Far Eastern Federal University
Дальневосточный федеральный университет
A seaside campus on Russky Island, Vladivostok, with English-taught medicine and a strong pull for Asian students.
- Students
- 22,077
- 18,596 undergraduates
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Tuition
- RUB 266K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1899
About FEFU
Far Eastern Federal University traces its history to the Oriental Institute, opened in Vladivostok by imperial decree in 1899 as the first higher education institution in the Russian Far East. The modern university was formed in 2010-2011 by merging Far Eastern National University, Far Eastern State Technical University, Pacific State Economic University and Ussuriysk State Pedagogical Institute. In 2012 its new campus on Russky Island hosted the APEC summit, and students moved in for the 2013-14 academic year.
FEFU had 22,077 students at the start of 2025-26, including 15,183 bachelor's, 3,413 specialist and 3,481 master's students, and around 4,400 international students, two-thirds of them from China and about 800 from India. It is organised into institutes and schools including the Polytechnic Institute, the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Technology, the Institute of the World Ocean, the Institute of Asian Studies, the School of Medicine, the School of Economics and Management and the School of Law, with its own medical centre on campus.
International students can take General Medicine, Dentistry, Biotechnology or International Relations in English, or a wider range of degrees in Russian after a preparatory year. FEFU suits students interested in Asia-Pacific studies, marine science or medicine who want a modern, self-contained campus by the sea.
Why students choose FEFU
Specialist degrees in General Medicine (250 places) and Dental Medicine are taught in English for international students, alongside Biotechnology and International Relations.
The Russky Island campus has dormitories, a medical centre, sports facilities, shops and free internal transport within walking distance of teaching buildings.
FEFU is the only Russian member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and its Institute of Asian Studies continues the Oriental Institute's tradition.
Russian government quota students study tuition-free and receive a monthly scholarship of RUB 3,000-9,000 at bachelor's level.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (2026-27 dates and fees shown as the latest published)
Selectivity
FEFU does not publish an acceptance rate. International applicants on contract places compete in a separate competition based on two entrance tests; CIS compatriots compete alongside Russian citizens.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate | Certificate of secondary general or vocational education with grades appendix, legalised or apostilled if required, with notarised Russian translation |
|---|---|
| English-taught Medicine and Dentistry | Entrance tests in Biology and Chemistry |
| Russian-taught programmes | Entrance tests in Russian as a foreign language and a programme subject; a certificate from a Russian course or preparatory faculty if you have one |
Deadlines
- CIS compatriots, state-funded places (2026 cycle) Non-binding Passed10 July 2026 (25 July if applying only on Russian Unified State Exam results)
The 10 July deadline applied to Design, Journalism, Physical Education and programmes with FEFU's own entrance tests.
- Contract places, separate competition for international applicants (2026 cycle) Non-binding Passed12 August 2026
Applications opened 20 June 2026; entrance tests 30 June-15 August; enrolment order 22 August. 2027 dates not yet published.
- Russian government quota Non-bindingSet by the quota competition organisers
Apply on the Education in Russia website; selection is run by Rossotrudnichestvo offices abroad.
These are FEFU's 2026 dates, the latest published; 2027 dates are usually similar. Family members accompanying students do not get visa support or dormitory places.
How to apply
Submit a full set of documents online through the Russian government's RuID app (or Gosuslugi if you have an account), each as a PDF with notarised Russian translations: school certificate with grades, passport and visa copy, and any Russian course certificate. FEFU then sends instructions for entrance tests, which can be taken online. Quota applicants apply instead through the Education in Russia website, naming FEFU as their priority university. Non-refundable application and document-examination fees apply.
What admissions looks for
- A complete, correctly legalised and translated set of documents submitted before the deadline.
- Passing scores in the two entrance tests for the chosen programme.
- Russian language ability for Russian-taught programmes, or a preparatory faculty certificate.
- A portfolio for creative and sports programmes such as Design, Journalism and Physical Education.
Tips for applying to FEFU
- 1 Apply through the RuID app and upload every document as a PDF with its notarised Russian translation; incomplete sets are not accepted.
- 2 If you do not speak Russian yet, ask for a preparatory faculty year when you apply for the government quota.
- 3 Consider the Open Doors olympiad, which FEFU lists as a route to a tuition-free place.
- 4 Budget for accommodation, insurance, travel and visa costs, which the government quota does not cover.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in RUB
All foreign applicants may apply for a Russian government quota, which covers tuition for the whole programme and pays a monthly scholarship (RUB 2,400 in the preparatory faculty, RUB 3,000-9,000 for bachelor's and specialist students) but not accommodation, travel, insurance or visa costs. Other tuition-free routes are the Open Doors olympiad and FEFU's own Ocean of Knowledge olympiad (in Russian). Sberbank and Gazprombank have offices and ATMs on campus.
- RUB 3,000-9,000
- Government quota monthly scholarship (bachelor's/specialist)
- RUB 2,400
- Government quota monthly scholarship (preparatory faculty)
- 250
- English-taught General Medicine places for 2026-27
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
General Medicine (in English)
FEFU's largest English-taught intake, 250 places for 2026-27 at RUB 500,000 a year, linked to the FEFU Medical Center on campus.
Dental Medicine
Offered in English (RUB 700,000 a year) and in Russian (RUB 600,000 a year).
International Relations
Taught in English or in Russian, drawing on the Institute of Asian Studies and FEFU's Asia-Pacific focus.
Biotechnology, Genetic and Cellular Engineering (in English)
Linked to the Advanced Engineering School for biotechnology, bioengineering and food systems.
Economics and Management (in Russian)
The biggest Russian-taught intakes for foreigners, with 215 Economics and 124 Management places at RUB 330,000 a year.
Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language
Russian-taught degrees in pedagogy and linguistics for students who want to teach Russian.
Research
- FEFU reports RUB 2.4 billion allocated to R&D projects run in 350 laboratories.
- Its research areas include oceanography, underwater robotics, Arctic research and the political and economic development of the Asia-Pacific.
- The FEFU Medical Center on campus opened in 2013 and provides specialised care, diagnostics and rehabilitation.
Schools & faculties
- Polytechnic Institute
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Technology
- Institute of High Technology and Advanced Materials
- Institute of the World Ocean
- Institute of Asian Studies
- Advanced Engineering School Institute of Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Food Systems
- School of Medicine
- School of Economics and Management
- School of Law
- School of Arts and Humanities
- School of Education
Student life
Most students live on the Russky Island campus, built for the 2012 APEC summit, in dormitory buildings with double rooms or suites for three or four people, shared kitchens on every floor and laundry rooms; rooms are cleaned weekly. Sports centres, cafes, shops, a medical centre and bank branches are all on campus, which has free internal transport and a park and embankment by the sea. FEFU also has dormitories in central Vladivostok. The campus hosted the first Eastern Economic Forum in 2015.
- Seafront campus with a park and embankment on Ajax Bay.
- Free shuttle transport within the campus.
- FEFU Medical Center and first-aid service on site.
- Sberbank and Gazprombank offices and 24/7 ATMs across campus buildings.
Housing. Dormitories on Russky Island offer double rooms and two-room suites for three or four students, with more dormitories in central Vladivostok; the government quota does not cover housing.
Location
Vladivostok, a port city of about 600,000 on the Sea of Japan, is the administrative centre of Primorsky Krai and the second-largest city in the Russian Far East. FEFU's campus is on Russky Island, linked to the mainland by the Russky Bridge, one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world. Vladivostok International Airport near Artyom is about 44 km from the city, roughly an hour by road.
Nearest airport: Vladivostok International Airport (VVO)
Notable alumni
- IL Ilya LagutenkoFounder and singer of the rock band Mumiy Troll; graduated from Far Eastern State University in Chinese (1992)
- PA Peter A. BoodbergRussian-American sinologist at UC Berkeley; studied Chinese at the Oriental Institute
- BP Boris PankratovSoviet sinologist and Mongolist; graduate of the Oriental Institute
- KS Kadyrbek SarbayevFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan; graduated from Far Eastern State University (1992)
- LK Leonid KorotkovFormer governor of Amur Oblast; graduated from Far Eastern University (1987)
- AC Aleksey ChekunkovRussian Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic; master's in state and municipal administration from FEFU
- MK Mikhail KimLenin Prize-winning permafrost engineer; completed the university's workers' faculty (preparatory, non-degree) in 1927
Frequently asked questions
Can I study medicine in English at FEFU?
Yes. General Medicine is offered in English with 250 places for 2026-27 at RUB 500,000 a year, and Dental Medicine in English at RUB 700,000 a year; the entrance tests are Biology and Chemistry.
How much does FEFU cost for international students?
For 2026-27, bachelor's and specialist programmes cost RUB 266,000 to 600,000 a year in Russian and RUB 400,000 to 700,000 a year in English.
Can I study at FEFU for free?
Yes, through the Russian government quota (applied for on the Education in Russia website), the Open Doors olympiad or FEFU's Ocean of Knowledge olympiad. The quota covers tuition and pays a small monthly scholarship, but not housing or travel.
When is the FEFU application deadline for international students?
In 2026, international applicants for contract places applied from 20 June to 12 August, with enrolment on 22 August. The 2027 dates are not yet published.
Where is FEFU's campus?
On Russky Island in Vladivostok, on the Sea of Japan, linked to the city by the Russky Bridge.
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.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- FEFU: Bachelor's and Specialist Degrees (documents and calendar for international applicants)
- FEFU: Programs in Russian for foreign citizens 2026-27 (fees and entrance tests)
- FEFU: Bachelor's and Specialist Degree in English 2026-27
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