Following the results of the 2026 admission campaign, Turkmenistan entered the top three foreign countries that submitted the highest number of applicants to the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University).

This was announced by RUDN Rector Oleg Yastrebov at a press conference dedicated to the results of the admission campaign, the TASS news agency reports.

In 2026, applicants from 136 countries applied to RUDN University. The competition for state-funded places via Rossotrudnichestvo exceeded three people per spot, and over 1,500 applications were accepted for fee-based studies.

China, Turkmenistan, and Turkey secured leading positions in terms of the number of international applicants. Consequently, Asia and CIS countries proved to be among the most active regions for those wishing to study at the university.

The specialties that generated the greatest interest among international students are:

  • general medicine;

  • dentistry;

  • international relations;

  • management;

  • philology.

During the 2026 admission campaign, RUDN set a new record by accepting a total of nearly 330,000 applications. This figure is approximately 130,000 higher than last year.

Furthermore, the university fully filled its state-funded positions for bachelor's and specialist programs. According to the university, demand for technical and natural science fields doubled in 2026.

Turkmenistan's inclusion in the top three demonstrates the growing interest of Turkmen youth in pursuing higher education abroad and highlights RUDN University's strong demand in the international education market.