Studying in Armenia costs an international student between $1,380 and $13,080 a year in tuition, depending on the university and the language. A bachelor's degree at the Russian-Armenian University (RAU) costs $1,380–4,960 (AMD 500,000–1,800,000) a year in 2026/27; the Moscow State University branch in Yerevan charged $4,130–4,960 (AMD 1,500,000–1,800,000) in 2025/26; general medicine at Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) costs $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) in Russian or $7,160 (AMD 2,600,000) in English; and a bachelor's at the American University of Armenia (AUA) costs international students $11,700–13,080 (AMD 4,250,000–4,750,000). A hostel place arranged for RAU students costs $170–250 (AMD 60,000–91,000) a month including utilities, and temporary residence status is free for students.
Tuition by university
The universities in the table invoice in Armenian drams. The figures below come from official pages checked on 30 September 2026.
| University and programme | Per year | Academic year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAU, bachelor's, Russian division, full-time | $1,380–4,960 (AMD 500,000–1,800,000) | 2026/27 | law $3,030; applied mathematics, economics and management $2,750 |
| RAU, master's, Russian division, full-time | $1,380–3,300 (AMD 500,000–1,200,000) | 2026/27 | the AI and robotics programme is the most expensive |
| Moscow State University branch, bachelor's | $4,130–4,960 (AMD 1,500,000–1,800,000) | 2025/26 | 2026/27 rates were not yet on the branch's fee page |
| Moscow State University branch, master's | $4,960 (AMD 1,800,000) | 2025/26 | law, international relations, economics |
| YSMU, general medicine and dentistry | $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) in Russian, $7,160 (AMD 2,600,000) in English | 2026/27 | fee fixed until graduation |
| YSMU, pharmacy bachelor's | $3,300 (AMD 1,200,000) in Russian, $5,780 (AMD 2,100,000) in English | 2026/27 | 4 years |
| AUA, bachelor's for international students | $11,700 (AMD 4,250,000); business and economics $13,080 (AMD 4,750,000) | 2026/27 | taught in English |
| AUA, master's for international students | $10,050–13,050 (AMD 3,650,000–4,740,000) | 2026/27 | MBA $26,100 (AMD 9,480,000) for the whole programme |
Why the range is so wide: the lowest published rates are at RAU, where the price depends heavily on the field. YSMU publishes a separate price list for foreign nationals and charges more for its English stream. AUA's rates depend on student status: Armenian citizens, Armenian special passport holders and ethnic Armenians with documented heritage pay $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) a year less than international students.
State universities teaching in Armenian also admit international students. Yerevan State University's board of trustees approved its 2026/27 fees on 13 August 2026, but the rate table has to be requested from the foreign students' office. If you do not speak Armenian, add a preparatory year to your budget.
What tuition covers and what it doesn't
The contract fee covers teaching. You pay separately for:
- Health insurance. YSMU requires an annual policy, and AUA requires proof of insurance from every student without Armenian citizenship. Through AUA's provider it costs about $28 (AMD 10,000) a month.
- Service fees. AUA charges a student services fee of $69 (AMD 25,000) a year.
- Housing and deposits. AUA's residence hall asks for a deposit equal to one month's rent before move-in.
- Application charges. RAU charges $8 (AMD 3,000) for processing documents and $6 (AMD 2,000) for each of its entrance exams. AUA charges a non-refundable $55 (AMD 20,000) for a master's application. UFAR charges $69 (AMD 25,000) to review a master's application, credited against tuition if you are admitted and not refunded otherwise.
- Translations and notarisation. The Ministry of Education requires a translated, notarised copy of your certificate or degree, and residence status requires a notarised Armenian translation of your passport.
- Travel for exams. YSMU holds its entrance tests in person in Yerevan.
Discounts and free places
| Option | Who can apply | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| RAU state-funded places | citizens of Armenia, Russia, other CIS countries and Georgia | tuition paid by the Russian federal budget, by competition |
| Moscow State University branch state-funded places | marked for Armenian citizens | other nationals pay fees |
| Ministry places for the diaspora | diaspora Armenians | free full-time bachelor's in Armenian studies, pedagogy and the arts |
| AUA subsidy | Armenian citizens, ethnic Armenians, Armenian special passport holders | $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) a year off the international rate |
| AUA merit scholarship | international bachelor's and master's students | up to 50% of tuition, awarded for academic merit |
| AUA Master of Science in Economics (Dilijan) | international students | 50% merit scholarships; the programme also offers free dormitory accommodation |
| Moscow State University branch benefits | students from low-income families and high achievers | at the discretion of the branch's board of trustees |
Most of these are competitive, and the rules and numbers change every year, so work from the current year's admission rules. For wider options, see our overview of scholarships abroad.
Housing costs
| Option | Per month | Included |
|---|---|---|
| AGBU Vahe Karapetian Centre hostel for RAU students | $170–250 (AMD 60,000–91,000) | utilities, cleaning, Wi-Fi, 24/7 security |
| AUA residence, double room | $230–260 (AMD 85,000–95,000) | utilities, internet, taxes |
| AUA residence, single room | $410–470 (AMD 150,000–170,000) | utilities, internet, taxes |
| Off-campus housing in Yerevan, AUA estimate | $960–1,240 (AMD 350,000–450,000) | usually excludes utilities and internet |
| YSMU hostel | price on request | rooms for two or three |
RAU has no hostel of its own: it helps students find places in other Armenian universities' hostels and offers the AGBU centre, about 15 minutes away. AUA's residence rates apply from 1 July 2025. AUA's off-campus estimate does not say whether it assumes a separate flat; a room in a shared flat usually costs less, but no official data covers shared rentals.
Food, phone and transport costs depend on your habits, and we found no reliable first-party student estimate for Yerevan. Budget them separately once your housing is settled.
Cost of a full degree
| Programme | Length | Tuition for the whole programme |
|---|---|---|
| RAU, applied mathematics and computer science | 4 years | $11,010 (AMD 4,000,000) at the 2026/27 rate |
| Moscow State University branch, economics | 4 years | $19,820 (AMD 7,200,000) at the 2025/26 rate |
| YSMU, general medicine in Russian | 6 years | $33,040 (AMD 12,000,000), fixed |
| YSMU, general medicine in English | 6 years | $42,950 (AMD 15,600,000), fixed |
| AUA, bachelor's for an international student (other than business and economics) | 4 years | $46,810 (AMD 17,000,000) |
| AUA, MBA for an international student | 18–22 months | $26,100 (AMD 9,480,000) |
For RAU and the Moscow State University branch, the estimate uses the first-year rate. Ask whether the fee can change in later years and get the answer written into your contract. YSMU and AUA set the contract fee for the whole programme.
A year's budget: three examples
These totals include only what official sources confirm: tuition, ten months of housing, compulsory fees and insurance where a price is published. Food and transport are not included.
- Economics at RAU with a place at the AGBU centre. $2,750 (AMD 1,000,000) tuition plus $1,650–2,510 (AMD 600,000–910,000) housing, a total of $4,410–5,260 (AMD 1,600,000–1,910,000).
- Computer science at AUA as an international student, double room in the AUA residence. $11,700 (AMD 4,250,000) tuition, $2,340–2,620 (AMD 850,000–950,000) housing, $330 (AMD 120,000) insurance and $69 (AMD 25,000) services fee, a total of $14,440–14,720 (AMD 5,245,000–5,345,000).
- General medicine in Russian at YSMU. $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) tuition plus compulsory insurance and a hostel place at the university's price. Exams, streams and licensing are covered in our guide to studying medicine in Armenia.
Paying and exchange rates
Invoices are in drams, and exchange rates can noticeably change the total in dollars or other currencies. A fixed contract fee does not protect you from this: the amount is fixed in drams, not in your currency. Ask the university's accounts office which payment methods it accepts. Students paying from Russia can find lawful options in our guide on paying for studies abroad from Russia.
Common budgeting mistakes
- Using AUA's rate for Armenian citizens. International students pay $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) a year more.
- Mixing up price-list years. At the time of checking, the Moscow State University branch showed 2025/26 fees.
- Forgetting the preparatory year. For Armenian-taught programmes, or if your science is weak, YSMU's English-taught preparatory year adds $3,300 (AMD 1,200,000).
- Budgeting for a hostel when no place is available. Off-campus housing in Yerevan costs $960–1,240 a month by AUA's estimate.
- Leaving out insurance. Both YSMU and AUA require it.
FAQ
In 2026/27, tuition ranges from $1,380 (AMD 500,000) a year for some RAU bachelor's programmes to $13,080 (AMD 4,750,000) at the American University of Armenia. RAU and YSMU do not publish separate rates for particular nationalities: foreign nationals pay the rates for their division or for international students.
Only through competition. RAU awards state-funded places to citizens of Armenia, Russia, other CIS countries and Georgia, and diaspora Armenians can compete for the ministry's free places in Armenian studies, pedagogy and the arts. Other students pay tuition.
At YSMU in 2026/27, general medicine and dentistry cost $5,510 (AMD 2,000,000) a year in Russian and $7,160 (AMD 2,600,000) in English. Six years of general medicine in Russian total $33,040 in tuition, before housing.
According to the branch's 2025/26 figures, bachelor's programmes cost $4,130–4,960 (AMD 1,500,000–1,800,000) and master's programmes $4,960 (AMD 1,800,000) a year. Ask the admissions office for 2026/27 rates, since the fee page was last updated for the previous year.
The Migration and Citizenship Service's document list for temporary residence status does not include a bank statement. It asks for the application, three photos, a passport with a copy and a notarised Armenian translation, and proof of study as the ground for residence; students pay no state fee.
In Armenian drams. YSMU refers to the Central Bank of Armenia exchange rate, and AUA states that all fees are paid in drams. Confirm the payment details and accepted methods with the university before transferring money.
Sources
- RAU: tuition fees 2026/27, hostel, general information, admission rules 2026 — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Moscow State University branch in Yerevan: places and fees — checked 30 Sep 2026
- YSMU: admission of foreign citizens 2026/27, English stream, Russian stream, preparatory department — checked 30 Sep 2026
- AUA: undergraduate tuition 2026/27, graduate tuition 2026/27, graduate programmes, housing — checked 30 Sep 2026
- YSU: board of trustees decision No. 10-26-L of 13 Aug 2026 on 2026/27 fees — checked 30 Sep 2026
- UFAR: master's application fee, 2026/27 — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Armenia Ministry of Education: 2026/27 admission notice for foreigners — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Armenian Migration and Citizenship Service — temporary residence for students — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Central Bank of Armenia. All conversions use the Central Bank of Armenia rate set for 29 Sep 2026: $1 = AMD 363.18. Amounts below $100 are rounded to the dollar and the rest to the nearest $10.
Budget planning for your chosen programmes, document preparation and support until enrolment are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university sets tuition, discounts and hostel places, RAU runs the competition for state-funded places, and Armenia's Migration and Citizenship Service grants residence status.
