Foreign citizens having completed higher education at Master level or equivalent can be admitted to PhD course on the intergovernmental agreements (with the scholarship from the Russian budget), or on the payment basis. Education at PhD course is provided in Russian language in the listed below fields of scientific-pedagogical expert training and on the appropriate specialties. The PhD course duration is three or four years (depending on the field of study). When it is necessary to study Russian language, the candidates to PhD course are admitted to the annual Preliminary Course. Generally, Preliminary Course duration is one year.

The scientific supervisor from the high-qualified MPEI professors or scientific researchers is nominated to each PhD student. The education at PhD course includes the deep studying of the theoretical fundamentals of the chosen specialty and fulfillment of the independent scientific research, the main results of which should be published in the printed journals, which are recommended by the Higher Attestation Commission.

The educational process is divided into several semesters: one academic year has two semesters of five months each. Two months (July and August) are vacation for PhD students. The detailed work plan is formed for each semester and at its end the attestation of each PhD students is conducted at the meeting of the department. At this attestation the estimation of the fulfilled plan is discussed with the recommendations to PhD student and to his supervisor. During the education at PhD course all candidates should pass through the official exams on Russian Language, History and Philosophy of Science, Special Discipline and the State Final Exam.

The prepared thesis is the result of education at PhD course, which after the final report at the department can be transferred to the Scientific Council session for the official defense. In case of successful defense at Scientific Council, all documents should be sent to Higher Attestation Commission of Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation, which conducts the thesis inspection and makes the final decision about awarding the PhD degree.

In order to be admitted to MPEI PhD course on the intergovernmental agreements, the foreign citizen should contact the National Ministry of Education of his/her country or with representatives of Russian Organization “Rossotrudnichestvo” (through the Russian Embassy). Admission to PhD course is arranged on the base of the Order issuing by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation.

In order to be admitted to MPEI PhD course on the payment basis, the foreign citizen should contact the MPEI Department of Foreign PhD Students and Trainees (phdcourse@mpei.ru) and announce his/her wish to enter the PhD course on the payment basis. After that, the applicant should send to the mentioned address the following set of documents:

  • Application form;
  • The copies of the first two pages of national passport;
  • The copies of the educational document about the previous education with the transcript (the confirmed list of passed disciplines with the grades);
  • The copies of his/her scientific papers (if any);
  • Recommendations of the scientists and experts;
  • Full Address for the letter exchange (usual mail address with post-code);
  • Fax number and E-mail address;
  • Motivation letter
  • The summary (the abstract) concerning the future theme of PhD thesis which can be the published or prepare scientific paper or the separate text of 3-4 pages in English or in Russian

These documents are necessary for making the final decision by the specific MPEI department about the admission. When the decision is positive, the applicant will be informed about the MPEI consent to accept at PhD course in written form, and he is informed about financial conditions of future education. When necessary, the applicant may get the text of the future contract.

After that, the applicant should confirm in written form his consent to conditions of education, and MPEI should send the set of documents in the Federal Migration Agency for the official invitation. The origin of this invitation is sent to the applicant for getting the entry visa in Russian Consulate.

Admission at PhD course is performed after successful passing through the entering testing (exams) on Philosophy, Russian Language and Special Discipline.