international students to the level needed for degree study.
Research
- More than 30 applied research laboratories and centres, 15 of them joint laboratories with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
- Four scientific research institutes and a library of more than one million items.
- A Russian-American Anti-Cancer Center listed among the university's major research projects.
Schools & faculties
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology
- Institute of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology
- Institute of Digital Technology, Electronics and Physics
- International Institute of Economics, Management and Information Systems
- Institute of Geography
- Institute of History and International Affairs
- Institute of Humanities
- Law Institute
- Institute of Mathematics and IT
Student life
Student life is based in Barnaul, where the university's main buildings line Lenin Avenue. Students can join the Business Incubator, the Tourist Club, the Intellectual Movie Club, the literature and music club Heart Strings or the Archaeological Club, and use the university's base at Krasilovo Lake and the South-Siberian Botanical Garden. There is an Association of International Students, a volunteer centre, student government and student hostels, and students on the Russian course can use the hostel, library, gym and student polyclinic.
- Association of International Students.
- Clubs from tourism and archaeology to film and music.
- Krasilovo Lake and the South-Siberian Botanical Garden.
- Member of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) University network.
Housing. The university has student hostels; students on the Russian language course can live in the hostel.
Location
Barnaul is the main city of Altai Krai in southern Siberia. The university's main buildings are on Lenin Avenue (Prospekt Lenina 61) in the city. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia (advice updated 18 September 2026, still current on 30 September 2026), citing risks including security incidents and a lack of flights; check your own government's guidance before applying.
Nearest airport: Barnaul Airport (BAX)
Notable alumni
- AE Andrey ErstBotanist and senior researcher at the Central Siberian Botanic Garden
- EK Elena KozlovaActress, lead in To Russia With Love (2022); bachelor's degree from Altai State University
- NO Nina OstaninaState Duma deputy; chair of its committee on family protection since 2021
- MP Maria PrusakovaState Duma deputy since 2021
- MB Mikhail BorshchyovMember of Russia's Federation Council since 2024
Frequently asked questions
Does Altai State University teach in English?
No. The university states that entrance tests and teaching in foreign languages are not provided; international students usually take a one-year Russian language course first.
How much is tuition at Altai State University?
The most recent figure confirmed is for 2023-24: fee-paying full-time bachelor's places in Biology and Chemistry cost RUB 124,890 a year (RUB 62,445 per semester), according to the university's June 2023 price list. We could not find a 2026-27 price list; fees for other programmes and years are on the university's paid-education (sveden) page and each programme page.
How do I get a visa to study at Altai State University?
Send the application form and a passport copy to the International Relations Office (before 1 June); an invitation letter takes about 30-40 business days, after which you apply at a Russian consulate.
When are applications due?
In the latest published cycle, documents were accepted from 20 June to 29 September, and visa support applications were due by 1 June.
Is it safe to study in Russia?
Check your government's current advice before applying. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Russia (advice updated 18 September 2026, still current on 30 September 2026), citing risks including security incidents such as drone attacks, a lack of flights and limited ability to provide consular support.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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