Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University
Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет
One of Russia's oldest universities, founded in 1804, where Lobachevsky built non-Euclidean geometry and Butlerov organic chemistry.
- Students
- 52,000
- International
- 22%
- of students
- Tuition
- RUB 245.7K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1804
About KFU
Kazan Federal University was founded in 1804 as Imperial Kazan University, making it one of Russia's oldest universities, and was designated a federal university by a 2009 presidential decree, absorbing several other Tatarstan institutions. Its history is tied to major scientific firsts: Nikolai Lobachevsky developed non-Euclidean geometry while working there (and served as rector from 1827 to 1846), Karl Claus discovered ruthenium, Aleksandr Butlerov developed the theory of chemical structure, and Yevgeny Zavoisky discovered electron paramagnetic resonance.
Today KFU is a large comprehensive university with over 52,000 students, about 11,500 of them international students from 101 countries, and over 4,000 teaching and research staff. It has 18 educational units in Kazan, including institutes of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Geology and Petroleum Technologies, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Mechanics, and Information Technology, plus branches in Naberezhnye Chelny, Yelabuga, Jizzakh (Uzbekistan) and Cairo.
Most programmes are taught in Russian, and many international students first spend a year at the Preparatory School learning the language. A small set of English-taught degrees exists, notably General Medicine and a bachelor's in International Business. KFU suits students who want a historic, science-heavy university with low living costs and are willing to study in Russian.
Why students choose KFU
KFU is joint 468th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and 51-100 in the world for Petroleum Engineering in the QS 2026 subject rankings.
English-taught options include six-year General Medicine and a four-year International Business bachelor's, alongside hundreds of Russian-taught programmes.
About 11,500 international students from 101 countries study there, and many live in the Universiade Village dorm complex built for the 2013 Summer Universiade.
Dormitory places cost about 670 to 1,250 roubles a month, and entrance exams for most programmes can be taken online.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (dates below are from the 2026 admission campaign, now past)
Selectivity
KFU does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Russian applicants compete for budget-funded (tuition-free) places on Unified State Exam (EGE) scores; international applicants on fee-paying contracts must pass KFU's internal entrance exams, and budget places for foreigners are available through the Russian government quota.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate (any country) | Completed secondary education with transcript, notarised Russian translation, and recognition of the foreign certificate where required; admission is decided by entrance exam results |
|---|---|
| Russian Unified State Exam (EGE) | Programme-specific subject scores; higher EGE totals can also qualify for reduced fees on paid places |
| KFU Preparatory School certificate | For students who need to learn Russian first; completing it does not exempt you from entrance exams |
| English language | KFU states that no language certificate is required for Russian- or English-taught programmes; language skills are evaluated during the entrance exams. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor's/Specialist applications with internal exams, 2026 (past) Non-binding Passed20 June to 25 July 2026
Registration and document submission window for applicants taking KFU's internal entrance exams (including international fee-paying applicants).
- Consent to enrolment, 2026 (past) Non-binding Passed3 August 2026, 12:00
Signed consent to enrolment for applicants who took internal exams; first enrolment order dated by 20 August 2026 for contract students.
The 2027 admission dates have not been published yet; the dates above are from the 2026 campaign and have passed. Entry to Russia for September starters usually begins from 15 August; the Preparatory School also has a February intake.
How to apply
Register and apply online: through the Gosuslugi government portal (if you have a Russian SNILS number), through the RUID system, or via KFU's applicant portal (newlk.kpfu.ru). Upload your passport (valid at least 18 months), notarised Russian translations of your passport and school documents, and a photo; sit the entrance exams; then sign the contract and pay 100% of the first year's tuition within 7 days. KFU issues the student visa invitation after enrolment, taking about 40 to 45 days.
What admissions looks for
- Passing results in KFU's internal entrance exams for your programme (or EGE scores for Russian applicants).
- A complete application with correctly notarised Russian translations of your passport and education documents.
- A passport valid for at least 18 months from the intended entry date.
- For Russian-taught programmes, enough Russian to succeed in the exams, often gained at the Preparatory School.
Tips for applying to KFU
- 1 Apply directly through KFU's official channels: the university warns that no agent can speed up registration and that there are no student ID or library fees.
- 2 Budget for paying the full first year upfront: the contract must be paid within 7 days and the visa invitation is only issued after enrolment.
- 3 If you plan to study in Russian, consider the Preparatory School first, but note it does not exempt you from entrance exams.
- 4 Government-quota scholarships exist for some programmes, but English-taught programmes are not covered.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in RUB
Foreign nationals can apply for tuition-free study under the Russian government quota (about 15,000 places a year nationally), via Rossotrudnichestvo, Russian diplomatic missions or the Education in Russia portal; these do not cover English-taught programmes. KFU also reduces fees for winners of its international olympiads and, for Russian students, for high EGE scores.
- About 15,000 tuition-free places a year for foreign nationals across Russia
- Russian government quota scholarships
- RUB 670 to 1,250 per month
- Dormitory rent
- RUB 653,400 per year; RUB 3,920,400 for the full programme
- English-taught General Medicine (6 years)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (September to June)
General Medicine (English-taught, specialist degree)
A six-year programme at the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, with access to a University Clinic of 836 beds.
Petroleum Engineering
KFU is 51-100 in the world for Petroleum Engineering (QS 2026 subjects), with an English-taught master's and PhD.
Chemistry
Taught at the Butlerov Institute of Chemistry, home of the Kazan school of organic chemistry.
Mathematics
At the Lobachevsky Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics, named after the founder of non-Euclidean geometry.
International Business (English-taught bachelor's)
A four-year English-taught degree at the Institute of Management, Economics and Finance.
Teacher education
KFU ranks 86th in the world for Education and Training (QS 2026 subjects) and 3rd in Russia in RAEX 2024.
Research
- Birthplace of non-Euclidean geometry (Lobachevsky), the theory of chemical structure (Butlerov) and electron paramagnetic resonance (Zavoisky).
- The Nikolai Lobachevsky Scientific Library holds over 5 million items, including 150,000 old and rare ones.
- KFU takes part in Russia's Priority 2030 programme and runs a Center for Liquid Hydrocarbons.
Schools & faculties
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology
- Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies
- Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry
- Institute of Physics
- Nikolai Lobachevsky Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics
- Institute of Information Technology and Intelligent Systems
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and System Engineering
- Institute of Management, Economics and Finance
- Institute of International Relations
- Leo Tolstoy Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication
- Institute of Psychology and Education
- Faculty of Law
Student life
International students mostly live in the Universiade Village, a 20-building dorm complex built for the 2013 Summer Universiade that houses over 9,000 KFU students from more than 100 countries, or in older dormitories close to the city-centre campus. Rooms are shared by two to four students, and the Village has sports grounds, a canteen, a supermarket and a post office. Sport is organised under Kazan Yulbars, the university's athletics body, and there is a Student Club for music, dance and other arts, plus 10 university museums and a planetarium.
- Universiade Village dorm complex of 20 buildings, housing over 9,000 KFU students.
- Kazan Yulbars ('Kazan Tigers') student sports teams and the UNICS sports complex.
- 10 museums, including the Museum of History of Kazan University and the Zavoisky Lab-Museum.
- A Preparatory School for international students learning Russian.
Housing. KFU provides dormitory places for non-local students subject to availability, at RUB 670 to 1,250 per month for shared rooms in the Universiade Village or the city-centre dormitories.
Location
Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, on the Volga River, a city of Russian and Tatar culture with a UNESCO-listed Kremlin. The university's historic Main Building is on Kremlyovskaya Street in the city centre, and most of the older dormitories are also central; the larger Universiade Village dorm complex was built for the 2013 Summer Universiade.
Nearest airport: Kazan International Airport (KZN)
Notable alumni
- NL Nikolai LobachevskyMathematician who founded non-Euclidean geometry; studied at and later led Kazan University as rector
- LT Leo TolstoyNovelist (War and Peace, Anna Karenina); studied law and oriental languages at Kazan University from 1844 but left without a degree
- VL Vladimir LeninBolshevik revolutionary and first head of the Soviet government; studied law at Kazan University in 1887 until his expulsion
- AB Aleksandr ButlerovChemist who developed the theory of chemical structure; graduated in 1849 and later became rector
- MB Mily BalakirevComposer and leader of 'The Five'; entered the university as a mathematics student in 1853
- YZ Yevgeny ZavoiskyPhysicist who discovered electron paramagnetic resonance; studied physics at Kazan University from 1926
- SA Sergey AksakovWriter and memoirist; among the university's first students in 1805
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at Kazan Federal University in English?
Yes, but only a few programmes are English-taught, including General Medicine, Dentistry (English in years 1-2), International Business and Software Engineering. Most degrees are taught in Russian.
How much does Kazan Federal University cost for international students?
For 2026-27, first-year fees for students from visa countries run from about RUB 245,700 (Chemistry) and RUB 282,000 for many bachelor's programmes up to RUB 653,400 for English-taught General Medicine. Fees are paid a year in advance.
Do I need IELTS or a Russian language certificate?
No. KFU says no language certificate is needed; your language skills are assessed through the entrance exams.
Can I take the entrance exams online?
Yes for most programmes. General Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Clinical Psychology require you to sit the exams in person in Russia.
Are there scholarships for international students?
The Russian government offers quota places with free tuition for foreign nationals, but they cover only some programmes and not English-taught ones.
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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