Exporting Russian Education to Central Asian Countries: Trends, Best Practices, and Applicant Profile

The pandemic and the full-scale imposition of sanctions against Russia after the start of the Special military Operation in February 2022 have significantly changed the international context in which the higher education systems of Central Asian countries are being transformed, as well as the interaction between Russia and Central Asian countries in higher education. Although the legal framework for educational cooperation between Russia and Central Asian states attempts to differentiate approaches to formats and intensity of interaction, the needs of Central Asian partners have been less thoroughly studied and considered in adapting existing mechanisms and exploring new ones.

At the same time, the Russian side can offer a variety of conditions for international students, depending on their capabilities and plans. For example, large Russian cities attract students with ample opportunities for engaging in leisure activities, employment, and career advancement. Small student towns, such as Tomsk, are attractive to international students due to their compact size, safety, and relatively affordable tuition and living costs. However, the experience of many Russian universities shows that interuniversity cooperation in Central Asia is becoming increasingly difficult, often even more difficult than in other geographic areas. Many such projects rely on the enthusiasm and personal connections of their initiators and quickly wind down if the initiator, for whatever reason, stops working on them.

As a result, despite an overall increase in student enrollment from the five Central Asian countries from 2019 to 2024, a sharp decline occurred in 2025, leading to a decline in the share of Central Asian nationals in the total number of international students at Russian universities. This review examines the dynamics of direct admission of applicants from Central Asia to Russian universities. Based on interviews with students from Central Asia and representatives of Russian universities, a profile of the applicant will be developed, and the main challenges and best practices for exporting Russian higher education to Central Asian countries will be identified...