1. For studies

Russian higher education is highly rated around the world, especially in mathematics, natural sciences and medicine. At the same time, studying in Russia is also oftentimes much cheaper than in Western institutions, so thousands of foreign students opt to enroll at Russian universities. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, in 2024, more than 350,000 foreigners from 161 countries studied in the country. 

The Russian government is also interested in attracting foreign students to the country's many universities, so it annually allocates a free education quota for foreign students. In 2024, this quota totalled 30,000 places. In addition, there are various grants and scholarships, as well as the opportunity to enroll at a university based on the results of international competitions, such as ‘Open Doors’. You can even qualify for for free tuition quota at a conservatoire or ballet school.

However, the first step in obtaining a specialised education is always the study of the Russian language. For this purpose, special courses and preparatory departments are organised at universities. Foreigners coming to study usually study solely Russian for the first year in order to be able to start a major course.

But, you can start right now with some free online courses.

2. For work

Russian opens up new career opportunities. Russia is an important global player in many industries and its market attracts businesses from all over the world, despite sanctions and other political difficulties. In addition, Russian is important as a language of business communication across the CIS countries and international organisations (UN, SCO, BRICS). Proficiency in Russian will set you apart from your competitors in international business, diplomacy, trade and finance. Even if you don't plan to work in Russia, your knowledge of the language will be an advantage in large, international companies.

Russian ranks 9th among all languages on the planet, in terms of the number of speakers. It is spoken by roughly 255 million people. It is also the most widely spoken language in Europe. Knowing Russian will not only open doors for you in Russia, but also in countries such as Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and even Israel.

In addition, Russian is part of a large language family and studying it will open up access to a whole group of other Slavic languages: Belarusian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish, Czech and many others. 

3. For living in Russia

Russia is an attractive place to live for many people. For many people, the relatively low cost of living, quality and free medical care, as well as the opportunity to get free higher education and a good job are serious reasons for thinking about moving to Russia and obtaining citizenship. Among other advantages foreigners note: cheap transport, low gas prices, inexpensive and high-quality internet and mobile communications, the possibility of choosing a place and lifestyle (there are developed, bright metropolises, as well as quiet provincial towns and villages).

However, even in this case, the first step in this direction should still be learning Russian. You will need it not only to deal with taxes and bureaucracy, to receive medical care or use public services, to talk to your neighbours and find a job, but also to obtain citizenship (you will need to pass a Russian language exam).

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can get by with basic knowledge, but Russian is essential for a full life in Russia.

“I came to Russia to get an education, to live and work. I didn't know Russian at all and, for the first year, I just learned the language. But, Russian is a difficult language. It is important not to stop at the basic level, as some foreigners do. To enter Russian society, to understand local realities and to have a good job, you have to keep learning Russian,” says Majed, a lawyer from Syria.

4. For travel

Ice with cracks in Lake Baikal. Sagan-Zaba cliff

There is a lot to see in Russia! There are 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square, Lake Baikal, the Golden Mountains of Altai, the volcanoes of Kamchatka, etc. Millions of tourists visit Russia every year. And, if you want to get out to the countryside, you can't do without Russian. It would be good to master at least the basic expressions necessary for elementary communication.

Ajay Kamalakaran from India and author of the book ‘Globetrotting for Love and Other Stories from Sakhalin Island’ says: “Learning Russian basically opened up a completely new world to me. Some of my closest friends don’t speak English or any other foreign languages. Russian was a great gateway for me into the society of the country and helped me see and experience a lot more than a non-Russian speaker could ever dream of.”

Besides, Russian can be useful to a traveller in other countries, especially in post-Soviet countries. Today, many people there still speak or at least understand Russian as opposed to English. In Israel, for example, a quarter of the population speaks Russian, as it consists of many Russian-speaking emigrants. So, there, too, the Russian language will help you not to get lost!.

5. For reading Russian literature in the original & understanding the mysterious Russian soul

Russian literature is among the world's great literatures. And the output of books in Russian ranks fifth in the world.  

If you know Russian, you can read Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov and Pushkin in the original. Yes, this is an ambitious, but very worthy goal. Even high-quality translations sometimes cannot fully convey the full depth of meaning, rhythm and beauty of the original text. This is especially true of poetry. For example, the poems of Pushkin, whom Russians consider their greatest poet, are virtually untranslatable into foreign languages and lose their depth and charm.

In addition, the Russian language also makes it possible to read books in other languages of the world, as they are often not translated into minor languages, but are translated and published in Russian.

And you can learn Russian at any age. For example, Brit Mary Hobson only began to learn at the age of 56 – after reading the novel ‘War and Peace’ by Leo Tolstoy in translation, she wanted to familiarise herself with the original. She not only learnt the language brilliantly, but also translated Griboyedov's ‘Woe from Wit’, as well as several works by Pushkin into English!

Besides literature, Russia is famous for ballet, classical music, theater and cinema. Knowing Russian will give you a deeper understanding of this rich, cultural heritage. 

Knowing Russian will also allow you to better understand the Russian mentality and worldview. Proverbs and sayings, Russian humour, untranslatable Russian words – all this will help you to feel the uniqueness of the Russian worldview.

And, if you are already on the lookout for Russian language courses, we’ve put together a list of free online courses offered by Russian universities here.