MOSCOW, October 11 (Itar-Tass World Service). — Every year, Russian universities and institutes will enroll 15,000 foreign students for tuition at the expense of the Russian Federation. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a governmental order, which raises the annual quota for free higher education of foreign citizens and stateless persons at Russian higher education institutions.

“The Ministry of Education and Science considers as promising attraction of students from the countries of Europe, the CIS and Asia,” the Izvestia writes. “The new norms will be used in the coming enrolment campaign of 2014,” Deputy Chairperson of the Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship Gulnara Krasnova told the daily.

Presently, throughout Russia at 750 educational institutions study about 250,000 foreign students from 150 countries. Over 40,000 of those receive higher education at the expense of the Russian budget.

The share of foreign students is 2.3%. The Ministry of education and science forecasts by 2015 the share will rise to 6%, and by 2018 - to 10%.