Russia Among Top 6 Study Destinations For Foreign Students - State Project

Russia has ranked among the top six of countries attracting the most foreign students, and plans to increase their number to 710,000 over seven years, according to a government education project.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th December, 2018) Russia has ranked among the top six of countries attracting the most foreign students, and plans to increase their number to 710,000 over seven years, according to a government education project.

Project 5-100 was launched in May 2012 by a decree of President Vladimir Putin to promote Russian universities in the global education market.

"Russia is among top 6 countries that receive the most foreign students ... This is according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. By 2025, the number of overseas students in Russian universities and colleges is projected to rise to 710,000," the project's press release reads.

The UNESCO rating is topped by the United States, which is the preferred destination for 19 percent of overseas students. The UK's share is 8 percent, followed by Australia with 7 percent, while France, Germany, and Russia account each for 5 percent.

A total of 220,000 foreign students were accepted to Russian universities, participants of Project 5-100, in 2017. Their number rose to 240,000 in 2018, while revenues from tuition fees increased from 84 million rubles ($1.2 million) in 2017 to 96 million rubles this year.