Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) is an academic institution run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, which is widely considered the most elite university in Russia. It was dubbed the “Harvard of Russia” by Henry Kissinger, because it educates so many of Russia’s political, economic, and intellectual elite. Currently, it has the lowest acceptance rate and the highest test scores of any university in the country. It is the alma mater of the largest number of Forbes list members and representatives of the political elite according to Forbes Russia.

MGIMO offers numerous educational programs in 18 key fields of study, including: international relations, international economic relations, regional studies, international law, political science, public and business administration, journalism, public relations, commerce and transnational business. According to the Guinness Book of Records, MGIMO teaches 53 full time languages during every academic term, the most in any academic institution.
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The university encompasses two campuses – MGIMO-Vernadsky and MGIMO-Odintsovo, as well as MGIMO educational platform in Geneva. A new campus was launched in Tashkent in autumn 2019. Each year about 8,000 students from Russia and abroad study at MGIMO University.

MGIMO is renowned for academic and public diplomacy. Today it is a centre for the Russian-French Trianon Dialogue, the Russian-Czech Discussion Forum, the Russian-Austrian forum Sochi Dialogue, ASEAN Centre.

International rankings

In Russia, MGIMO is the school that offers the best salaries to its graduates, above any other Russian university.
In recognition of its remarkable international education and research, MGIMO has been awarded «5 Stars»[2] in the QS Stars Audit, thus becoming the first university in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and amongst BRICS countries to be bestowed with this accolade.

In 2018, MGIMO ranked 373rd in the QS World University Rankings. According to the employment rate of graduates in the first year after graduation, MGIMO ranks 1st – 100 points out of 100 possible.

In the same year, the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report[5] ranked MGIMO 11th in the world in Best University Affiliated Think Tanks index, 34th – Think Tanks with the Most Significant Impact on Public Policy, 17th – Top Think Tanks in Central and Eastern Europe.

Science and research

Among MGIMO academic staff are approximately 900 professors holding PhD degree, as well as two dozen members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

MGIMO has granted honorary doctorate degrees to prominent foreign politicians, public experts, diplomats and scholars, working in the field of international relations and foreign policy among which President of France (2007–2012) Nikolas Sarkozy, President of the European Commission (1999–2004) Romano Prodi, President of the French Institute of International Affairs Thierry de Montbrial, Prince of Monaco Albert II, President of Chile Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria and many others.

MGIMO scientific schools:

• International Relations
• Diplomacy Studies
• International Law
• International Private and Civil Law
• European Law
• Foreign Countries’ Constitutional Law
• American Studies
• European Studies
• East-European Studies
• Ibero-American Studies
• Oriental Studies
• School of Energy Studies
• Political Theory and Comparative Political
• Study of Elites
• Economic School

The Institute of International Studies which comprises 7 research centers accumulates the scientific and intellectual output of the University. A special place occupies ASEAN Centre[10] that was officially opened in 2010. The Center’s mission is to spread information about the ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership, to facilitate development of economic linkages, cultural, scientific and educational exchanges as well as people-to-people contacts between Russia and the ASEAN member countries, to carry out and support research on problems of ASEAN and its individual members.

MGIMO is member of leading international organizations, including

• International Studies Association (ISA)
• European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
• Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA)
• European Association for International Education (EAIE)
• World International Studies Committee
• European Association of Universities
• International Federation of Latin America and Caribbean Studies (FIEALC)
• Council for Advancement and Support of Education

Student life

The university is famous for its students’ activity. There are several main students organizations active at the university:

• Student Union
• International Students Association (includes more than 30 national clubs)
• Moscow International Model United Nations (MIMUN) (in 2017 was named after Vitaly Churkin)
• Student Science Society (includes Business Club, Debate Club, Germanic Studies Club, etc.)
• Russian Association of Public Relations Students

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