Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Московский физико-технический институт
Russia's 'Phystech': a physics and maths institute where most first-years arrive with top exam scores or olympiad wins.
- Students
- 6,567
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11.5:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- RUB 1M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1946
About MIPT
The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, known as MIPT or Phystech, grew out of a 1946 plan by physicist Pyotr Kapitsa for a school where selected students would learn by working alongside leading scientists; it became an independent institute in 1951. Its main campus is in Dolgoprudny, a town just north of Moscow, and teaching is organised into Phystech schools covering physics, applied mathematics and computer science, radio engineering, aerospace, electronics and photonics, biological and medical physics, nuclear and plasma technologies, software engineering and high-tech business.
MIPT is one of the hardest Russian universities to enter. In 2025 it enrolled 1,304 first-year bachelor's students; 585 of them were admitted without entrance exams as winners or prize-winners of school olympiads, and state-funded places drew about 16 applications per place, with passing scores of roughly 265 to 304 out of 300. The university says it has the highest average exam score of applicants in Russia.
The 'Phystech system' puts students into research labs and partner institutes from early on, with 80 labs on campus and base departments at research organisations. It suits students who love hard problems in mathematics and physics and are prepared for a demanding, mostly Russian-language programme; international students can also join a small number of English-taught bachelor's programmes.
Sapere aude
“Dare to know” — university motto
Why students choose MIPT
A research-first model: MIPT lists about 80 labs and 95 base departments where students work with practising scientists.
A strong olympiad culture: 585 of the 1,304 bachelor's entrants in 2025 were admitted without entrance exams on olympiad results.
English-taught bachelor's options in Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering for international applicants.
Alumni include Nobel physicists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov and tech founders such as Revolut's Nikolay Storonsky.
Admissions
2026 admission campaign (entry September 2026); the 2027 campaign runs in summer 2027
Selectivity
MIPT does not publish an acceptance rate. In 2025 it enrolled 1,304 bachelor's students (399 through open competition on budget places, 585 without entrance exams via olympiads, 143 on fee-paying places and 69 foreign citizens on the Russian government quota). State-funded places received 17,086 applications for 1,092 enrolments (about 16 per place); passing scores for open competition were roughly 265 to 304 out of 300.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign secondary school certificate | Completed secondary education equivalent to the Russian level, with a notarised Russian translation and legalisation or recognition where required, plus MIPT entrance exams (for example Mathematics and Informatics for Computer Science for foreign citizens) |
|---|---|
| Russian EGE | Very high scores: 2025 passing scores for state-funded places were about 265-304 out of 300 (plus individual achievements), with average scores of 92-99 per subject |
| Russian government quota | Foreign citizens nominated by Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education are admitted on referral without entrance exams, above the regular state-funded places |
| Olympiad route | Winners and prize-winners of recognised school olympiads (for example the All-Russian Olympiad or the Phystech Olympiad) can be admitted without entrance exams |
| English language | Most bachelor's programmes are taught in Russian. MIPT runs a 10-month preparatory department for foreign citizens with intensive Russian plus mathematics, physics, informatics and chemistry. No English test score was listed on the pages checked for the English-taught bachelor's programmes. |
Deadlines
- Document submission opens (2026 campaign) Non-binding Passed20 June 2026
Previous cycle.
- Deadline for applicants sitting MIPT entrance exams (2026 campaign) Non-binding Passed10 July 2026
Previous cycle; for budget and fee-paying places. Internal exams ran from 13 July 2026.
- Budget places: last day for documents and priorities (2026 campaign) Non-binding Passed25 July 2026
Previous cycle; until 17:00 Moscow time.
- Fee-paying places: last day for documents (2026 campaign) Non-binding Passed5 August 2026
Previous cycle; signed contracts were due by 17 August 2026 (12:00 Moscow time).
These are MIPT's 2026 bachelor's admission dates and have passed. The 2027 calendar had not been published when checked; MIPT has published a draft of the 2027 olympiad rules.
How to apply
Choose a programme and competition group, check the entrance exams, then apply through the ruID app or Gosuslugi service 'University admission online' (or in person), uploading notarised Russian translations of your passport and school certificate. Fee-paying applicants sign a contract after results; quota applicants apply through the Russian government's selection system and receive a ministry referral.
What admissions looks for
- Top results in mathematics and physics or informatics, whether through the EGE or MIPT's own entrance exams.
- Olympiad success: winners and prize-winners of recognised olympiads can enter without exams.
- For foreign applicants, a school certificate equivalent to Russian secondary education and documents translated into Russian.
- Russian language ability for Russian-taught programmes, or the preparatory year to build it.
Tips for applying to MIPT
- 1 Look at the Phystech Olympiad and Phystech.International olympiad: the Phystech Olympiad alone accounted for 137 exam-free admissions in 2025.
- 2 If you want to study in English, target the Computer Science for foreign citizens programme (fee-paying only); in 2025 it enrolled 2 of 11 applicants.
- 3 Practise for the oral part of MIPT's physics exam, which follows the written problem-solving parts.
- 4 Ask the International Department about fee waivers: MIPT's international site advertises tuition fee waivers for its English-taught programmes.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in RUB
Most Russian students study free on state-funded places. Foreign citizens can study free through the Russian government quota, and citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan can compete for budget places on general terms. MIPT's international site advertises tuition fee waivers for English-taught programmes, and state-supported education loans (Sberbank, T-Bank and others) are available to all students.
- 69
- Foreign citizens enrolled on the government quota (2025)
- 143 of 1,304
- Fee-paying bachelor's enrolments (2025)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (September to January, February to June)
Applied Mathematics and Physics (Landau School, General and Applied Physics)
MIPT's largest state-funded group: 1,130 applications and 179 enrolments in 2025, passing score 291/300.
Applied Mathematics and Informatics
170 state-funded enrolments in 2025 with an average score of 98.8 per subject and a passing score of 303/300 including achievements.
Computer Science (English-taught)
An English-language bachelor's for international students in the Phystech School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics.
Biomedical Engineering (English-taught)
An English-language bachelor's in the Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics.
Fundamental Mathematics (Higher School of Modern Mathematics)
Small and extremely competitive: 803 applications for 16 state-funded places in 2025.
Research
- Nobel laureates Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who isolated graphene, are MIPT alumni.
- MIPT lists about 80 research labs and 95 base departments at partner institutes and companies.
- The Phystech.Start accelerator supports student start-ups built on the institute's lab infrastructure.
Schools & faculties
- Phystech School of Radio Engineering and Computer Technology
- Landau Phystech School of Physics and Research
- Phystech School of Aerospace Technology
- Phystech School of Electronics, Photonics and Molecular Physics
- Phystech School of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science
- Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics
- Kurchatov Phystech School of Nature-like, Plasma and Nuclear Technologies
- Phystech School of High-Tech Business
- Higher School of Software Engineering
- Higher School of Modern Mathematics
MIPT says it has 36,000+ alumni in more than 150 countries and that 10 alumni appear on Forbes Russia's rich list; no graduate employment survey figure was found.
Student life
Phystech life is campus life: MIPT lists 13 student dormitories, a clinic, a stadium and swimming pool, and more than 20 food points in Dolgoprudny, with Moscow 20 to 30 minutes away by train. The workload is famously heavy, with seminars and lab work alongside lectures, but the institute also has strong traditions, including an annual 24-hour football match where students play alongside professors and graduates. International students register with the International Department within three days of arrival.
- Annual 24-hour football contest with professors and alumni.
- Guaranteed dormitory place for every first-year bachelor's student, in a system of more than 7,000 beds.
- Phystech stadium and campus swimming pool used for physical education.
- A preparatory department for foreign citizens starting each 1 October.
Housing. MIPT's dormitories in Moscow and Moscow Oblast have more than 7,000 places, and every first-year bachelor's student is guaranteed a dormitory place.
Location
Dolgoprudny is a small town on Moscow's northern edge. Suburban trains run from Moscow's Savyolovsky station to Novodachnaya or Dolgoprudnaya in 20 to 30 minutes, and buses connect to Altufyevo and Khovrino metro stations. It is a quieter, campus-centred base with Moscow's culture and jobs within easy reach.
Nearest airport: Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO)
Notable alumni
- AG Andre GeimPhysicist; 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for graphene
- KN Konstantin NovoselovPhysicist; 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for graphene
- AK Alexei KitaevTheoretical physicist known for quantum computing work, including the quantum phase estimation algorithm
- AK Aleksandr KaleriCosmonaut with more than 769 days in space across five flights to Mir and the ISS
- NS Nikolay StoronskyFounding CEO of fintech company Revolut
- RT Ratmir TimashevCo-founder of software company Veeam
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into MIPT?
Very hard. In 2025 state-funded places drew about 16 applications per place, passing scores were about 265-304 out of 300, and 585 of 1,304 new bachelor's students were admitted without exams as olympiad winners.
How much does MIPT cost for international students?
Fee-paying places cost 1,014,000 to 2,000,000 RUB per year in 2026/27 depending on the programme; foreign-language programmes cost 1,083,000-1,181,000 RUB. Quota students study free, and MIPT advertises fee waivers for English-taught programmes.
Can I study at MIPT in English?
Yes, for a few bachelor's programmes, including Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering; most programmes are taught in Russian, and MIPT's preparatory year teaches Russian plus science subjects.
Do international applicants need the Russian EGE?
No. Foreign citizens can sit MIPT's own entrance exams, such as Mathematics and Informatics for Computer Science, instead of the EGE; quota students are admitted on a ministry referral without exams.
When is the MIPT application deadline?
In 2026, documents were accepted from 20 June; the deadline for applicants taking MIPT exams was 10 July and for fee-paying places 5 August. The 2027 dates will be published before summer 2027.
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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