The InteRussia Fellowship occupies a genuinely narrow niche among international fellowships: a short, intensive research placement in Moscow built specifically for non-Russian specialists in international relations, political science, and regional studies, run jointly by MGIMO University — one of Russia’s most prominent institutions for diplomacy and international affairs — the Gorchakov Fund, and the Mezhdunarodniki organisation, with support from Russia’s Presidential Grants Foundation.
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If you’re checking this now, the Spring 2026 cohort has already run its full course, but there’s a live opportunity you shouldn’t miss: InteRussia has opened applications for an Autumn 2026 round, with a deadline of 1 September 2026. This post explains how the fellowship works, corrects a cost detail worth knowing before you apply, and walks through exactly how to apply for the open Autumn cycle.
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About the InteRussia Fellowship
InteRussia’s stated mission is to build a genuinely global, horizontal network of young scholars researching international relations, fostering academic dialogue on emerging perspectives in what the programme’s own materials describe as an increasingly multipolar world. The distinguishing feature of the fellowship, beyond its short six-week format, is direct academic mentorship: shortlisted participants work under the guidance of leading MGIMO scholars specifically, rather than a general lecture series disconnected from personal research supervision.
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Each cohort runs around a specific thematic focus — the Spring 2026 round centered on “Security, Science, and Technology: Managing Change in a Turbulent World,” while past cohorts have covered themes like “Political Dynamics of the Global South” and “The World Divided? Current Trends in Military-Political Alignment and Economic Integration.” Fellows don’t just attend seminars; the programme includes direct visits to Russian governmental and policy-making institutions, alongside expert sessions hosted by universities, think tanks, and non-governmental organisations — giving genuine, first-hand exposure to how Russian institutions engage with international affairs, not just an academic overview delivered secondhand.
InteRussia Fellowship Program Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | InteRussia Fellowship Program |
| Host Country ⇒ | Russia |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Travel, accommodation, visa support, and a RUB 45,000 lump-sum scholarship |
| Funded by ⇒ | MGIMO University, in partnership with the Gorchakov Fund and Mezhdunarodniki |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | The Spring 2026 cohort closed on 8 February 2026 and has already concluded (fellowship ran 16 March–26 April 2026). Autumn 2026 cohort is currently open, with a deadline of 1 September 2026, 23:59 Moscow time. |
What the Fellowship Actually Covers — and What It Doesn’t
- Round-trip travel from your place of residence to Moscow and back
- Single accommodation for the full six-week fellowship duration
- Visa support, helping facilitate your entry into Russia through the appropriate channels
- A one-time scholarship of RUB 45,000, covering the entire fellowship period
- Full access to academic seminars, expert sessions, and direct research mentoring from leading MGIMO scholars
One cost worth being clear about, since it’s easy to assume “fully funded” covers everything: participants are responsible for their own meals throughout the fellowship. This isn’t a minor omission — six weeks of daily meal costs in Moscow is a real budget item to plan for, and it’s worth factoring into your decision alongside the otherwise comprehensive travel, accommodation, and stipend coverage.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a non-Russian citizen, currently residing outside Russia
- You must generally fall between 25 and 39 years old, though this age range applies to most tracks rather than being an absolute universal cutoff — confirm against the specific cohort’s published criteria
- You must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR B2 level or above (some materials cite C1 specifically — confirm the exact requirement for the Autumn cohort directly, since sources have varied slightly on this figure between rounds)
- You must hold a PhD, be currently enrolled in PhD studies, or have at least three years of relevant working experience at an academic institution or think tank
- You must submit a research proposal aligned with the specific cohort’s thematic focus
- You must have no prior employment, prior enrollment in academic programmes, or other existing institutional relationship with MGIMO University — this is a specific exclusion worth noting if you’ve had any prior formal connection to MGIMO
- You’ll be evaluated competitively based on the strength of your research proposal, your professional and academic achievements, and other relevant activities such as conference participation, grants, prior fellowships, or published expert commentary
Required Documents
- A completed application form, submitted through the official portal
- A research proposal, written in English, addressing the specific cohort’s published theme — for the Autumn 2026 round, confirm the current theme directly, since it changes each cycle
- A curriculum vitae or resume
- Academic certificates or professional credentials, supporting your PhD status, PhD enrollment, or three-plus years of relevant professional experience
- Letters of recommendation, where required for your specific application track
- Proof of English language proficiency, if requested for your specific track
How to Apply for the Autumn 2026 Cohort
- Sign up on the English version of the Gorchakov Fund’s website — this is where account registration happens, distinct from the InteRussia site itself.
- Check your inbox (and spam folder) for a registration verification email before proceeding.
- Navigate to the “My Projects” section and click “Create application.”
- Select the current Autumn 2026 competition listing specifically — recent cycles have used a naming convention like “InteRussia IR MGIMO 2026 (Autumn)” — and confirm your selection.
- Fill in all mandatory fields in the application form.
- Upload your research proposal and all other required documents.
- Click “Submit Application” in the “Apply” section, and confirm your status has changed from “Preparing” to “Submitted” — don’t assume a saved draft counts as a completed submission.
- Submit everything before 1 September 2026, 23:59 Moscow time (UTC+3).
- Wait for the selection results, communicated by email to all applicants.
If You’re Preparing for This or a Future Cohort
Given the Autumn 2026 deadline is roughly five weeks out from this post, and future cohorts will likely follow a similar biannual (Spring/Autumn) pattern:
- Start your research proposal now, not close to 1 September. Given the direct academic mentorship component and the competitive evaluation criteria, a proposal that’s been genuinely developed and refined is likely to stand out clearly against one drafted in the final days before the deadline.
- Confirm the current cohort’s specific theme directly on the Gorchakov Fund or InteRussia site before finalising your proposal, since each cycle’s theme shifts, and a strong proposal needs to align closely with it.
- Line up your recommendation letters early, particularly if your track requires them, since this depends on your recommenders’ own availability and timeline.
- Budget realistically for six weeks of meals in Moscow, since this is the one cost the fellowship doesn’t cover, and it’s worth planning for financially before you commit to the fellowship if selected.
- Watch for future Spring and Autumn calls directly on the Gorchakov Fund’s English-language site and interussia.com, since this appears to be the programme’s consistent biannual pattern going forward.
Deadline
The Spring 2026 cohort’s application deadline was 8 February 2026, and the fellowship itself ran from 16 March to 26 April 2026 — both stages are complete. The Autumn 2026 cohort is currently open, with an application deadline of 1 September 2026, 23:59 Moscow time (UTC+3). Given the programme’s demonstrated biannual pattern, expect further Spring and Autumn calls to follow in future years, though InteRussia does not guarantee identical dates every cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for the InteRussia Fellowship right now?
Yes — the Spring 2026 cohort has closed and concluded, but the Autumn 2026 cohort is currently accepting applications, with a deadline of 1 September 2026.
Is the fellowship genuinely fully funded?
Mostly. Travel, accommodation, visa support, and a RUB 45,000 stipend are all covered, but participants are responsible for their own meals throughout the six-week fellowship — worth budgeting for separately.
Do I need a PhD to apply?
Not necessarily. You can qualify with a completed PhD, current PhD enrollment, or at least three years of relevant professional experience at an academic institution or think tank.
Can I apply if I’ve previously studied or worked at MGIMO University?
No. The fellowship explicitly excludes applicants with any prior employment, enrollment, or other formal relationship with MGIMO University.
What’s the fellowship’s current thematic focus?
This changes by cohort — Spring 2026 centered on “Security, Science, and Technology: Managing Change in a Turbulent World.” Confirm the Autumn 2026 cohort’s specific theme directly on the official application portal before finalising your research proposal.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official and reported sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the Gorchakov Fund’s English-language website and interussia.com before submitting an application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with MGIMO University, the Gorchakov Fund, or Mezhdunarodniki.
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