National University of Science and Technology MISIS
Национальный исследовательский технологический университет МИСИС
Moscow's steel-and-alloys institute turned technology university, strongest in materials science, metallurgy, mining and IT.
- Students
- 11,100
- International
- 13%
- of students
- Tuition
- RUB 386K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1918
About NUST MISIS
NUST MISIS began in 1918 as part of the Moscow Mining Academy, became an independent institute in 1930 and was long known as the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys. It received national research university status in 2008. The university describes itself as a leader in creating and implementing new technologies and materials, with strong positions in subject rankings for materials science, metallurgy, mining, engineering and IT.
MISIS has more than 11,100 students, 13% of them international from more than 80 countries. Teaching is organised in 10 colleges offering more than 75 majors, among them the College of New Materials, College of Mining, College of Computer Sciences, College of Physics and Quantum Engineering and College of Biomedical Engineering, and the university has six branches, four in Russia and two abroad. It runs 45 laboratories and three engineering centres, and partners with large industrial companies in metals, mining and nuclear energy.
Bachelor's programmes are taught in Russian, so international applicants either sit MISIS entrance exams or join the preparatory department first; eight Master's programmes are taught in English. MISIS suits students aiming for engineering, materials or IT careers who are prepared to study in Russian in Moscow.
Why students choose NUST MISIS
Specialist strengths in metallurgy, materials science and mining, with programmes such as Metallurgy, Nanomaterials and Mining; MISIS says many of its metallurgy tracks are taught only at MISIS.
International students can study tuition-free through the Russian Government quota, which also covers the preparatory year for students who do not speak Russian.
Winners and prize-winners of the Open Doors Olympiad can enrol in free Bachelor's, Master's and PhD places.
Bachelor's fees for 2026 entrants start at RUB 386,000 a year, and quota students pay RUB 2,500-3,769 a month for dormitory places.
Admissions
Bachelor's entry, autumn 2027 (government quota applications open 15 September 2026; 2026 dates shown for fee-based entry)
Selectivity
MISIS does not publish an admission rate. Tuition-free places go to the highest total scores; 2025 passing scores (three Unified State Exam subjects, out of 300) ranged from about 216 for Mining to 284 for Computer Science, with 270 for Economics and Management.
Typical entry requirements
| Russian Unified State Exam (USE) | 2025 passing scores for tuition-free places, out of 300: Computer Science 284, Applied Mathematics 283, Economics 270, Physics 253, Metallurgy 228, Mining 216 |
|---|---|
| Foreign school-leaving certificate | Accepted with transcript, legalised (apostille or consular legalisation) and with a notarised Russian translation; applicants take MISIS entrance exams |
| English language | Not applicable to Bachelor's programmes, which are taught in Russian. Students who are unsure of their Russian can join the preparatory department for foreign citizens; English-taught study is available at Master's level (8 programmes). |
Deadlines
- Fee-based Bachelor's via MISIS entrance exams (2026 cycle) Non-binding Passed31 July 2026
Applications opened 20 June 2026.
- Fee-based Bachelor's via USE results (2026 cycle) Non-binding Passed18 August 2026
Applications opened 20 June 2026.
- Russian Government quota (non-CIS countries) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027
Register on education-in-russia.com between 15 September 2026 and 15 January 2027; the deadline for CIS countries, Abkhazia, Ukraine and South Ossetia is 15 December 2026.
Quota dates are for autumn 2027 entry. The fee-based dates are from the 2026 cycle; MISIS had not yet published 2027 dates, so expect a similar late-June to August window.
How to apply
Fee-paying applicants submit scans of their passport, school certificate and transcript with notarised Russian translations, take MISIS entrance exams online or on campus, then sign a training contract and pay at least one semester of fees; MISIS then issues the visa invitation, which takes 5-6 weeks. Government quota applicants register on education-in-russia.com, choose a MISIS programme as their priority (plus up to five backups), upload their documents and attend selection tests or an online interview at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture or embassy.
What admissions looks for
- High scores in the programme's entrance subjects, through the USE or MISIS's own exams.
- Correctly legalised school documents with notarised Russian translations.
- For quota applicants, success in Rossotrudnichestvo's selection tests or interview, plus academic results and individual achievements such as diplomas, certificates and publications.
- Enough Russian to study, or willingness to complete the preparatory programme first.
Tips for applying to NUST MISIS
- 1 If you want free tuition, register for the government quota on education-in-russia.com as early as possible after 15 September 2026 and put MISIS as your first priority.
- 2 Try the Open Doors Olympiad: winners and prize-winners can enrol in free places.
- 3 Allow time for an apostille or consular legalisation of your school certificate; foreign documents cannot be used in Russia without it.
- 4 Fee-paying students must pay at least one semester before the visa invitation is issued, so plan the payment and the 5-6 week invitation process before the autumn start.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in RUB
The Russian Government quota covers full tuition for the whole programme, including preparatory courses for students who do not speak Russian, and pays a monthly scholarship; each quota student gets a dormitory place at RUB 2,500-3,769 a month. Winners of the Open Doors competition can also enrol tuition-free. Fee-paying students sign a training contract with MISIS after passing the entrance exams and must pay for at least one semester before MISIS sends the visa invitation (usually 5-6 weeks after payment).
- Full tuition covered, plus a monthly academic scholarship
- Government quota
- RUB 2,500-3,769 a month
- Dormitory for quota students
- Usually 5-6 weeks
- Visa invitation after first payment
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Metallurgy
The field MISIS was built on; the university says many of its tracks are taught nowhere else. 50 tuition-free places, fee RUB 459,000 (2026).
Mining
145 tuition-free places across the subject group, taught by the College of Mining; fee RUB 510,000 (2026).
Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials
Materials science degree with 50 tuition-free places; fee RUB 510,000 (2026).
Computer Science and Engineering
155 tuition-free and 270 fee-based places in the subject group, and the highest 2025 passing score (284).
Applied Mathematics
60 tuition-free places and a 2025 passing score of 283.
Advanced Materials (Master's, in English)
One of eight English-taught Master's programmes, covering metals, alloys, semiconductors and perovskite photonics.
Research
- 45 laboratories and three engineering centres working with Russian and international scientists.
- Industrial partners include United Metallurgical Company, Metalloinvest, ROSATOM, Norilsk Nickel and Severstal.
- The Advanced Engineering School MAST is one of the university's ten colleges.
Schools & faculties
- College of Technologies
- College of New Materials
- College of Economics & Management
- College of Computer Sciences
- College of Mining
- College of Basic Professional Studies
- College of Biomedical Engineering
- College of Physics and Quantum Engineering
- Advanced Engineering School MAST
- College of Lifelong Learning
MISIS programme pages cite SuperJob data putting the average salary of MISIS graduates at RUB 175,000-230,000 a month, depending on the field.
Student life
MISIS is based on Leninsky Prospekt in Moscow, with its colleges housed in buildings along the same avenue. The university has a Student Council that supports student initiatives, and students take part in sports, dance, theatre, music, a sports programming section and a student design bureau. An International Friendship Club helps foreign students adapt to life in Russia, make friends, improve their Russian and prepare for exams, and a career centre runs internships, career events and business case championships from the first year.
- International Friendship Club for international students.
- Student design bureau and sports programming section.
- Career centre links with major metals, mining and nuclear companies from first year.
- Students from more than 80 countries.
Housing. Every quota student is given a place in a MISIS dormitory, at RUB 2,500-3,769 a month depending on the room.
Location
MISIS's main buildings are at Leninsky Prospekt 2-6 in Moscow, Russia's capital. Arriving international students need a student visa (the invitation is issued after enrolment and payment), must bring original documents with notarised translations and medical certificates, and should budget for insurance, meals and visa costs, which the government quota does not cover.
Nearest airport: Moscow Vnukovo (VKO), Sheremetyevo (SVO) and Domodedovo (DME) airports
Notable alumni
- YO Yuri OsipyanSolid-state physicist; graduated from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys in 1955
- ZY Zhou YaoheChinese materials scientist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Candidate of Sciences degree (1957)
- RH Rahim HuseynovFormer Prime Minister of Azerbaijan; metallurgical engineering degree (1953-1959)
- MF Mikhail FridmanBusinessman and co-founder of Alfa Group; attended the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys
- VB Viktor BerkovskyBard and songwriter; degree and PhD (1967) from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys
- YB Yaroslav BlanterCondensed matter physicist and professor at Delft University of Technology; graduated in 1990
- DE Dangaasürengiin EnkhbatMongolian engineer and entrepreneur who introduced the internet to Mongolia; doctoral degree from the institute
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study for free at MISIS?
Yes, through the Russian Government quota, which covers full tuition (including a preparatory Russian year) and pays a monthly scholarship. For autumn 2027 entry, register on education-in-russia.com between 15 September 2026 and 15 January 2027 (15 December for CIS countries). Open Doors Olympiad winners can also study free.
How much is MISIS tuition?
Fee-based Bachelor's places for 2026 entrants cost RUB 386,000 to 510,000 a year depending on the programme, for example RUB 440,000 for Computer Science and RUB 510,000 for Mining.
How do you pay tuition at MISIS?
After passing the entrance exams, fee-paying students sign a training contract with MISIS and pay for at least one semester; fees are listed per year on each programme page (RUB 386,000-510,000 for 2026 entry). MISIS sends the visa invitation after it receives the payment, which usually takes 5-6 weeks, so pay well before the autumn start.
Are MISIS Bachelor's programmes taught in English?
No, Bachelor's programmes are taught in Russian, and MISIS runs a preparatory department for foreign students. Eight Master's programmes are taught in English.
What documents do I need to apply to MISIS?
Your passport, school certificate and transcript, legalised by apostille or consular legalisation and translated into Russian by a notary, plus any certificates of achievement. On arrival you also need the originals, medical certificates and six photos.
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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