National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE, Moscow)

Concluding our list of the 10 top universities in Russia is the Higher School of Economics (HSE), which is also the youngest university in this list, founded as recently as 1992. It was awarded National Research University status in 2009 and specializes in the social sciences, mathematics, computer science and of course economics. Ranked 62nd in BRICS, its main campus can be found in Moscow, with three other campuses located in St. Petersburg, Nizhniy Novgorod and Perm.

The Higher School of Economics is internationally ranked for eight subjects this year, achieving positions as one of the world’s top 150 universities for economics and econometrics, politics and sociology, with three more subjects in the top 200.

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Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University features at 61st in the BRICS ranking this year and is consistently ranked among the top 500 in the world university rankings. Located in St. Petersburg, it’s a large university, with almost 31,000 students currently enrolled. It houses one of the country's most advanced research laboratories in hydro-aerodynamics, and has 20 research centers in total, which conduct research with prominent technology corporations such as Microsoft, Siemens and Apple.

St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is included three times in the latest subject rankings, ranked as one of the world’s leading universities for electrical and electronic engineering (top 250), physics and astronomy (top 300) and computer science and information systems (top 500).

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National Research Nuclear University "Mephi" (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)

Ranked 50th in BRICS, the National Research Nuclear University, or “MEPhI” was founded in 1942 as the Moscow Mechanical Institute of Munitions and is now another of the most well-respected technical Russian universities. As the name suggests, it focuses on the nuclear industry, as well as physics, engineering and mathematics. However, the institute, which counts a number of Nobel Prize winners amongst its alumni, has also been increasingly working on improving its programs in the fields of economic sciences, humanities and foreign languages.

National Research Nuclear University is internationally ranked for three subjects this year – physics and astronomy (top 100), electrical and electronic engineering (top 300) and mathematics (in the worldwide top 400).

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Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University

Another of the top universities in Russia to be located in Moscow, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, colloquially known as PhysTech, is ranked joint 47th in the BRICS ranking this year. It was established in 1946 and is a leading institution for educating specialists in various fields of modern science and technology, and today has a fairly small student body of 5,600 students in 11 faculties. Eight of its professors are Nobel Prize winners.

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University) features among the world’s best for five subjects this year – all of which are, unsurprisingly, science subjects. Its highest position comes for physics and astronomy, in the global top 150.

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Moscow State Institute of International Relations – MGIMO University

Moscow State Institute of International Relations – MGIMO University is ranked 44th in the BRICS ranking this year and is consistently ranked within the top 400 universities in the world. Run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, MGIMO University was previously part of Moscow State University but became a separate institution in 1944. MGIMO specializes mainly in the humanities and, although it doesn’t feature in the subject rankings, the university is particularly well known for preparing students for careers in international relations. The university also holds the distinction of appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records for offering courses in 56 languages, more than any other institution in the world.

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Tomsk State University

Heading back to Siberia for the next of these top universities in Russia, Tomsk State University comes 43rd in this year’s BRICS. Founded in 1878 but not opened to students until 1888, it’s the oldest institution in the vast ‘Russian Asia’ area. It now has around 17,000 students enrolled in 23 faculties, and offers 165 master’s programs, including some English-taught courses. Tomsk State University was designated as a National Research University in 2010 and offers its students one of the most extensive library archives of all Russian universities.

In this year’s subject rankings, Tomsk State University is ranked among the top 300 universities in the world for modern languages, and among the top 400 for physics and astronomy.

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Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Bauman Moscow State Technical University comes 38th in this year’s BRICS ranking and is the oldest and largest of the technical Russian universities. It has 19 departments but specializes in various fields of engineering and applied sciences, and teaches more than 19,000 students at all study levels. Bauman Moscow State Technical University is also known for granting up to 3,000 students free room and board in its halls of residence each year, as well as offering well-regarded support for hearing-impaired students.

The university’s technical focus is reflected in its performance in the subject rankings – it’s ranked among the world’s best for five subjects in 2016 (compared to just one in 2015). Its highest ranked subject is mechanical engineering, for which it’s placed in the global top 200. 

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