South Ural State University (National Research University)
Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)
A large engineering-rooted national research university in Chelyabinsk with English-taught degrees and a foundation year.
- Tuition
- RUB 240K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1943
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About SUSU
South Ural State University (SUSU) traces its origin to the Chelyabinsk Mechanical Engineering Institute, created by a Soviet government decree of 2 November 1943 to train engineers for the tank industry; the university celebrates 15 December 1943 as its foundation day. It became the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute, then Chelyabinsk State Technical University in 1990, and took its present name in 1997. Since 2010 it has held the status of National Research University.
The university's own site says it offers 240 bachelor's, 150 master's, 24 specialist and 86 postgraduate programs, organised into institutes and schools such as Engineering and Technology, Architecture and Construction, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Law, Linguistics and International Communications, and Sport, Tourism and Service, plus a School of Economics and Management and a School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. Most degrees are taught in Russian, so international applicants without Russian usually start with a one-year foundation course; English-taught options in 2026/27 are limited to bachelor's programs in Mechatronics and Robotics and Economics, and five master's programs.
It suits students who want an engineering or technical degree at low published tuition in an industrial Urals city, and who can handle Russian-language study and a document-heavy admission process. Payment, visa and arrival steps are laid out on the international admissions pages.
Why students choose SUSU
Published 2026/27 tuition for English-taught programs is RUB 240,000 to RUB 270,000 a year at bachelor's level, with master's programs at RUB 240,000 to RUB 290,000.
A one-year foundation program teaches Russian plus subject disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and biology, and leads to a certificate that lets students enter any Russian university; its tuition is RUB 155,000 to RUB 165,000.
University accommodation is listed at RUB 1,000 a month with utilities included, well below the RUB 11,000 to 17,000 quoted for renting a flat privately.
Applicants can apply for a Russian Government Scholarship by registering at education-in-russia.com and choosing SUSU as their first priority.
Admissions
2026 intake (latest published; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Selectivity
SUSU does not publish an acceptance rate. International applicants apply through an online questionnaire, receive a Letter of Consent and, after paying, a visa invitation.
Typical entry requirements
| School certificate (for bachelor's degrees) | Legalised with an apostille or consular legalisation, with a certified or notarised Russian translation and transcript |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's diploma (for master's programs) | Diploma and transcript with apostille or legalisation and notarised Russian translation |
| Passport | Valid for at least 18 months from the date of entry, with a certified Russian translation |
Deadlines
- Admissions 2026 (previous cycle) Non-binding Passed20 August 2026
Application deadline stated on the Admissions 2026 page.
- Foundation course (previous cycle) Non-binding15 August
Stated on the foundation course page as 'Application deadline is August 15th' without a year; treat as the previous cycle.
Dates for 2027 entry were not yet posted; the 2026 dates (Admissions 2026 page: application deadline 20 August; foundation course page: 15 August, year not stated) are shown as the previous cycle. SUSU says the visa invitation is prepared by the Ministry of Interior in about 45 days and is valid for 90 days, and recommends allowing at least 45 days before arrival for the visa. An invitation is issued only after 100% of a year's tuition is prepaid.
How to apply
Email the admissions office with questions, fill in the online questionnaire and choose a specialty, then receive a Letter of Consent and Invitation. Submit your passport, legalised education documents with notarised Russian translations and, for Russian-taught programs, a Russian language certificate. An invitation letter is issued only after 100% of a year's tuition is prepaid.
What admissions looks for
- Complete, legalised education documents with certified Russian translations.
- A valid passport with at least 18 months remaining.
- For Russian-taught programs, a Russian language certificate or completion of the foundation course.
- Prepayment of tuition, which the university requires before it issues a visa invitation.
Tips for applying to SUSU
- 1 Start the apostille or consular legalisation early, since every document must be legalised and translated.
- 2 If you do not speak Russian, budget for the one-year foundation course (RUB 155,000 to 165,000) before the degree.
- 3 Confirm with the international office exactly how to pay tuition from your country, because payment is in Russian rubles and must be made in full before the invitation letter.
- 4 Note that a student visa is first issued for 90 days and extended by the university's Immigration Services once you arrive; foundation and language students may not work.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in RUB
International students can apply for a Russian Government Scholarship, which SUSU describes as free study; applicants register at education-in-russia.com and choose SUSU as first priority, and Rossotrudnichestvo or the Russian embassy in each country runs the competitive selection. Around 15,000 international students receive these state scholarships each year, according to SUSU.
- Russian rubles; a full year's tuition is paid in advance
- Payment method
- Issued only after 100% tuition prepayment
- Visa invitation
- About RUB 1,000 a month, utilities included
- Student accommodation
Academics
Mechatronics and Robotics (English-taught)
Offered in English at bachelor's (RUB 270,000) and master's (RUB 290,000) level for 2026/27.
Economics (English-taught)
English-taught at bachelor's (RUB 240,000) and master's (RUB 260,000) level.
Biotechnology (English-taught master's)
RUB 290,000 for 2026/27.
Aerospace, Automotive, Mechanical and Energy Engineering
Departments within the Institute of Engineering and Technology, reflecting the university's engineering origin.
Foundation course
One year of Russian plus subject disciplines, leading to a state-approved certificate for entering Russian universities.
Research
- SUSU says it has more than 4,000 training work benches, simulators and trainers, and runs e-learning and MOOC-format courses.
- It took part in the Priority 2030 program and lists international research laboratories on its site.
- SUSU lists a School of Medical Biology and an Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics that publish under 'Global-scale Discoveries' pages.
Schools & faculties
- Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Institute of Architecture and Construction
- School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science
- School of Economics and Management
- School of Medical Biology
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- Institute of Linguistics and International Communications
- Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities
- Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service
- Institute of Law
- Institute of Open and Distance Education
The pages checked do not publish a dated graduate employment rate.
Student life
SUSU's main campus is on Lenin Prospekt in Chelyabinsk. First-year international students arrive at dormitory No. 3 on Sonya Krivoy Street, and the university's Immigration Services handle registration, medical insurance and visa extensions. The university lists a Center of Arts and Leisure, student organisations, an Olympic-size swimming pool (RUB 180 a swim), a gym, and an Association of International Students and Alumni. A university TV and radio company also operates.
- An Association of International Students and Alumni.
- An Olympic-size swimming pool and university gym.
- University TV and radio (SUSU-TV) and seven museums.
- Immigration Services help with visa extension, registration and insurance.
Housing. University accommodation costs about RUB 1,000 a month with utilities included; wired internet is not provided and costs RUB 300 to 600 a month.
Location
SUSU is at 76 Lenin Prospekt in Chelyabinsk, an industrial city in the southern Urals. SUSU describes Chelyabinsk as an affordable city for international students. Food averages RUB 8,000 to 10,000 a month, a local minibus ride costs RUB 25 and theatre tickets start around RUB 250.
Nearest airport: Chelyabinsk Balandino Airport (CEK)
Notable alumni
- ER Eugene RoshalSoftware engineer, developer of the FAR Manager, RAR format and WinRAR
- DP Dmitry PetelinCosmonaut who spent 370 days in space (graduated from SUSU in 2006)
- TC Taisia ChenchikAthlete, bronze medallist in the high jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics
- GK Gennadiy KondrashovHammer thrower who competed for the Soviet Union at the 1968 Summer Olympics
- VK Victor KhristenkoFormer Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (2012-2016)
- PS Pyotr SuminGovernor of Chelyabinsk Oblast, 1996-2010
Frequently asked questions
What is SUSU's QS ranking?
QS World University Rankings 2027 places South Ural State University in the 951-1000 band (QS publishes bands, not exact ranks, at this level).
How do international students pay tuition at SUSU?
Per SUSU's admission page, a student pays the entire amount for a year of study in Russian rubles, and an applicant can get a visa invitation letter and be enrolled only after prepaying 100% of that year's tuition. Ask the international office (applicant@susu.ru) which payment routes work from your country.
Are there English-taught degrees at SUSU?
For 2026/27, yes: bachelor's programs in Mechatronics and Robotics (RUB 270,000) and Economics (RUB 240,000), and master's programs in Mechatronics and Robotics, Biotechnology, Economics, Management and Philology.
Do I need to speak Russian to study at SUSU?
For Russian-taught programs, yes: applicants take a one-year foundation course that includes Russian language, and must present a Russian language certificate. English-taught specialties do not require it.
What is the SUSU application deadline?
The Admissions 2026 page gave 20 August 2026 for the 2026 intake (15 August for the foundation course). Dates for 2027 entry were not yet published.
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 SUSU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.