Dr. Syed Mehboob
Economic and Political Analyst
http//: http://www.thenewslark.com
Quality education, technical skills, and knowledge of science and technology areessential for a nation’s development, progress, and advancement. These are among the top priorities of the Russian leadership’s policies. In Russia, the state facilitates access to high-quality education and services through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Russia allocates about 4.7% its GDP for Education. Education in state-owned schools is free, first tertiary (university level) education is free with reservations; a substantial number of students enroll on full pay. Male and female students have an equal share in all stages of education except in tertiary %education, where women lead with 57%. Literacy rate in Russia is 100%. 54% of Russian citizens attend tertiary education which gives it second highest attainment status of tertiary education among 35 OECS member countries.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Russia is the 13th best educational place in the world. The OECD ranked Russian students’ mathematics and science skills as the 34th best in the world, between Sweden and Iceland. Bloomberg rated Russia’s higher education as the third best in the world, measuring the percentage of high school graduates who go on to attend college, the annual number of science and engineering graduates as a percentage of all college graduates, and science and engineering graduates as a percentage of the labor force. Russia is also considered the 6th most popular destination for international students. There are more than 700 state-owned institutions
Russian higher education was traditionally not divided into undergraduate (bachelor’s) and graduate (master’s) levels. Instead, tertiary education was undertaken in a single stage, typically five or six years in duration, which resulted in a specialist diplomas being perceived as equal to Western MSc/MA qualifications.A specialist graduate needed no further academic qualification to pursue a professional career, exceptfor some (but not all) branches of medical professions that required a post-graduate residency stage. Military college education lasted four years and was ranked as equivalent to specialist degree.
There are two successive postgraduate degrees: Candidate of Science (KandidatNauk) and Doctor of Science (DoktorNauk). Both are certificates of scientific, rather than academic, achievement, and must be backed up by original/novel scientific work, evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals and a dissertation defended in front of a senior academic board. The titles are issued by the Higher Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Education. A degree is always awarded in one of 23 predetermined fields of science, even if the underlying achievement belongs to different fields. Thus, it is possible to defend two degrees of a candidate independently, but not simultaneously; a doctor in one field may also be a candidate in a different field.
Candidate of Sciences can be achieved within a university environment (when the university is engaged in active research in the chosen field), specialized research facilities or within research and development units in industry. Typical Candidate of Sciences path from admission to diploma takes 2–4 years. The dissertation paper should contain a solution to an existing scientific problem or a practical proposal with significant economic or military potential. The title is often perceived as equivalent to a Western Ph.D., although this may vary depending on the field of study, and may not be seen as such outside of Russia but as a more significant degree.
Doctor of Sciences, the next stage, implies achieving significant scientific output. This title is often equated to the German or Scandinavian habilitation. The dissertation paper should summarize the author’s research resulting in theoretical statements that are qualified as a new discovery, or solution of an existing problem, or a practical proposal with significant economic or military potential The road from Candidate to Doctor typically takes 10 years of dedicated research activity; one in four candidates reaches this stage. The system implies that the applicants must work in their research field full-time; however, the degrees in social sciences are routinely awarded to active politicians.
Academic titles of docent andprofessor are issued to active university staff who already achieved degrees of candidate or doctor; the rules prescribe minimum residency term, authoring established study textbooks in their chosen field, and mentoring successful postgraduate trainees; special, less formal rules apply to professors of arts.
There are currently 3 higher education qualification degrees available in Russia which differ from each other in duration of studies and academic prospects – Bachelor, Specialist and Master.
Specialist’s degree is a traditional educational degree of higher educational institutions in Russia, which used to be generally recognized in the USSR. Such a program includes a full course of theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to work as a specialist in a certain industry. Specialist training is still continued in many Russian universities today (including in medical and some technical fields).
To enroll in specialist programs, one must have a general secondary education. The duration of studies is usually 5 years.
Since Russia’s joining the Bologna Process in 2003, many higher education institutions in the country have switched to the two-level system of higher education including Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees typical of Western countries.
The duration of Bachelor’s studies is 4 years; such programs are taught on the basis of secondary education.
Holders of a Bachelor’s or a Specialist’s degree have the right to pursue 2-year-long Master’s programs.
Russian legislation does not establish age limits for admission to higher education institutions.
Foreign citizens and persons without citizenship may study in Russia either at their own expense or at the expense of the Russian budget. In the first case, an applicant only needs to choose an educational institution he/she likes and contact its representatives directly. Most often universities ask to send an initial application by e-mail, accompanied by the relevant documents.Foreign citizens have the opportunity to study in Russia at the expense of the federal budget of the Russian Federation. It should be remembered, however, that not all specialties and universities may be available under the Russian Government’s Scholarship.
Annually, the Russian Government allocates several thousand budget places in universities across the country. The scholarship covers:
– tuition fees for the entire period of studies under the chosen program;
– maintenance allowance (on average, $40-50 per month);
– dormitory accommodation (subject to availability).
Transportation costs, medical insurance, and other living expenses in Russia are not covered by the scholarship.
The application intake usually runs from September until February. The start of the campaign is announced via the platforms of the Embassy and the DHET. (Remember that the academic year in Russia does not coincide with the calendar year: studies begin in September and end in May.)
Those willing to study in Russia under the Russian Government’s Scholarship are expected to register on the information system “Education in Russia”.” Candidates shall be required to fill out online forms and upload scanned copies of documents.
Applicants will need to provide their personal data (including full name, date of birth, country of residence, e-mail address, and current contact phone number – to receive information about the progress of your application); occupation, field of study or program (that can be changed prior to the selection tests); level of education; and Russian language level.
A candidate can choose up to 6 universities where he/she would like to study (from those available under the Scholarship), but not more than 3 in one federal district, and in Moscow and St. Petersburg – not more than 2 in each city.
Hereafter it is also required to upload a copy of passport (valid for at least 18 months from the date of planned arrival in Russia) or birth certificate; copies of documents of education and/or) qualifications obtained.
After that, applicants will need to pass selection tests.The tests and interviews are held by the DHET in March-April. As a result, a general list of candidates is formed.Then candidateswait for notification of enrollment at the university, instructions on further actions from DHET, and, depending on the results, prepare the remaining documents(medical certificates, copies of documents notarized and translated into Russian)
Another opportunity to enter a Russian university is participation in university Olympiads, some of which are organized only for foreign citizens. Winners and prize-winners of such competitions can receive full or partial Government Scholarship and/or discounts on tuition fees.( to be continued)
