Master’s programs

Science Communication

Institute of International Development and Partnership

Format of study

full-time

Language

russian

Place of study

st. petersburg, russia

Outcome (diploma/credits)

master of science

Duration

2 year

Annual tuition fee

610 000 ₽

Application deadline

28 august 2026

Program manager

Elena Vladislavovna Katernyuk

evkaterniuk@itmo.ru

+7 (960) 935-94-50

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Entrance exams (GMT+3)

Subject areas

27.04.05

Innovation Studies

Tuition-free

Fee-based

About the program

Science communication is an emerging interdisciplinary field of study centered around the interaction between science and society. Science communicators are science journalists, directors of sci-pop events, museum experts, science data analysts, PR specialists, podcast creators, and even science artists engaged in a dialogue with scientists and ordinary people.

Such specialists perform a wide array of tasks – from organizing a university science day to compiling COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Today, science communicators work at CERN, the WHO, New York Times, Yandex, scientific museums, charity foundations, biotech companies, and many other different organizations. Their mission is to build trust in the scientific community.

Science Communication at ITMO is so far the only Master’s program in this field in Russia. The program welcomes students of various backgrounds who would like to learn to make complicated topics easy to understand, work with texts and data, create scientific visualizations, and tell evidence-based science from pseudoscience. You will meet fellow scientists from Russia and abroad and visit the world’s top laboratories. As a result, you will be able to build any communication projects about science, technology, or medicine from scratch. Better still, the program welcomes students from any field.

Program partners

Program team

Curriculum

Explore your curriculum (in Russian) to see what you will study

Career

While still at the university, you will have the chance to try yourself at various forms of science communication by working at educational and PR departments of universities, state and private scientific organizations and companies, science media (TV, radio, and online papers), science museums, city centers of popular science, and offline projects, etc.

You will get to work at these companies

Or at ITMO’s laboratories

OUR GRADUATES

The key benefits of the program is its holistic approach to training and focus on practice. All the courses are delivered by industry experts who...
The key benefits of the program is its holistic approach to training and focus on practice. All the courses are delivered by industry experts who equip students with tried-and-tested and applicable knowledge and skills. In two years, you will get acquainted with numerous branches of science communication, define your own career path, and try your hand at real projects. Halfway through my second year, I joined the company I previously interned at.
Show all
Galina Grenning, an external communications manager at GEROPHARM
Graduate, class of 2022
1/5

Student successes

The Science of Art: ITMO and the Russian Museum Reveal Science Facts Behind Iconic Masterpieces

This Is a Sign: Translating Popular Science into Sign Language

ITMO Graduate Alexandra Vasilyeva Shares Her Journey From Journalist to Science Communicator

ADMISSION OPPORTUNITIES

International students can study tuition-free by securing a scholarship through the Rossotrudnichestvo federal agency as part of a Russian Government scholarship. Applications can be submitted to the Rossotrudnichestvo office at a Russian Embassy/Consulate or an office of the Russian Center of Science and Culture.

Visit our international website for more information.

International opportunities

ITMO supports and encourages students to participate in online and offline educational events in Russia and abroad. We also count 70+ leading scientific institutions around the world among our partners.

You can apply for participation in online and offline conferences, seminars, schools, crash courses, competitions, championships, research internships, and other events in Russia and abroad that are organized by ITMO’s partner universities as well as other scientific and educational organizations.

Educational events and internships

Want to take part in a conference, summer school, or seminar abroad? ITMO University will cover up to 70% of your expenses.

Semester exchange / Study abroad

Found an interesting program in another country and want to go on an exchange semester? Tell us why you chose it and receive financial support.

Study Abroad at Home

Get your international learning experience without leaving ITMO: study in English with international students from all over the world!

Buddy System

From your first day at ITMO as an international student you will be supported by a buddy – another student, who will help you settle in, solve any issue, and explore the city! Maybe one day you, too, will want to support a newcomer at ITMO and get to share your experience as their buddy. You can learn more about the opportunity here

FAQ

Is it possible to work while studying?

It’s possible if you’re ready for it and have a job with a flexible schedule so that you don’t have to skip classes and can hand in your assignments on time. First-year students spend an average of 15-20 hours a week to master the curriculum. Please consider this information when applying for the program.

Will a humanities education be suitable for this program?

Nearly half of our current students have previously studied the humanities (e.g., journalism, philology, psychology, history). We have courses that are meant to help you learn to handle, analyze, and present data. So, you shouldn’t worry about not having a technological background – we will teach you everything!

Where will my classes take place?

Classes are mainly held at our campuses on Kronverksky Pr. 49 and Lomonosova St. 9 in central St. Petersburg.

Will my skills be valuable if I’m not a scientist or a journalist?

Definitely! One of our graduates, who has a tech degree, used her knowledge of data science to conduct a study about women in science; another graduate, who has a Bachelor’s degree in law, studied the legal regulations governing science communication in Russia for her thesis. It’s all up to you!

Why does the list of entrance exam questions include nearly all the topics covered in the program?

While studying for exams, you will learn what science communication is and figure out which aspect of it suits you best. It’ll be of help once you have to choose your major, where to take an internship, and the topic for your thesis. We don’t expect you to elaborate on each topic at the exam, but you should know enough about the field and its branches.

When will I have classes?

The curriculum includes both core and specialized disciplines. The former typically take place in the afternoon, from 5-6 PM approximately; oftentimes, there are two classes a day (a total of 3 hours). However, some workshops and core courses can be scheduled during the day. Please keep that in mind when planning your work day.

How will the exam be held?

The examination is held online in the form of an open-book exam, meaning that you can refer to any sources during the test. At the exam, you will need to provide written answers for two randomly chosen questions within one hour, as well as answer additional questions from the interviewers.

Can I study tuition-free if I’m not from Russia?

International students from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, as well as the CIS countries can apply on the same terms as Russian students, while applicants from other countries can enroll on a tuition-fee basis or through a Russian government scholarship (read more here).

Will the program feel too basic if I have a background in research?

The program provides students with competencies needed to get into science communication, especially if they have no prior experience in the field. You will learn about the basics of communication theory, working with texts, scientific data, and, most importantly, different scientific audiences. You may come across some information you already know, but we can assure you that here, you’ll also acquire completely new ideas and knowledge that will prove invaluable in the future.

I don’t know how to look for a job or internships. Do you help with that?

Sure! We run Telegram channels where we post job openings and offers from our partners. One of them is Career Lab – there, we post openings for future science communicators. You can request a personal consultation, too.