Bachelor's DegreeBSU

Applying to a Bachelor's Degree at BSU

Belarusian State University · Updated June 2026

BSU is Belarus's flagship classical university, offering internationally recognised Bachelor's degrees in law, international relations, economics, sciences, and more. This guide covers the complete application process and all fees for international students.

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Required Documents

Valid passport (original + notarised copy)
Secondary school leaving certificate or equivalent (original + certified translation into Russian)
Document legalisation / apostille — see Important Notes
12 passport-sized photographs
Medical certificate confirming good health (HIV test included)
Completed application form (provided by your agency)

Step-by-Step Application Process

Choose your programme

Browse the available programmes on the Programs page or the inBelarus Go platform. Confirm the tuition fee and entry requirements for your chosen specialisation before applying.

Submit your application and pay the application fee

Apply through the inBelarus Go platform. The $350 application fee is the only payment made before you travel — it covers document review and the issuance of your official university invitation letter.

Prepare your documents

Gather all required documents (see the list above). Documents must be originals or certified copies. Start this process early — legalisation in particular can take several weeks.

Legalise your documents (if required)

Most nationalities are strongly encouraged to have their academic certificates legalised (apostille or full legalisation) before leaving their home country. Check the Important Notes section for country-specific requirements. Do not leave this until you arrive — it cannot be done in Belarus.

Obtain your visa

If your country has a Belarusian embassy, you must apply for a student visa there before travelling. If not, you can travel directly and obtain a visa on arrival — but this carries an additional fee. Do NOT transit through Russia if you do not have a Belarusian embassy visa.

Travel to Belarus with all required funds

Carry all required cash in your hand luggage — not in checked bags. Belarusian border authorities require you to demonstrate sufficient funds on entry. Students who cannot present the full amount risk denial of entry, even if the shortfall is minor. Make sure all banknotes are clean and undamaged.

Complete on-arrival registration

On arrival your agency will guide you through: university check-in, paying all on-arrival fees, hostel registration, the mandatory medical examination, Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) application, and any university interview or document review procedures.

Fee Breakdown

Before arrival (online)On arrival (cash)By 15th December of the same year

Item	Amount	When
Application fee (document review + official invitation letter) Paid online via the inBelarus Go platform before you travel.	$350	Before arrival (online)
Tuition — 1st instalment (50%) Total annual tuition: $5,100.	$2,550	On arrival (cash)
Hostel prepayment Exact amount depends on hostel and duration.	Up to $500	On arrival (cash)
University interview fee (on arrival)	~$75	On arrival (cash)
Document review fee (on arrival)	~$75	On arrival (cash)
Annual medical insurance	$240	On arrival (cash)
Mandatory medical examination Required by local authorities. Repeats every year.	$100	On arrival (cash)
Notarisation & certified translation (passport + academic certificate) Each additional document: $25.	$60	On arrival (cash)
Visa extension fee Repeats annually.	$65	On arrival (cash)
Visa-on-arrival processing (if no embassy visa) Only if you did not obtain a visa through a Belarusian embassy before travelling.	$150	On arrival (cash)
Tuition — 2nd instalment (50%)	$2,550	By 15th December of the same year
Assistance service fee Contact your agency on inBelarus Go for the current rate.	Set by your agency	On arrival (cash)

Note on currency conversion: All fees are quoted in USD. When paying in your local currency, amounts are converted at the National Bank of Belarus exchange rate, which is typically less favourable than rates shown on Google or online converters. Budget accordingly and add a small buffer.

All tuition figures include approximately 2% bank transfer charges.

The assistance fee is set by your agency — contact them on inBelarus Go for the current rate.

Pocket Money for Your First Months

In addition to all the fees listed above, we recommend budgeting at least $500 in pocket money for your first 1–2 months in Belarus. This should cover:

Food and groceries while you settle in
Local transport (bus and metro cards)
Basic household items and personal supplies for the hostel
Phone SIM card and top-up credit
Unexpected small expenses and emergencies
Any minor administrative costs not listed in this guide

Monthly living costs in Minsk for a student are approximately $200–350, depending on lifestyle. Having $500 cash gives you a comfortable buffer for the first weeks until you are settled.

Your Banknotes Must Be Clean and Undamaged

Belarusian banks and most exchange offices will not accept stained, torn, written-on, or significantly worn banknotes. If you arrive with damaged currency, you may be unable to exchange or spend it.

If you do have stained notes, contact your agent — some specialist exchange offices will accept them but may charge a commission of up to 10%. The best approach is to obtain clean, undamaged bills from your home-country bank before travelling.

Read the full guide: Stained Banknotes in Belarus

Recurring Payments from Year 2 Onwards

Annual tuition fee (at your programme's applicable rate) — paid in two instalments: by 15th August (1st semester) and by 15th December (2nd semester)
Annual mandatory medical examination: $100
Annual medical insurance: $240
Annual visa extension fee: $65
Hostel payments — in line with the monthly payment schedule communicated by the university

One-time fees not repeated from Year 2: application fee ($350), notarisation and translation ($60), university administration fee (where applicable).

Important Notes

DOCUMENT LEGALISATION — This is the most important point. BSU requires all students (except citizens of Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China) to have their academic documents legalised before they will be formally accepted. All universities can also request legalisation at their discretion if they have any doubt about a document's authenticity. Have your school certificate legalised (apostille or full legalisation, depending on your country) before leaving home. This cannot be done in Belarus.

BSU charges an interview fee (~$75) and a document review fee (~$75) on arrival. Budget approximately $150 for both.

Hostel prepayment at BSU can be up to $500, depending on the hostel and room type.

Carry all required funds in your hand luggage. Border authorities check funds on entry — even a small shortfall can result in denial of entry.