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Meta title: Applying to Armenian Universities: Steps, Documents, Dates
Meta description: How to apply to Armenian universities: fs.emis.am, RAU and MSU branch admissions, documents, entrance exams, 2026 deadlines and temporary residence status.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Applying to Armenian Universities as an International Student: Steps, Documents and Deadlines

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International applicants enter Armenian universities by one of two routes. Most universities admit foreign nationals through the online platform fs.emis.am: Armenia's Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport verifies the documents, and the university tests knowledge through its own exams or a preparatory course. The Russian-Armenian University (RAU) and the Moscow State University branch in Yerevan run their own admissions under Russian rules, with separate deadlines and exams. In 2026, the ministry accepted fee-paying bachelor's applications from 22 June to 30 September, while RAU's main round for fee-paying places closed on 14 August.

|  | General route via the ministry | RAU | Moscow State University branch |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Where to apply | fs.emis.am | RAU admissions office in person, by post or via its online system | by email to pk@msu.am or in person |
| 2026 deadlines | fee-paying bachelor's: 22 Jun–30 Sep; fee-paying master's: 22 Jun–15 Oct | from 11 May; fee-paying places until 14 Aug | first round until 1 Jun, second 2 Jun–12 Jul |
| Entrance tests | set by the university; a preparatory course if you lack the teaching language | Russian or Armenian EGE, Belarus centralised testing, or RAU's own exams | two written exams online; EGE not counted |
| Language | Armenian, Russian or English, depending on the programme | Russian | Russian |

Central Yerevan with Mount Ararat. Photo: Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian) / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mount_Ararat_and_the_Yerevan_skyline.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

## Which route applies to you {#section-1}

The programme decides the route. If you are applying to RAU or the Moscow State University branch, deal directly with their admissions offices and follow the spring and summer calendar typical of Russian universities. For YSMU, Yerevan State University, the Armenian State University of Economics, Brusov University and most other Armenian universities, the application starts on fs.emis.am. Even a university with its own online application may need the ministry's approval: AUA, for example, treats an international student's master's admission as final only after approval on fs.emis.am, and without it cancels the enrolment and refunds any tuition paid.

The legal basis of the general route is Armenian Government Decree No. 700-N of 28 April 2011 on the admission of foreign nationals to higher education. The ministry registers applicants and checks that documents are genuine, the university assesses knowledge and language, and enrolment follows an order by the rector based on the ministry's referral. The decree places no cap on fee-paying places for foreigners unless the law or a university's charter sets one.

To compare institutions first, see our guides to [universities in Armenia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-armenia) and [the cost of studying in Armenia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-armenia).

## Step 1. Check the teaching language and exam format {#section-2}

The teaching language determines whether you can start straight in the first year.

| University | How international students are admitted | What to watch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RAU | competition based on Russian or Armenian EGE or Belarus centralised testing; otherwise RAU's own exams | internal exams follow Russian and Armenian school curricula |
| Moscow State University branch | a subject exam and Russian, written, on the "University Without Borders" platform | exams are taken remotely; EGE results are not counted |
| YSMU | two exams chosen from physics, chemistry and biology | English-stream applicants also sit an English test; in 2026 the first exam session was set for 1–2 October for applications approved by 30 September |
| YSU | fluent Armenian plus faculty entrance exams | without Armenian, a preparatory department lasting an academic year |
| UFAR, master's | a relevant bachelor's degree, DELF B2 or DALF, interview | in 2026, applications ran from 15 January to 15 July in three rounds |

Applicants from Kazakhstan and other countries without the EGE will sit RAU's internal exams, because its rules list only the Russian and Armenian EGE and Belarus centralised testing. A Russian citizen with a Russian school certificate needs Russian EGE results to compete for a state-funded place; RAU's internal exams open only fee-paying places to such applicants. General advice for Kazakhstan school leavers is in our guide to [studying abroad from Kazakhstan](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-from-kazakhstan).

## Step 2. Prepare your documents {#section-3}

For the ministry route, universities publish the same list. Brusov University set it out in its 2026/27 admission notice:

- a copy of your passport;
- a translated and notarised copy of your school-leaving certificate or degree with grades, apostilled for some countries;
- a general health certificate (it can also be issued in Armenia);
- a unified exam certificate, if you have one;
- one 3 × 4 cm photo;
- a CV in Armenian, Russian or English;
- for diaspora Armenians, a notarised copy of a birth or baptism certificate.

Plan for an apostille early. YSMU, for example, requires an apostille on the original school certificate if the applicant's country has joined the Hague Apostille Convention, as Russia and Kazakhstan have.

RAU has its own list. Identity documents are submitted with certified translations into Armenian and Russian; Russian citizens add their SNILS number and men add their military registration document. You also need the school-leaving certificate, EGE results if you have them, four 3 × 4 cm photos and documents for any admission benefits. RAU charges $8 (AMD 3,000) for processing plus $6 (AMD 2,000) for each internal exam listed in the application; neither is refunded.

The Moscow State University branch accepts electronic copies: an application form, a copy of the passport (with a notarised Russian translation if needed), a copy of the school-leaving certificate with an undertaking to bring the original, a colour photo, a copy of a medical certificate and, for Russian citizens, SNILS.

Order notarised translations of your passport and certificate early, in April or May. It is the slowest step, and fs.emis.am will not approve an application without them.

## Step 3. Submit the application {#section-4}

Through fs.emis.am. Register, choose a university and programme, fill in the form, upload documents and submit for approval; the status appears in your account. In 2026 the ministry opened applications on 22 June with these deadlines:

| Who is applying | 2026 deadline window |
| --- | --- |
| Diaspora Armenians for free full-time bachelor's places (Armenian studies, pedagogy, arts) | 22 June – 24 August |
| Fee-paying full-time bachelor's, continuous and integrated programmes, preparatory courses | 22 June – 30 September |
| Fee-paying full-time master's and master's preparatory courses | 22 June – 15 October |
| Part-time bachelor's and master's | 22 June – 16 October |
| Fee-paying doctoral programmes | 22 June – 13 November |

The ministry published its 2026/27 announcement on 12 June 2026. For 2027/28, expect a similar calendar but confirm the dates in the new announcement. YSU advises starting the application from 1 June each year.

At RAU. In 2026, RAU accepted documents from 11 May. For state-funded places the deadline was 10 July for applicants sitting RAU exams and 25 July for those applying on EGE results; for fee-paying places it was 14 August. Exams ran on 13–25 July and 17–21 August, and enrolment orders for fee-paying places followed on 29 August. An additional round for applicants with foreign school certificates took applications on 2–4 September, held exams on 7–10 September and enrolled on 18 September.

At the Moscow State University branch. The first round closed on 1 June with exams on 2–6 June; the second ran from 2 June to 12 July with exams on 13–17 July; an additional round ran from 1 to 20 July.

## Step 4. Sit the exams or take a preparatory course {#section-5}

If you do not know the teaching language or are not ready for the subject exams, Decree 700-N provides for a preparatory course. Know its rules before you enrol:

- the course is full-time only and lasts at least six months;
- participants count as students of the university;
- the final exams cover the entrance-exam subjects, and passing them leads to first-year enrolment;
- final exams cannot be retaken except after a documented illness;
- you cannot transfer to another university's preparatory course, although another university may accept your certificate if the subjects match and its head agrees.

YSMU's preparatory course for international students lasts one academic year and covers physics, chemistry, biology, Armenian and English, taught in Armenian, Russian or English. For the English-taught group it costs $3,300 (AMD 1,200,000) a year.

## Step 5. Sign the contract and pay {#section-6}

International students study under a contract with the university. The decree requires universities to include a clause on entry and temporary residence rules in that contract, so read it carefully. Fees are invoiced in Armenian drams; at YSMU and AUA the contract fixes the amount until graduation. Russian applicants can find lawful payment options in our guide on [paying for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Step 6. Entry and residence status {#section-7}

Entry. Russian citizens enter Armenia visa-free with either an internal Russian passport or an international passport; the internal passport was added to the agreed list of documents by an exchange of notes on 24 January 2017. Nationals of visa-free countries may stay up to 180 days a year. Other nationalities should check the requirements for their country, including the e-visa option, on the Armenian foreign ministry's website.

Temporary residence status. An academic year is longer than 180 days, so students need temporary residence status from the Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia's Interior Ministry:

1. Book an appointment on migration.e-gov.am under the residence status application section, choosing the office at 14 Tairov Street.
2. Bring the application form (completed on site), three colour photos of 35 × 45 mm, your passport with a copy and a notarised Armenian translation, and proof of study as the ground for residence. The service's general list also includes a birth certificate, copies of parents' passports and their marriage certificate; ask at booking whether these apply to you.
3. Foreign students pay no state fee; for other applicants it is $290 (AMD 105,000).
4. The card is issued within 30 days, which can be extended by another 30 days. It is valid for up to one year and can be renewed.

The service can change document requirements, so check its list before booking.

## When to start: a timeline for autumn 2027 {#section-8}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| December 2026 – February 2027 | shortlist 2–3 programmes, check language, exams and accreditation |
| March – April | prepare for exams, order notarised translations |
| May – July | apply to RAU or the Moscow State University branch and sit their exams |
| June – September | apply to other universities through fs.emis.am and wait for approval |
| August – October | university exams, contract, first payment |
| After enrolment | book the temporary residence status appointment |

## Common mistakes {#section-9}

- Waiting until autumn to apply to RAU or the Moscow State University branch. Their main rounds end in summer.
- Uploading an untranslated certificate to fs.emis.am. The ministry requires a translated, notarised copy with grades.
- Treating a preparatory course like a language school. Its final exams are your entrance exams and cannot be retaken.
- Not applying for residence status and losing count of days. After 180 days a year without status, your stay is unlawful.
- Expecting RAU to accept Kazakhstan's UNT results. It accepts only the Russian and Armenian EGE and Belarus centralised testing; everyone else sits internal exams.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can I apply to an Armenian university straight after secondary school abroad?

Yes. A complete secondary school certificate gives access to bachelor's programmes. RAU accepts Russian and Armenian state certificates directly, and other universities accept foreign certificates through fs.emis.am as a translated, notarised copy.

### Do Armenian universities accept EGE results?

RAU accepts Russian EGE results, as well as the Armenian unified exam and Belarus centralised testing. The Moscow State University branch in Yerevan does not count EGE scores and runs its own written exams online. YSMU sets its own physics, chemistry and biology tests for international applicants.

### Can I apply without travelling to Armenia?

Often, yes: fs.emis.am applications are online, the Moscow State University branch accepts electronic copies and holds exams remotely, and RAU accepts documents through its online system too, although it holds its internal exams in person. YSMU, however, holds its entrance exams in person in Yerevan and announces results at the university, where applicants must be present.

### Do I need an international passport to study in Armenia?

A Russian citizen can enter with an internal passport. For residence status, however, the Migration and Citizenship Service asks for a passport with a notarised Armenian translation, so confirm which document it will accept in your case; you will need an international passport for travel to third countries anyway.

### How much does it cost to apply?

Application charges are small: RAU, for example, charges $8 (AMD 3,000) for processing documents and $6 (AMD 2,000) per internal exam. The larger costs are notarised translations, travel for in-person exams and the first tuition payment. Temporary residence status is free for students.

### What happens if I fail the entrance exams?

You can still join the same university's preparatory course if your application was filed on time. YSMU states this explicitly: applicants who fail its exams can enrol in its preparatory department, whose final exams count as entrance exams.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [Armenia Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport: call for foreign applicants 2026/27](https://escs.gov.am/en/articles/announcements/call-for-applications-and-submission-of-documents-of-foreign-applicants-including-diaspora-armenians-for-admission-to-educational-institutions-offering-higher-educational-programs-in-the-republic-of-armenia-2026-2027-academic-year), [fs.emis.am admission system](https://fs.emis.am/) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Government Decree No. 700-N of 28 April 2011, English translation hosted by NUACA](https://nuaca.am/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/eng.pdf) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Brusov University: 2026/27 notice for foreign applicants and document list](https://brusov.am/ru/announcement/priyom_inostrannykh_abiturientov_vklyuchaya_predstavitelei_armyanskoi_diaspory_i_podacha_dokumentov_v_uchebnye_zavedeniy/) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [YSU: admission of international citizens](https://www.ysu.am/en/international-ysu/88801), [foreign students](https://www.ysu.am/en/foreign-students) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [RAU: bachelor's admission and deadlines](https://rau.am/abitur/bachelor/), [admission rules 2026](https://rau.am/abitur/files/eiy/Pravila_priema_bak_29.05.2026.pdf) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Moscow State University branch in Yerevan: bachelor's admission 2026/27](https://msu.am/поступающим/бакалавриат/) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [YSMU: admission of foreign citizens 2026/27](https://ysmu.am/en/admission-foreign-citizens/), [preparatory department](https://ysmu.am/en/department-of-foreign-students-preparatory-education/) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [UFAR: master's application rounds 2026/27](https://ufar.am/storage/uploads/Admission_Master_DFM_externe_2026-2027.pdf) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Russia–Armenia visa-free travel agreement: exchange of notes of 24 Jan 2017](https://legallabor.ru/normativno-pravovaya-biblioteka/item/234-soglashenie-mezhdu-pravitelstvom-rossijskoj-federatsii-i-pravitelstvom-respubliki-armeniya-o-vnesenii-izmeneniya-v-soglashenie-mezhdu-pravitelstvom-rossijskoj-federatsii-i-pravitelstvom-respubliki-armeniya-o-vzaimnykh-bezvizovykh-poezdkakh-grazhdan-rossij), [official publication of the agreement](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201207130010) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Armenia Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visas and visa-free stay](https://www.mfa.am/en/visa/) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia: acquiring temporary residence status](https://migration.mia.gov.am/en/acquiring-temporary-residence-status) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- [Central Bank of Armenia](https://www.cba.am/). Dollar figures use the Central Bank of Armenia rate for 29 Sep 2026 ($1 = AMD 363.18), rounded to the dollar below $100 and to the nearest $10 above.

Programme selection, requirement checks, document preparation and translation, application filing and support until enrolment are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission, Armenia's Ministry of Education verifies documents, and the Migration and Citizenship Service grants residence status.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Universities in Armenia for International Students: Which to Choose in 2026/27](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-armenia)
- [Cost of Studying in Armenia in 2026/27: Tuition, Housing and Required Extras](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-armenia)
- [Study Abroad from Kazakhstan: Where and How in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-from-kazakhstan)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)

Updated: September 2026