From Senegal to Russia

Getting your documents ready in Senegal

Senegal has been a party to the Apostille Convention since 23 March 2023, and Russia accepts Senegalese apostilles. This saves you a step. Have an apostille put on each diploma and transcript in Senegal. You do not need consular legalisation by the Russian embassy for these documents. You can check Senegal’s status in the HCCH status table.

After that, every document needs a Russian translation certified by a Russian notary. The translation must cover every stamp, including the apostille. Ask your university whether it needs the translation when you apply or when you arrive.

In Russia, your foreign certificate usually has to be recognised before you enrol. Some universities do this themselves; for others it goes through Rosobrnadzor, the federal education authority. Your university will tell you which applies to you.

The scholarship and the visa from Senegal

The Russian Government scholarship, often called the state quota, works the same way in every country. You apply online on education-in-russia.com and choose up to six universities. Applications usually open in mid-September and close in mid-January. The round for 2027/28 is open now. Check the deadline for Senegal with the embassy, because local deadlines can differ.

After you apply online, there is a selection in your country. It is run by the Rossotrudnichestvo office or, where there is none, by the Russian embassy. Ask the embassy in Dakar who runs it this year and when, and be ready for an interview or a test. Then the Russian ministry places candidates in universities, and results usually come in April or May. You can follow your status on russia-edu.minobrnauki.gov.ru.

The scholarship usually covers tuition, the preparatory year if you need one, a monthly stipend and a dormitory place for a small fee. It does not cover flights, health insurance, living costs, or medical and visa fees.

For the visa, your university requests an invitation from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Then you apply for a study visa at the embassy in Dakar, with an HIV-negative certificate and a passport valid for at least 18 months. The first visa is single entry for up to 90 days. After you arrive, your university has it extended for up to a year at a time. Senegal cannot use the Russian e-visa, and the e-visa never covers study. Read more in our visas guide.

Getting to Russia and money

Look for a route through a hub with flights to Russia, such as Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Istanbul, Dubai, Doha or Cairo, and check which of them serve Dakar. European and US airlines do not fly to Russia, and a connection in Europe may need a transit visa.

Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad do not work in Russia, in shops, online or at cash machines. Bring enough cash in US dollars or euros for your first weeks. After you arrive, you can open a Russian bank account and get a Mir card, often through your university’s partner bank. Banks ask for several documents, including a Russian phone number, so this can take a little time.

In your first month, the international office registers you within 7 working days if you live in the dormitory. Then do the medical examination and fingerprinting, both within 30 days of arrival.

Help in French

You can write to us in French, and we also answer in English and Russian. If something here does not match what the embassy or your university tells you, follow their instructions and let us know. For personal next steps, fill in the Start Your Journey form. If you plan to study in Russian, our Russian courses go from A0 to B1, the usual level for starting a bachelor’s degree.