Applications Open
We are now accepting applications to our three undergraduate programs taught in English.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you on behalf of The MGIMO School of Government and International Affairs. The School was established in 2013 to manage Russia’s first undergraduate program with full instruction in the English language. Winston Churchill once referred to Russia as a «riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma». At our School, we look to at least unwrap the enigma, so that our international students can solve it for themselves during their course of study with help from our top-notch faculty. Over the six years since its inauguration, the School has been expanding and beefing up its international profile. It is now unique in Russia and beyond for its multidisciplinary curriculum, unparalleled training in foreign languages, student diversity, and top-notch faculty with advanced internationally recognized degrees and extensive experience of teaching and publishing in English. At our School you will get a 360-degree perspective on world politics combined with a deep and professional understanding of Russia, its politics and policies. You will be trained to proficiency in two foreign languages aside from English, learn to analyze modern great power relations and international migration, climate change and global economic crises, while making full use of the exciting business and personal growth opportunities that Russia has to offer. Please take special note of our new program — Bachelor of Science in International Business and Finance — launched in 2021 preparing our students for careers as financial analysts and business managers, government officials and academics, entrepreneurs and consultants. Do let me know if there is anything we can do to make your choice in favor of our School easier and unregrettable.
In 2021, MGIMO University was ranked 41st globally for its teaching and research in Politics and International Relations by QS — one of the three major international ranking agencies in the field of education. Click here to see our neighbors in the QS subject ranking.
Video
A Day in the Life of a MGIMO Student
Dr. Andrey Baykov, MGIMO University Vice President for Research and Global Engagement, outlines the reasons for choosing international politics as your undergraduate major and MGIMO as your destination for top-notch liberal arts education
Dr. Maria Shibkova, Lecturer in History and International Politics at the School and a specialist in Mediterreanean security, explains how her region of focus can offer important insights into the current state of world politics and future scenarios
Dr. Mikhail Troitskiy, MGIMO SGIA Dean (2017–2022), lays out the reasons to choose our School for those who are thrilled by international politics, business and finance
News
Student Ambassadors
Student Ambassador: Ekaterina Chabykina
When I first heard the word MGIMO, I pictured myself working as a diplomat at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking fluently at least two languages. If you attracted by such a career, you should definitely consider choosing Government, International Politics and Law for your undergraduate degree. Even if you are not sure what kind of path will look exciting to you by the time you graduate, but you enjoy open debate, non-conventional perspectives on everything and you love to wear a suit (just kidding), MGIMO will definitely help you to grow as a person and discover new professional strengths and inclinations.
Student Ambassador: Yana Elbert
When applying to SGIA, I had neither a clear goal nor an understanding of what awaited me, except that getting into MGIMO was only half the battle. Completing the program indeed proved to be the other half. My only wish was to study in English, and SGIA provided that opportunity. I now work at an international investment firm, the vacancy I found on the MGIMO career website.
Alumni Speak
Richard Cop | Slovakia
Class of 2019
I decided to apply to MGIMO due to first-hand knowledge I had from a friend of mine who was studying at the University at the time. I found the University fascinating and realized that getting accepted to such an institution would provide me with a lot of possibilities, career-wise, and on top of that, I would be able to establish international relationships, due to high concentration of foreign students at SGIA.
Yana Chikvashvili | Israel / Russia
Class of 2019
MGIMO is considered to be one of the best universities in Russia especially for International Relations that I have always been excited about. I had studied in English at the British International School in Moscow, so I was looking for a Bachelor program that would also be taught in English. I also knew I wanted to stay in Moscow for my Bachelors, and SGIA was one of the very few highly reputed educational institutions offering social sciences degrees taught fully in English. The choice was limited, but at SGIA I found exactly what I wanted, given my interest in social sciences and languages.
Ekaterina Chabykina | Russia
Class of 2019
It was a completely new experience. Before enrolling in SGIA I attended a high school in Canada and spent a few years at a university where we only had 15 hours of classes per week. When I arrived at MGIMO, I was almost shocked — especially during the first year. We were so busy, with so many classes, including languages, that I thought I wouldn’t survive. Then I realized that a broad variety of courses actually help you to broaden your worldview, look at the world from different angles. It was a good experience; tough, but very useful.
Alina Polyakova | Russia
Class of 2019
SGIA is an innovative attempt at an integrated English-medium study program for Russian-speaking and non-Russian-speaking students alike.
Benjamin Pegon | France / the United Kingdom
Class of 2019
Russia is a country I enjoy being in, but it is easy to get lost at first as few people speak English. However, when I did travel, I absolutely loved it! You don’t always need to travel far to get new experiences, as Moscow is absolutely massive! There is always something interesting going on in Moscow, and it feels like the capital of Eurasia, not just the capital of Russia. Every time I come back to the city, I feel like I have the time of my life.
Felix Portier | Switzerland / Chile
Class of 2019
A very interesting aspect of studying in MGIMO is that it has partnerships with many of the best universities in the world, so you can apply for an exchange semester or do a double degree in Paris, Rome, the USA etc. Last but not least, MGIMO also has excellence in language teaching, and in fact it holds the Guinness world record for the number of languages taught in a university: 53!
Vitalija Kuprenaite | Sweden
Class of 2018
I absolutely loved it. It was a good four years. It was rich in new knowledge and left me with unforgettable memories of student life and dorm life. The SGIA curriculum covered a lot of diverse subject matter. As for me, it sparked my attraction towards criminal law.
Mariana Corea | Nicaragua
Class of 2017
They advertised what was truly available. Student support was certainly great, they arranged various seminars, workshops and so on. The university is really up for supporting the students, ultimately it is down to each individual to reach their goals but all the tools were there. Meaning that if a student truly wants to achieve something, they have such an opportunity to do so, thanks to the resources that are available in the university. The dean’s office was very supportive and also impartial in advising us if we had any academic issue. I felt that the students were always the priority.
Felix Porret | France
Class of 2018
The SGIA course completely met my expectations, I found it quite deep and comprehensive. The main advantage of this type of course is its multi-disciplinary nature that allows you to choose a follow-on Master’s program from a wide variety of options based on your knowledge of International Relations. The fact that you are studying with students from different countries and with varied backgrounds is also a plus: it helps you to understand and see things from a different angle and to build and maintain a very interesting international network.
Boian Venev | Bulgaria
Class of 2018
MGIMO did meet my expectations. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of international students. The course of study was very diverse and engaging. In addition, I got the chance to live in Moscow and travel a lot around Russia.
Jin Sun Park | South Korea
Class of 2018
MGIMO provided me with a strong background in international affairs. It also allowed me to meet with inspiring Russian and international experts, interact with students from various countries, and understand Russia and its position on key international issues and trends.
Christian Wollny | Germany / USA
Class of 2018
I would argue that what I learned outside of the lecture hall was more important than what I learned inside. MGIMO and SGIA have a lot to offer to the interested and engaged students who look beyond just passing time in the classroom. SGIA gives you the opportunity to meet some interesting and/or famous people and travel around the world, experiencing firsthand what it means to be a diplomat. Come my third year, I had no real idea what I wanted to do after graduation.
Ask a Question
We hope that you have found our website helpful when choosing a study program. For more information, please contact us using the form below. We would be happy to answer your questions. You can also e-mail us directly at bac@inno.mgimo.ru
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