Health and medical insurance during your studies
Medical insurance is not optional in Russia: without it, neither final enrolment nor your residence permit can be completed. This guide explains what it covers, what it does not, and how to actually get care once you are there.
Mandatory medical insurance
It is required for final enrolment and for residence, and renews every year. Budget around €180 a year, alongside housing.
It is taken out with an approved Russian insurer. You pay for it even as a state quota holder: the scholarship covers studies, not insurance.
The medical check on arrival
In the first weeks, the university organises a medical check. It complements the certificates in your visa file and conditions your final enrolment.
- Bring your vaccination record and the medical certificates from your file, translated
- Bring a translated prescription for any long-term treatment you follow
- Declare any allergy or chronic condition at the check, not at the first incident
Getting care locally
- Universities generally have a medical point on campus for routine consultations
- Your insurance certificate is the document to present: keep a copy on your phone
- Pharmacies are plentiful, but brand names differ — remember the molecule, not the brand
- In an emergency, your RusStudy tutor stays reachable to liaise with health services
What insurance does not cover
- Routine dental care, under most basic policies
- Glasses and optical care
- Medical repatriation, unless taken as a separate option
- Pre-existing conditions declared before subscription, depending on the policy
Frequently asked questions
Is medical insurance really mandatory?
Yes. Without a valid insurance certificate, final enrolment and residence formalities cannot be completed. It renews every year.
How much does it cost?
Budget around €180 a year. It is a line to plan from the start, including for state quota holders, whose scholarship does not cover it.
Can I keep my Tunisian insurance?
No, it does not replace the Russian insurance required for residence. Tunisian travel insurance can complement the cover, but not substitute for it.