Study and find schools in Belarus

Studying in Belarus

Belarus is a country of about 9.1 million people in Eastern Europe (9,056,100 on 1 January 2026, according to the national statistics committee), between Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and Russia. It has a large, mainly state-run university system: according to the Ministry of Education, 47 higher education institutions operate in the country, 43 public and 4 private, with 240,000 students.

Belarusian universities look mainly east for partners: Vitebsk State Technological University, for example, lists agreements with institutions in Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Vietnam and India. Russian is the usual language of study, and some universities also offer programmes in English. For students from Spain and Latin America, the political situation weighs heavily: since the war in the region broke out in February 2022, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelling with caution and checking the political situation and entry requirements before going.

The education system

Higher education in Belarus is regulated by national educational standards set by the state. The ministry describes three kinds of higher education qualification: general higher education, advanced higher education and special higher education, plus academic degrees. In practice universities organise studies in two stages and a postgraduate level:

• First stage: the main university degree, which universities present in English as a specialist degree or bachelor's degree; at Polotsk State University it lasts four to six years depending on the subject and mode of study
• Second stage: the master's degree, one to two and a half years at Polotsk
• Postgraduate study (PhD), leading to research qualifications

Universities in our directory illustrate the range. Vitebsk State Technological University trains specialists for the light and textile industries, economics, design and IT, with 24 first-stage and 9 master's programmes and more than 500 students from 11 countries. Polotsk State University in Novopolotsk offers more than 40 bachelor's programmes, master's and postgraduate studies and a centre for teaching foreign citizens. The Belarusian State University is in the capital, Minsk.

Admission and recognition

Foreign applicants apply directly to the university. At Polotsk State University, the documents include an application form, passport, the secondary school certificate with transcript, birth certificate, photos and medical certificates confirming that you are fit to study in Belarus. All documents in other languages need a notarised translation into Russian. Applicants then take an interview to check their level of Russian after arriving.

Students who do not yet speak Russian can start with a ten-month preparatory course. At Polotsk, this course improves your Russian, prepares you for entrance exams and adds subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science; it ends with the certificate needed to enter the first year, and foreign students are recruited for it throughout the year. Programmes in English exist, for example at Polotsk and Vitebsk State Technological University, but the choice is much narrower than in Russian.

Belarusian degrees are defined by national educational standards, so if you plan to use a Belarusian qualification in Spain, the EU or Latin America, check the recognition rules in that country before enrolling.

Student visa and residence

Students need an official invitation for studies from their university, which they request by sending a copy of their passport, education documents and application form; with it they apply for a student visa at a Belarusian consulate. Spanish citizens and those of 37 other European countries can enter without a visa for stays of up to 30 days until 31 December 2026, according to the Belarusian embassy in Spain and the Spanish ministry, but this does not cover a degree.

All foreigners must register with the local police (or online at portal.gov.by) within five working days of arrival; universities and hotels help with this. Passports must be valid for at least six months after leaving Belarus, and the police often check that foreigners carry their passport, which is a legal requirement (Spanish ministry advice valid on 7 October 2026).

Costs

Tuition is set by each university. At Polotsk State University, bachelor's fees start at US$2,300 a year and master's fees at US$2,500 a year. Universities have their own dormitories; Vitebsk State Technological University, for example, has two dormitories on its campus in the centre of Vitebsk. No official source gives living-cost figures. The Spanish ministry notes that euros and dollars are easy to exchange in authorised offices and that private clinics require payment or a guarantee in advance, so full health insurance is essential.

Where to study

• Minsk, the capital, home to the Belarusian State University
• Vitebsk, in the north-east, with Vitebsk State Technological University (engineering, economics and design)
• Novopolotsk and Polotsk, also in the Vitebsk region, home to Polotsk State University

Practical life

The Spanish ministry describes crime levels as low but warns that any unauthorised protest is illegal, that border areas and areas affected by war or radioactive contamination are restricted or closed to foreigners, and that health care does not always meet Western standards. Spain has no embassy in Belarus: Spanish citizens are covered by the embassy in Moscow and an honorary consular office in Minsk.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Belarus in English?

Some universities, such as Polotsk State University and Vitebsk State Technological University, offer programmes in English, but most teaching is in Russian.

How much does it cost to study in Belarus?

Fees vary by university. At Polotsk State University, bachelor's programmes start at US$2,300 a year and master's programmes at US$2,500 a year.

I don't speak Russian. Can I still study in Belarus?

Yes, through a preparatory year. Polotsk State University runs a ten-month course in Russian and core subjects that leads to the certificate needed to start a degree.

Do I need a visa to study in Belarus?

Yes. The 30-day visa-free entry for Spanish and other European citizens is not enough for a degree; you need a student visa based on an official invitation from your university, and you must register with the police within five working days.

Is it a good time to study in Belarus?

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelling with caution and checking the political situation first. Weigh this, and the recognition of Belarusian degrees in your country, before applying.