The newly founded Russian-Chinese joint educational institution, established on the basis of Russia's top Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), may accept up to 250 students when it opens in September 2016, MSU Vice-Rector Sergei Shahrai told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In 2014, Russia and China pledged to open a joint university, with MSU to open a branch in China's rapidly developing Shenzhen free economic zone.

"The first intake is expected to range from 100 to 250 students for all course programs. The university does not have any state-commissioned study places, the training will be carried out on a fee-paying basis. It will cost Chinese nationals 20,000 — 30,000 yuan [$2,000 — $4,600] per year, for foreign nationals — up to 70,000 yuan a year," Shahrai said.

He pointed out that the university has been classified in the highest category of educational institutions and therefore prospective students will need to perform well in state exams and pass a test on the Russian language as an academic subject as well as an entrance interview.

There are plans for 12 study programs to be offered at the university, but for the first academic year, which is according to Shahrai can be seen as an "expexperimental" one, there will be only five to choose from, namely ecology and natural resources, Russian philology, applied mathematics, the physics and chemistry of modern materials and international taxation and customs regulation.

Students will be able to receive two internationally recognized science degrees at a Bachelor's and Master's level.