Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Финансовый университет при Правительстве Российской Федерации
A Moscow university built on a century of training finance, banking and economics specialists.
- Tuition
- RUB 350K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1919
- QS World Ranking
- 1001-1200
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About Financial University (FinU)
The Financial University traces its history to the Moscow Institute of Economics and Finance, which the university says was established on 31 October 1918 and formally opened on 2 March 1919. After mergers and renamings (Moscow Finance Institute in 1946, State Finance Academy in 1991, Finance Academy under the Government in 1992) it took its present name in 2010. The university says it has graduated more than one million alumni.
Its own description lists 8 faculties, 52 departments, 8 research institutes, 13 academic and research centres, a Business School, 2 colleges and a lyceum. Bachelor's programmes last 4 to 5 years (60+ programmes), master's programmes 2 to 2.5 years (75+ programmes) and PhD studies 3 years (15+ programmes). The university reports 2,000 international students and 100+ partner institutions in 37+ countries.
Programmes cluster around finance, economics, management, public administration, law, information technology, taxation and audit. Entrance exams are set per programme and usually combine Mathematics and Russian Language with a third subject. A handful of programmes are taught in English, including the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), International Finance and Global Politics. The university suits students aiming at banking, finance or economic policy who are ready to study in Russia.
Why students choose Financial University (FinU)
A long-established specialisation in finance: its own explanation traces the institution back to 1919 and describes a shift from a finance and banking institute into a large research and educational complex.
English-taught bachelor's options, including the BBA, International Finance, Global Politics, International Business: Taxes and Analytics, and Public Relations in Politics and Business.
Hall of residence places (1,182 for students admitted in 2025) with no prepayment required; payment is made on check-in.
A Preparatory Faculty, pre-university courses, a Buddy Program and a dedicated International Students and Faculty Department for migration and visa support.
Admissions
Most recent published cycle (2026 entry dates, year not stated on the page; 2027 dates not yet published)
Selectivity
The university does not publish a single acceptance rate. Places are divided into tuition-free (state-funded) and paid places for each programme, with competitive lists published during the admission campaign.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign school certificate | Foreign education documents go through recognition by the Financial University itself (preliminary and final review); start by emailing the International Admissions Office |
|---|---|
| Entrance examinations | Per programme; typically Mathematics and Russian Language plus one of Informatics, History, Social Studies or a Foreign Language |
| English language | No language test score is published on the pages we retrieved. Russian Language is one of the entrance examinations for most programmes; a few programmes are taught in English. The university offers a Preparatory Faculty, pre-university courses and language courses. |
Deadlines
- Tuition-free places: document submission20 June to 16 July
Entrance examinations 18 to 25 July; enrolment consent by 5 August, 12:00; enrolment order 7 August. Year not stated on the page; dates are the most recent published cycle.
- Paid tuition placesDocuments from 20 June to 20 September
Entrance examinations 22 July to 20 September; contract signing by 30 September. Year not stated on the page; dates are the most recent published cycle.
The Bachelor's page lists these dates without a year. The paid-place dates (September) have passed for 2026, so they appear to describe the 2026 cycle. Dates for 2027 entry were not yet published; check the admissions page.
How to apply
Apply online through the applicant account at anketa.fa.ru and submit documents in the stated window. Applicants with foreign qualifications must first have their education recognised by the university (email interpriem@fa.ru with the recognition request). Foreign applicants can apply for tuition-free places under the Russian Government (Ministry of Science and Higher Education) quota, or for paid places by contract. The admissions office for foreign applicants is on Leningradsky Prospekt 51/1, Moscow.
What admissions looks for
- Results in the entrance examinations required for the chosen programme.
- Individual achievements, which the university counts in the admission process (see its individual achievements page).
- For foreign applicants, recognised foreign education documents and a full document package.
- A completed application submitted within the stated window.
Tips for applying to Financial University (FinU)
- 1 Check the examination subjects for your programme: the list differs by field of study (for example Social Studies for Tourism and Law).
- 2 If you hold a foreign school certificate, start the recognition procedure early by emailing interpriem@fa.ru.
- 3 Consider the Preparatory Faculty or pre-university courses if you need to build your Russian before starting.
- 4 Do not prepay for a hall of residence place: the university warns of fraud on social networks and says payment is only made on check-in.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in RUB
Foreign applicants may apply for tuition-free places under the Russian Government (Ministry of Science and Higher Education) quota; the university lists pre-admission of international applicants under this quota. Discounts on tuition fees are listed on a separate page, and the university publishes a regulation (Order 1583/o) on paying tuition in instalments or with a deferral. Tuition is paid through the university's online payment system or by bank receipt; there is no need to email a scan of the receipt. The university's payment form asks for the contract number and date and the payer's passport details exactly as on the ID document, and its page says payments through that form can only be made in Moscow.
- Online payment system or bank receipt; no need to email a scan of the payment receipt
- Payment methods
- 1,182; no prepayment, pay on check-in
- Hall of residence places for 2025 entrants
- RUB 3,398 to 3,682 per person per month for foreign students, depending on the hall
- Hall of residence fee, 2025-26 price list (Order 1968/o)
Academics
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), taught in English
Listed at RUB 590,000 a year in the first column; 65 paid places and 15 tuition-free places.
International Finance, taught in English
Faculty of International Economic Relations, RUB 590,000 a year in the first column.
Global Politics, taught in English
Political Science programme at RUB 460,000 a year in the first column.
Economics and Finance
Faculty of Finance, among the programmes with the most tuition-free places (116 listed).
Law
Faculty of Law, with 154 tuition-free places listed.
Applied Information Systems in Economics and Finance
Faculty of Information Technology and Big Data Analysis, priced lower than most finance programmes.
Research
- The university reports 8 research institutes, 13 academic and research centres and 18 laboratories.
- It has developed 13 bachelor's and 14 master's standards of its own; about 80 percent of programmes follow them.
- It reports 100+ partner institutions in 37+ countries and 30+ international exchange programmes.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Higher School of Management
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Finance
- Faculty of International Economic Relations
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Information Technology and Big Data Analysis
- Faculty of Taxation, Auditing, and Business Analysis
- Institute of Open Education
The university says all programmes are designed in close collaboration with partner employers and that 75 percent of bachelor's and master's programmes have external independent assessment marks, including international and professional-public accreditation.
Student life
The Student Council organises over 100 leisure, educational, social and sports events and projects a year, including a 'Freshman Quest', the University Gala and the Urban Fest street culture festival. The university lists 16 creative teams and studios, including the University Choir, the student theatre FUNT and several dance groups, and 11 student clubs such as chess, debating and case study. A Volunteer Center supports event volunteering.
- Student Council with 100+ events a year.
- 16 creative teams and studios.
- 11 student clubs including Zebra Chess and Debating.
- A Buddy Program and a Coordinator project for first-year adaptation.
Housing. Halls of residence in block, single-room, apartment and mixed types; 1,182 places for students admitted in 2025, allocated first-come, first-served through the Accommodation Service, with payment on check-in. The 2025-26 fee schedule (Order 1968/o, scanned PDF) lists RUB 3,398 to 3,682 per person per month for students on full-cost places, including foreign students, depending on the hall.
Location
The university's main building is on Leningradsky Prospekt in Moscow, near the Aeroport metro station, and the International Admissions Office is at Leningradsky Prospekt 51/1. Several halls of residence are in other parts of the city, including on Bolshaya Galushkina Street, Kerchenskaya Street and Butyrskaya Street.
Notable alumni
- BF Boris FedorovEconomist and reformer; former Russian finance minister and deputy prime minister. Wikipedia says he was awarded a doctor of economics degree by the Moscow Finance Institute (the university's earlier name)
- AZ Arseny ZverevSoviet finance minister (1938-1948 and 1948-1960); attended the Moscow Institute of Finance and Economics 1931-32 and graduated from the Moscow Finance Institute in 1949 (per Wikipedia)
- AS Anton SiluanovRussian finance minister since December 2011; graduated from the Moscow Finance Institute in 1985. Wikipedia's Financial University article also lists him as dean of the university's Finance Faculty
- MP Mikhail ProkhorovBusinessman; graduated from the Moscow Finance Institute in 1989 (per Wikipedia)
- AA Andrey AkimovBanker; earned his degree at the Moscow Financial Institute in 1975 and later chaired the management board of Gazprombank (per Wikipedia; current title not verified)
- BZ Bella ZlatkisBanker and former deputy finance minister of Russia; listed as an alumna, with a Sberbank deputy chairmanship, on Wikipedia's Financial University page (undated)
Frequently asked questions
Can international students get a free place at the Financial University?
Foreign applicants may apply for tuition-free places under the Russian Government (Ministry of Science and Higher Education) quota; the university lists pre-admission for this quota. Otherwise they sign a paid contract.
How do I pay tuition at the Financial University?
Through the online payment system or by bank receipt; the university says there is no need to email a scan of the payment receipt.
Are there English-taught programmes?
Yes, including the BBA, International Finance, Global Politics and International Business: Taxes and Analytics. Most other programmes list Russian Language as an entrance examination.
Do I need to pay in advance for a hall of residence?
No. The university says no prepayment is required and warns of fraud; payment is made on check-in.
What is the QS ranking of the Financial University?
It is in the 1001-1200 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027 and in the 1001-1200 band of THE 2026.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Financial University (FinU) in the QS World University Rankings 2027.