Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

About Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

MGIMO University, officially the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, is a federal autonomous university in Moscow. In Russian it is МГИМО МИД России. It was founded on 14 October 1944. The founder is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs chairs its supervisory board. The main campus is at 76 Prospect Vernadskogo, Moscow. The university also has branches in Odintsovo (Moscow region) and abroad.

Institutes and research

Its schools (faculties) include International Relations, International Law, International Economic Relations, International Journalism, International Business, and Governance and Politics. It also has institutes of International Trade and Sustainable Development, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, World Agrarian Markets, and International Studies. Other units include a business school, a foreign language centre, an ASEAN Centre and the Diplomatic Academy. According to the university, it offers 112 degree programmes in 17 areas, such as international relations, political science, law, economics and journalism. It publishes 11 research journals and says it joined the World-Class Research Center in 2020.

Students

According to the university, about 8,600 students study on the main campus, with 13% international students. The university's page for international applicants says there are over a thousand international students from more than 90 countries. A Buddy Programme pairs Russian students with international students to help them settle in.

For international applicants

The year-long preparatory courses for foreign citizens run from September to June (two semesters). The Russian-language course for beginners has 1,080 academic hours and also covers history, geography, social studies and literature. The university says graduation exam results in Russian may be recognised as entrance exams for its bachelor's programmes. Shorter Russian courses, visiting-student and exchange programmes are also listed.

MGIMO lists five bachelor's programmes taught in English: Politics and International Relations; Government, International Politics and Law; International and Comparative Law; Multilateral Diplomacy; and International Finance and Investment Management. The last three are joint programmes with the Swiss School for International Relations (MGIMO-Geneva). International applicants are admitted on the basis of their national education certificates, and documents for these programmes are sent by email as scans. Separate admission pages exist for bachelor's, master's and postgraduate study.

Housing

According to the university, it has 4 dormitories with 3,070 places in total. Its page for international students also describes a university apart-hotel offering accommodation for international students and guests. Check with the admissions office whether a place is available for your programme.