IT

Available programs. These online programs focus on AI, bioinformatics, information security, front- and backend development, machine learning, and cloud services. As a student, you can learn to detect infrastructural weaknesses and vulnerabilities, deflect cyberattacks, create user interfaces, develop service logic, manage cloud infrastructure, and automate the development, testing, and deployment of software.

These programs have several notable advantages:

Implemented in partnership with major IT companies. For instance, the programs Highload Systems and DevOps Engineer of Cloud Services are implemented with Yandex, Artificial Intelligence – with Napoleon IT, and Cybersecurity – with Positive Technologies. This means that, as a Master’s student, you can study on real-world cases and applied tasks, as well as land an internship at a top company. Another joint program, Frontend and Backend Development by ITMO and Yandex Practicum, is brand new and will launch in 2025.

Individual learning tracks. Some programs can be completed in one year instead of two; this depends on each student’s own background: practicing specialists can be done in a year, while Bachelor’s graduates with no work experience will need two years. For instance, the Master’s program Programming and Artificial Intelligence includes two tracks: an applied one and a research one, each of which can be completed in a year. Students in the applied track will be able to follow their individual learning tracks and then solve a practical case from a partner company or their employer as their Master’s thesis. In the research track, students will be involved in science starting from their first semester; by the end of the program, they will have published a paper or prepared a study for presentation at a major conference. Another program that can be finished in a year is Highload Systems.

Many tuition-free positions. For instance, there are over 200 in the Artificial Intelligence program alone. There are several ways to enroll in a tuition-free position, including by submitting your portfolio and professional projects and achievements.

Full list of programs:

• Artificial Intelligence,
• Frontend and Backend Development, 
• Cybersecurity,
• Programming and Artificial Intelligence,
• Highload Systems,
• DevOps Engineer of Cloud Services,
• Mathematical Technologies for Systems Analysis,
• Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (in English).

Students. These programs welcome students with backgrounds in math and computer science, as well as current and future specialists in machine learning, cybersecurity, AI, software or DevOps engineering. Students polish their skills by solving cases provided by programs’ partners: Yandex, VK, Napoleon IT, Gazprom Neft, and Positive Technologies.

Employment options. Depending on the program, graduates can work as ML and DevOps engineers, design engineers, DevOps software developers, data scientists, middle-level developers, analysts, data architects and engineers, full-stack developers, senior developers and team leads, as well as experts at pharmaceutical and biotech enterprises. Such positions are available at leading Russian IT companies, including Yandex, Sberbank, VK, Avito, MTS, Gazprom Neft, Napoleon IT, and others. Graduates may also continue their education as PhD students.

Engineering

Available programs. At ITMO, you can also study engineering fully online with these two programs:

• Applied Optics (Russian and English) – in the program’s online track, students learn to develop optical, optical-electronic, and digital optical devices for applications in medicine, ophthalmology, astronomy, panoramic vision systems, and computer vision;
• Actuator Systems Engineering (Russian and English). The program trains specialists in the field of electromechanical systems design with a focus on electric drive control devices, software and hardware complexes, and control system devices.

Students communicate with their lecturers online, receive feedback, and conduct lab assignments using interactive models.

Even in the online format, students have to complete rigorous practical training at ITMO’s laboratories, partner companies, or at their places of employment.

Students of the Applied Optics program will learn to use general engineering software (Python, Matlab, MathCAD, Compas, SolidWorks) and specialized programs (Zemax/OpticStudio, OPAL, Comsol, and others). In the Actuator Systems Engineering program, students will design electric drive systems; study engineering methods for calculating and selecting parameters of electric motors, elements of the electric drive system, and their control systems; and acquire competencies in circuit design, as well as microcontroller and FPGA programming.

Students. The programs are suitable for those wanting to improve their knowledge of engineering and planning to combine their work with studies.

Employment options. Graduates will be able to build careers as engineers, design and maintenance engineers, as well as fill engineering positions of middle level and higher. Additionally, graduates may choose to enter a PhD program and continue their career in research.

Explore the programs’ curriculum and other details on ITMO’s admissions website.

Chemistry

Available programs. Those interested in using IT in chemistry, biotechnology, medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, industrial robotics, healthcare, and adjacent fields should look into the program Chemistry Software.

In the program, students will acquire skills in programming, data processing and analysis, and software development. Graduates will be capable of creating customized algorithms, services, and apps, designing wearable healthcare monitoring devices, integrating new technologies into chemical systems, and developing software for chemical research and devices.

Students will also work on research projects in collaboration with industrial partners (BIOCAD, Agama, VkusVill, Gazprom Neft, Rosatom, etc.) or other universities.

Students. The program is open to Bachelor’s graduates of Russian universities with a major in chemistry or biotechnology who want to expand their knowledge of IT and medicine.

Employment options. In their career, graduates can combine expertise in chemistry and programming or machine learning, as well as establish themselves in chemoinformatics and data labeling.

Explore the program’s curriculum and other details on ITMO’s admissions website.

Product management in IT

Available programs. The two programs in this category will teach you to create and manage digital products or analyze user experience:

• Digital Products: Development and Management,
• Product Design.

In the first program, students learn the fundamentals of product management and digital product lifecycle and master efficient communication with development, marketing, design, and management teams. In the Product Design program, students learn to create user-friendly interfaces, examine products from the perspective of users and businesses, apply product approach to digital service design, write comprehensible texts, and conduct qualitative and quantitative research. Graduates of both programs can develop popular digital products and manage them.

Students. These programs are suitable for beginner-level specialists with basic knowledge of digital product development and management, Bachelor’s graduates with no experience in design, as well as practicing designers and specialists in adjacent fields.

Employment options. Graduates can work as product owners or managers (middle, senior, or lead), product and UX/UI designers.

Explore the programs’ curriculum and other details on ITMO’s admissions website.

How to apply

There are several opportunities to secure a tuition-free position in one of the online programs, apart from the straight-forward option of entrance exams. You can also make use of the many competitions, contests, or your own academic or research achievements. You can find the exact admissions opportunities for each program on its page. Examine admission opportunities for international students here.

Competitions: winners and runners-up of the I Am a Professional student competition, as well as ITMO Mega Contest, can enter ITMO Master’s programs without exams.

Contests: tuition-free positions are offered to winners of ITMO’s Portfolio Contest, ITMO Mega School, the competition for best report at the Congress of Young Scientists, as well as various schools and contests organized by the university’s faculties (Winter School in Robotics, Roboforce, Winter Engineering School, etc).

See all programs offered at ITMO here.