The Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) is a public technical university in Minsk, founded in 1920. Its website reports 23,867 students and 3,144 academic staff, and a QS World University Rankings position of 901–950.[1] An aggregator that names the 2027 edition gives the same band.[2]
For 2026/27 BNTU publishes an annual fee for foreign citizens in US dollars. For Russian-taught bachelor’s and integrated programmes it ranges from $3,600 to $4,200, depending on the programme; Russian citizens and joint programmes are excluded from that schedule.[3] Admission rests on documents and an interview in Russian (or in English for English-taught programmes).[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Белорусский национальный технический университет (Belarusian National Technical University, BNTU) |
| Location | Minsk, Belarus (65 Independence Avenue, 220013 Minsk)[5] |
| Type | Public technical university; describes itself as the only university in Belarus with national university status[6] |
| Founded | 1920, as the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute; named Belarusian National Technical University in 2002[6] |
| Students | 23,867 (figure on the university’s home page)[1] |
| Academic staff | 3,144 (figure on the university’s home page)[1] |
| Structure | 19 faculties, 7 institutes, 28 research laboratories, 19 dormitories[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Band 901–950[2] |
| Languages of teaching | Russian; the admissions portal also lists programmes in English[7] |
| Bachelor’s tuition 2026/27 (foreign citizens, Russian-taught) | $3,600 to $4,200 per year, depending on the programme[3] |
| Master’s programmes in English | Listed on the international admissions page; fees not found on the pages we read[8] |
| Admission | Document review, then an interview in Russian (English for English-taught programmes)[4] |
| Official website | bntu.by |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 8 November 2026.
About the Belarusian National Technical University
BNTU was founded in 1920 as the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute. It reports more than 200,000 graduates and describes itself as the only university in Belarus with national university status.[6] Wikipedia lists its later names: Belarusian Polytechnic Institute (1933), Belarusian State Polytechnic Academy (1991) and Belarusian National Technical University (2002); it gives the 1920 name as Belarusian State Polytechnic Institute, which differs slightly from the name on BNTU’s own page.[9]
The university reports 19 faculties, 7 institutes, 28 research laboratories, a science and technology park and 19 dormitories. It follows what it calls the “University 3.0” model, which links teaching, research and innovative entrepreneurship.[6] It also says it cooperates with universities in more than 40 countries.[6] Its main address is 65 Independence Avenue (Nezavisimosti Avenue) in Minsk.[5]
How is BNTU ranked?
BNTU’s home page shows a QS World Ranking of 901–950.[1] Xuanxiao, an aggregator that names the edition, gives the same band for the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, and lists BNTU as not ranked in THE, ARWU or U.S. News.[2] The QS website blocks automated access, so we could not read the table there.
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. For the national picture, see universities in Belarus.
What can you study at BNTU?
BNTU is an engineering university. Its international admissions page lists the main areas as automotive and tractor building, metalworking, metallurgy, building, architecture, materials science, transport, energy, mining, ecology, laser technology and optics, instrumentation, information technologies and robotics, and automation.[10]
The 2026/27 fee schedule for Russian-taught bachelor’s programmes names the following faculties: Automotive and Tractor Engineering, Architecture, Engineering and Teacher Education, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Instrumentation Engineering, Sports and Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mining and Environmental Engineering, Information Technologies and Robotics, Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship, Transport Communications, Management Technologies and Humanization, Energy Construction, and Power Engineering.[3] Most programmes last 4 years; Architecture takes 6 years and several engineering programmes take 5 to 5.5 years.[3]
For English, the admissions portal lists programmes in English, among them a bachelor’s in Technology of Mechanical Engineering.[7] The international page lists master’s programmes that can be taken in English or Russian, such as Economics, Management, World Economics, Ecology, Automation and Applied Mathematics and Informatics.[8]
How much does BNTU cost in 2026/27?
| Bachelor’s programme (Russian-taught, examples) | Duration | Fee 2026/27, US dollars per year |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Vehicles, Tractors, Mobile and Technological Complexes | 4 years | $3,600 |
| Software Engineering | 4 years | $3,600 |
| Engineering Economics | 4 years | $3,900 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 4 years | $4,000 |
| Architecture | 6 years | $4,200 |
These are the annual fees for one international student on a full-time, fee-paying bachelor’s or integrated programme taught in Russian, for the 2026/27 academic year, effective 1 September 2026 (Order No. 241 of 5 June 2026). The schedule excludes students on joint educational programmes and citizens of the Russian Federation.[3] In the whole list the fees run from $3,600 to $4,200.[3]
We found no published fee on the pages we read for English-taught bachelor’s programmes or for master’s programmes. The master’s page points to a separate admissions portal, study.bntu.by, which lists tuition fees by programme.[8] Check it for your programme.
Living costs are not part of tuition; see our Belarus guide.
How do you apply to BNTU?
BNTU’s rules for foreign applicants say that a bachelor’s programme requires general secondary education at the level of the Republic of Belarus, and a master’s programme requires a bachelor’s degree whose equivalence is confirmed.[4]
- Bachelor’s: the Department of International Cooperation reviews your education documents. If they are approved, BNTU sends an official invitation to the consular office of Belarus where you live (for visa countries) or an information letter (for visa-free countries). Visa-free applicants can send copies by mail or arrive and submit the originals; visa-country applicants send copies by mail.[4]
- On arrival: you register with the Migration Service and take an interview in Russian. In English-taught programmes you are interviewed in the subject “English”. Applicants to the Faculty of Architecture also take an exam in drawing and composition.[4]
- Master’s: you submit a copy of a four-year bachelor’s diploma with a transcript, a passport copy, medical certificates (including absence of HIV infection) and a birth certificate if available. All documents must be translated into Russian and notarised. After the review you receive a link to the interview.[8]
Foreign citizens who do not pass the Russian interview can be enrolled in the preparatory department.[4] We give no deadlines here because they change every year; check the current rules at bntu.by.
Which language level do you need?
BNTU does not state a certificate or CEFR level (the European scale from A1 to C2) on the pages we read. Language is tested in an interview: in Russian for Russian-taught programmes, and in the subject “English” for English-taught programmes.[4] Applicants without enough Russian can take the preparatory department, and the international page also lists Russian language courses.[4][3]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does BNTU cost for international students?
For 2026/27 the annual fee for Russian-taught bachelor’s and integrated programmes ranges from $3,600 to $4,200 depending on the programme (Architecture is $4,200). Russian citizens and joint programmes are excluded from that schedule.[3]
Does BNTU teach in English?
How is BNTU ranked?
Do I need to speak Russian to study at BNTU?
More about studying in Belarus
- Belarus: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Belarus
Sources
[1] Belarusian National Technical University: home page (QS band, students, staff) (page without a date; official site of a state university)
[2] Xuanxiao: Belarusian National Technical University (QS 2027) (aggregator; names the QS 2027 edition, released 18 Jun 2026; QS blocks automated access)
[3] BNTU: Tuition fees for international students, bachelor’s, Russian-taught, 2026/2027 (fees effective 1 Sep 2026, Order No. 241 of 5 Jun 2026)
[4] BNTU: Rules and procedure for admission of foreign citizens (page without a date)
[5] Belarusian National Technical University: Administration contacts (address) (page without a date)
[6] Belarusian National Technical University: University (page without a date; official site of a state university)
[7] BNTU: study.bntu.by, navigator for international applicants (page without a date; programmes in English listed)
[8] BNTU: Master’s degree programs in English (page without a date; mentions admission in autumn and spring semesters)
[9] Wikipedia: Belarusian National Technical University (name history; student figures undated)
[10] BNTU: Directions of study (foreign citizens) (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.