3. Required Documents
An up-to-date Academic CV
Copy of the doctoral diploma (or defense certificate, if the final diploma has not yet been issued)
A complete list of scholarly publications
Two letters of recommendation from qualified academics or researchers
Research Proposal (maximum 5 pages)
Copy of a valid passport (for international candidates)
Letter of preliminary agreement from the University Supervisor
4. Research Proposal

The Research Proposal is the core document of the Self-Proposed pathway and must be a maximum of 5 pages (excluding references), covering the following sections:

Background and significance of the research topic
Research objectives and key questions
Proposed methodology
Project timeline, appropriate to the target stage (I–IV)
Expected outputs (publications, presentations, other deliverables)

The proposal must be coordinated with and approved by the prospective supervisor prior to formal application submission.

5. Find a Supervisor

To find a suitable supervisor, the following steps are recommended:

Review the University’s active research areas on the «Research Areas» page and select a relevant faculty.
Read the «Supervisors & Research Groups» page to understand supervisor eligibility requirements.
Visit each faculty’s dedicated page to identify academics and research groups active in the area of interest.
Contact the prospective supervisor directly (by official email), including a CV and a brief outline of the research idea.
Upon preliminary agreement, coordinate on jointly finalizing the Research Proposal.

6. Funding & Fellowships

Under the Self-Proposed pathway, funding for each postdoctoral position must be secured through an active, funded research grant held by the University Supervisor. Salary levels vary by program stage (I–IV) and are clearly specified in each researcher’s employment contract.

Payments are made monthly to the researcher’s official bank account.
Researchers’ salaries are subject to personal income tax (NDFL) in accordance with Russian law.
No centrally funded University vacancy is currently active.

International researchers should note that receiving any income in Russia requires legal residency/work status and tax registration.

7. Deadlines

Applications for the Self-Proposed pathway are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year; however, two main focused review periods are announced:

Spring intake: application window typically January–March
Autumn intake: application window typically July–September

Applications submitted outside these two windows are still reviewed, but processing time may be longer. Exact dates are updated annually on this page.

8. Selection Process

The final decision on each candidate’s admission rests with the Selection Committee, which typically comprises:

The prospective supervisor (without voting rights in cases of direct conflict of interest)
One or two independent reviewers from the host faculty or related faculties
A representative of the University’s Postdoctoral Affairs Office

Key selection criteria include the scholarly quality of the research proposal, its alignment with the host faculty’s research priorities, the candidate’s publication record, and the outcome of the interview. Candidates are typically notified of the final decision within 4 to 6 weeks of completing their application.