Moscow State University is a major traditional educational institution in Russia, it offers training in almost all branches of modern science and humanities. Its undergraduates may choose one of 128 qualifications in its 39 faculties, while post-graduate students may specialize in 18 branches of science and humanities and in 168 different areas.

The total number of MSU students exceeds 40,000; besides, about 10,000 high school students attend various clubs and courses at MSU. Various kinds of academic courses and research work are conducted at MSU Museums, affiliated subdivisions in various locations in Russia, on board scientific ships etc.

Among those who teach and do research at MSU there are 2,500 higher doctoral degree holders and almost 6,000 holders of candidate degrees, the total number of professors and instructors being about 5,000; there are over 300 full members and correspondent members of he Russian Academy of Sciences and other academies.. About 4,500 scientists and scholars are currently involved in 350 research projects in various fields. A number of new faculties, departments and research laboratories have been recently established, new academic programs are being continuously introduced together with new curricula; there are over 140 distance learning programs. Research has recently started in 30 new interdisciplinary areas.

In the 60 years of its existence (as the MSU Pre-University Deaprtment for Foreign Citizens, the MSU Centre of International Education and the MSU Institute of Russian Language and Culture), the IRLC has accumulated extensive experience and acquired a strong reputation in the international education market.

Students from Eton College (UK) and the University of Bergamo (Italy) and the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) regularly come to study with us. Employees of the embassies of France, the United Kingdom, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Angola, India and other countries are trained at the Centre on a regular basis. MSU collaborates with the Eurasian University Association and has links with about 60 educational institutions, centers, unions, and universities in Europe, the USA, Japan, China and some other Asian countries, in Australia, Latin America, Arab countries. 5 MSU branch campuses have been opened in the former Soviet republics.

This programme is designed for those who wish to enter one of the faculties at the MSU or to prepare themselves for undergraduate or postgraduate studies. The programme includes: General Russian Language course; Russian for Academic Purposes course; Courses for subjects in the humanities and sciences. Class sizes are kept small. Groups consist of no more than 10 students in the Russian language classes and no more than 20 students in the classes in other subjects.

Academic curriculum includes lessons five days a week, 6-8 academic hours per day. The course could be one academic year (two semesters) or one and a half academic years (three semesters). At the end of academic year the students take exams in Russian and subjects of their specialization. After passing the course examinations, students receive corresponding certificates. These allow them to enroll in one of the main faculties of the MSU according to their specialization.