Address: 4 Leninsky Prospekt, Moscow, 119049, Russia
Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mining Engineering
Established in 1918 (as Moscow Mining Academy), MISiS is a leading Russian technical university specializing in materials science, metallurgy, mining, and nanotechnologies. It is a National Research Technological University.
The National University of Science and Technology MISIS, in Moscow, grew out of the Mining Academy established in 1918 and was reorganised as the Moscow Institute of Steel in 1930. It later took the name Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, which gave the abbreviation MISIS. It has about 20,000 students and 3,500 staff, and around one student in five comes from abroad. The main building is on Leninsky Prospekt, near Gorky Park, with additional buildings and branches in other cities.
MISIS is a leading Russian university for metallurgy and materials science, and it has expanded into mining, information technology, energy, ecology and management. It trained a large share of the engineers who built the Soviet and Russian steel industry, and its alumni lead many mining and metal companies. The university has institutes of new materials and nanotechnology, mining, computer science, ecology and engineering, and a school of business.
Research is applied and closely linked to industry. Areas include advanced alloys, composite materials, nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy, battery materials and steel technology. The university has laboratories led by visiting scientists from abroad and runs a technology park. It takes part in programmes to upgrade the national metals industry, and many students join internships in steelworks and mines.
Russian applicants enter by the Unified State Exam, with state-funded places and paid places. Foreign students can come through the government quota scholarship system or pay tuition, and many begin with a preparatory year in Russian. Fees vary by programme, so check the current tariff. Teaching is in Russian, with a number of programmes in English. Since 2022, academic exchanges with institutions abroad have changed, so check the current status of agreements.
Moscow is expensive, but dormitories at MISIS are a cheaper alternative, and the campus is close to several metro stations. Students often start in a university dormitory and move to shared flats later.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Engineering, Geotechnics, Materials, Nanotechnologies, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Partnerships with over 200 universities and research centers worldwide; collaborations with major industrial companies in metallurgy, materials, and IT.
Research:
Research focused on advanced materials and nanotechnologies, metallurgy and materials processing, mining and geosciences, quantum technologies, and biomedical engineering.
Famous Alumnis:
Andrei Skoch, German Khan
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3500
Current students***:
20000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
150000
Pros
Leading university in materials science and metallurgy, strong industry links, modern research infrastructure, focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Cons
Specialized focus might not suit all, competitive programs.
Also strong in nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics, National Research Saratov State University makes a sensible second look at home; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Siberian Federal University is the closest domestic counterpart for geotechnics, physics and materials; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers ecology and sustainability and electrical and electronics as well.
Ural Federal University shares the core fields of this institution, namely chemistry, physics and materials; it covers mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 36,000 students against roughly 20,000 here.
Tomsk Polytechnic University overlaps with this university on nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics, so the two are easy to compare, and it covers electrical and electronics and software engineering as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 12,000 students against roughly 20,000 here.
For students who like the nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics focus of this institution but want another option nearby, Belgorod State National Research University fits well: it is slightly larger, at about 23,000 students against roughly 20,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics; it covers electrical and electronics and life sciences as well, and has almost the same size, at about 18,125 students.
Abroad, Northwest University Xi'an (China) covers geotechnics, chemistry and physics in a comparable way, and it has almost the same size, at about 18,000 students, and is also a public institution.
University of Science and Technology Beijing (China) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly physics, materials and engineering; it covers chemical engineering and automation as well, and is slightly larger, at about 27,311 students against roughly 20,000 here.
On content, Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and this institution are close, as both teach geotechnics, materials and engineering; it covers astroscience and aerospace as well, and has almost the same size, at about 19,000 students.
Beyond national borders, University of Oulu stands out as a comparable school for chemistry, physics and materials; it is smaller, enrolling about 13,000 students against roughly 20,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is MISIS?
At 4 Leninsky Prospekt in Moscow, Russia, near Gorky Park.
What does MISIS stand for?
Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, the former name of the institution.
When was it established?
Its roots go back to the Mining Academy of 1918, and it was reorganised as the Moscow Institute of Steel in 1930.
How large is it?
About 20,000 students and 3,500 staff.
What is it known for?
Metallurgy, materials science, mining, nanotechnology and additive manufacturing.
Does it have branches?
Yes, in other cities as well as in Moscow.
What research does it do?
Advanced alloys, composite materials, nanomaterials, powder metallurgy and battery materials.
How do foreign students enter?
Through the government quota scholarship system or by paying tuition. Check the current tariff.
In which language are courses taught?
Mainly in Russian, with a number of programmes in English.
Where do students live?
In dormitories, and later often in shared flats.
Additive Manufacturing, Engineering, Innovation, Materials Science, Metallurgy, Nanotechnologies, Research and Development, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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