Created by «Solus»

Education in Russia

The Russian System of Education

The Russian system of education is made up by the following stages: nursery school, or kindergarten (for children under 7), primary school (1st to 4th grades), secondary school (5th to 9th grades), high secondary school (10th and 11th grades), and higher education at a university. A Russian child’s education starts at the kindergarten, so that on entering the 1st grade kids are able to read and write. At the age of 17 (11th grade) students complete their school course and take the school-leaving exams. On successful results a person receives a certificate of high secondary school education, which gives them the right to apply for entering any higher education establishment in a chosen speciality or special technical education establishment (college, industrial school and others). The language of teaching in Russian universities is mainly Russian. Some courses can be taught in English (General Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Computer Science) or French (General Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy). The tuition for the courses taught in English or French is 25-50% higher than for those taught in Russian.Choosing a course that is taught in English or French, applicants have to pass a language test. Studying under this programme, students learn the Russian language starting from their fi rst year for adequate communication and for making use of the huge collections of literature on their subject in library stocks that contain millions of books.

Choosing to be taught in Russian, students are admitted to Preparatory Faculty, where within 7-10 months they study the Russian language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Mathematics and other basic subjects that are needed for further studies in the chosen speciality. You can apply to Preparatory Faculty of a Russian university from May 1st till October 15th. Classes start from October 1st till December 1st, depending on how quickly groups of 5-10 people are being formed. The preparatory course lasts until the end of June – beginning of July

University Course duration

Specialities in Medicine:
General Medicine – 6 years
Dentistry – 5 years
Pharmacy – 5 years

Postgraduate courses:
Internship – 1 years
Clinical Residency – 2 years
Ph.D. – 3 years

Specialities in Engineering, Economics, Humanities:
Bachelor’s degree – 4 years
Specialist – 5 years
Master’s degree (after Bachelor’s) – 2 years
Postgraduate course – 3 years

One academic year lasts for 10 months (September 1st – June 30th).

The academic year is arranged in two semesters: The fi rst semester: September 1st – January 25th; The second semester: February 9th – June 30th. At the end of each semester, in January and in June, students take their term exams in the subjects they have studied, in accordance with the curriculum approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

Between semesters, students take their holidays:

Winter holidays (2 weeks: from January 25th till February 9th), summer holidays (2 months: from July 1st till August 30th). Students can either stay in Russia, or leave for their home countries to spend their winter and summer holidays there.

What should foreign citizens who wish to enter Russian universities know?

All foreign citizens who are assigned to Russian universities by RACUS are admitted for studies provided they have papers properly drawn up, without any competition or entrance exams. The exception is made for those specialities in Arts and Culture to enter which applicants must present their artistic work and/or demonstrate certain creative abilities.

The right to study at the higher education establishments of the Russian Federation is granted to any foreign citizen who:

– has the Certificate of Higher Secondary School Education that meets the requirements (see School-Leaving Certificate Requirements);
– is able to study in terms of health;
– has sufficient financial means to pay for:
– tuition (on average, 1100-2000 euro per academic year);
– accommodation in a university hostel (on average, 215-600 euro per academic year);
– life and health insurance (on average, 100-200 euro per year);
– meals (on average, 100 – 130 euro per month).

School-Leaving Certificate Requirements

1. with the academic achievement estimation scale of 0 to 100%

• To specialize in Medical specialties, one must score no less than 50%;
• To specialize in Engineering and Technology, Economics or Humanities – no less than 40 %.

2. with the academic achievement estimation scale of A to E and below

• To specialize in Medicine, Engineering and Technology, Economics or Humanities, one must have school grades of A to E, but the grades in subjects related to the future speciality must be from A to D.

   

3. with the academic achievement estimation scale of 1 to 20 grades

• To specialize in Medicine, Engineering and Technology, Economics or Humanities, one must have no less than 10 grades.

   

How to Apply for a Course at Higher Education Establishments of the Russian Federation

Once a school-leaver has decided to study in Russia, he/she needs to fi ll in the Application Form at the Web site: WWW.EDURUSSIA.RU and send it to the head offi ce of RACUS in St. Petersburg. You can also apply at a RACUS representative offi ce in your country, providing the following information and documents: surname, first name, and second name (patronymic); citizenship; date and place of birth; sex; a photocopy of passport (the page with your photograph indicating your date and place of birth, date of the issue of the passport, and its expiry date); a photocopy of the certifi cate of high (secondary) school education (or a written explanation of its lack); home address; telephone number including the area code; e-mail address; speciality, town and name of the university (you can choose a university at WWW.EDURUSSIA.RU).

ATTENTION: passport validity at the moment of applying for an offi cial invitation to Russia for education at the universities of the Russian Federation must be no less than 2 years. If the expiry of your passport is sooner, you have to prolong the term of its validity.

Within two days, the applicant shall receive a full response to his/her enquiry from a RACUS employee by e-mail, with all necessary recommendations on the universities and specialities.

Documents that an applicant must present for admission to a Russian university:

– passport with expiry date not sooner than 2 years
– student visa
– migration card (issued and filled out in the airport upon arrival to Russia)
– the original Certificate of High Secondary School Education with the Appendix (Transcript) enclosed to it containing the list of the subjects that the applicant studied at school and the grades the applicant got in theses subjects.
– two legalized copies of the Certificate of High Secondary School Education with the Appendix (Transcript) (the copy is to be legalized in the ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country which issued the Certificate and in the Russian Embassy in this country) OR
– if the country which issued the educational documents, have signed the corresponding agreement (Hague Convention), then only one stamp – “Apostille” is affixed to the original documents. In most cases it is affixed by the Ministry for Education, where the documents were executed, or the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of student’s country - the country that has issued the educational documents.
– Upon arrival to Russia the student is obliged to make the notarized translation of the legalize Certificate of secondary (high school) education. The Certificate must be translated only after it has been legalized (as stated above), 2 copies. The translation should be affixed by the notary to the legalized copy. The student is obliged to pay the costs for obtaining of “the Certificate of Equivalence” in the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation which arise to 150 EURO.
RACUS representative in your country and the managers ofthe main office in Russia will provide the necessary help and assistance for forming the set of documents to apply to the university and to obtain “the Certificate of Equivalence”.
– Health certificate
– AIDS/HIV Certificate
– 12 black and white matte 3x4 centimeters (passport size) photos, matt finish.

\Within the first year of studies the student must pass the procedure of the recognition of his/her Certificate of complete secondary (high school) education by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and receive the Certificate of Equivalence. To get the Certificate of Equivalence, the student must hand in the set of documents needed (the original of the legalized Certifi cate of secondary (high school) education with the notarized translation, 2 notarized copies of the legalized Certifi cate of secondary (high school) education and the translation attached to it) to the Ministry of Education and Science of the RF in person or through special offices situated in a number of Russian towns. The period it takes for the Ministry to consider the documents and issue the Certifi cate of Equivalence is from 1 to 6 months. The cost of the service is from USD 100 to USD 120. RACUS will help students to get all the information needed and assist in the procedure of recognition of equivalence free of charge. This procedure is absolutely normal in lots of countries, including the 45 European countries signed up to the Bologna convention on recognition of educational certificates, which Russia entered in 2003.

The Terms of Applying  to Russian Universities

Applications for studies at Russian universities are collected annually from May, 1st till October, 15th. Since the number of vacancies (quotas) for international students is limited, it is those applicants who were the first to send their applications and to make up properly all the papers required that have the highest chance for admission. After the applications have been duly considered, the university officially confirms admission to the applicant (reservation of a university vacancy). A student should then follow all the instructions for getting the formal invitation to study in Russia in accordance with the requirements to the educational documents and the terms of entrance. It takes from 30 to 60 days for the Department of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation to draw up the official letter of invitation for international students.

Terms of Payment of Tuition at Russian Universities

Applicants must make a 100 per cent payment for the first academic year of tuition, accommodation in a hostel, and the life and health insurance. Payments must be made via banking institutions before entering Russia, in accordance with the sum indicated in the invoice issued by RACUS. If the financial conditions and terms of payment are violated, the applicant will not be given an invitation to the university that he/she has chosen. Lack of the receipt of payment will also result in problems with getting a student visa at the Russian Embassy in your country. Within the following 2-6 years, students must pay for tuition, accommodation in a hostel and life and health insurance before September 1st of the current year, that is, before the academic year starts. It is allowed to pay tuition for the 2nd – 6th years in two terms: 70 per cent of the annual sum for the 1st semester (before September 1st); 30 per cent – for the second semester (before February 1st). Violation of the terms of payment results in banning the student’s access to classes and his/her expulsion from the university. As a consequence of this, the registration on the territory of Russia cannot be prolonged, which leads to a USD 350 fine and deportation from Russia by the decree of the court. It is extremely important to execute timely tuition payment and timely prolongation of official registration on the territory of Russia with a lot of attention and responsibility, otherwise problems will arise that one has to solve by appealing to judicial and executive authorities of the state.
All payments, including tuition, that are made on the territory of the Russian Federation, are in Russian Rubles – the monetory unit of the RF. In accordance with the rules at force, the cost of tuition is indicated in contracts as a sum in either conventional units or in Russian Rubles. One conventional unit in different educational establishments is different, as it may be equal to: – one Euro according to the exchange rate that is assigned by the Central Bank of Russia on the day of payment;– one US Dollar, according to the exchange rate that is assigned by the Central Bank of Russia, or that is set by the university itself;– a sum of Russian Rubles determined by the university.Since different universities exercise different forms of payment for tuition, the student should inquire on the preferable currency of payment in advance. Payment can be made in the student’s country of residence by a bank transfer in accordance with the invoice issued by RACUS, in US Dollars or Euro.On arrival in Russia, the student can open a bank account at any Russian bank for making further bank operations, provided he/she has got a passport with registration on the territory of Russia.The cost of university tuition may in rare cases change due to causes that the university is not responsible for (high inflation, fall in the US Dollar or Euro exchange rate to Russian Ruble, change of the world prices for energy resources, and other force majeure circumstances).

A university applicant needs to know

A university applicant needs to know that all the services provided by RACUS to international students in Russia are free of charge. Upon the first entering Russia, an international student has to pay for the following: the issue of the official letter of invitation by the Federal Migration Service of Russia, the sending of the invitation to the student via Express mail (UPS, DHL, Fedex), the meeting of the student at the airport in Moscow or St. Petersburg, and the accompanying of the student to the chosen university, registration fee of the university, and other services. International students pay no additional sums for the services of RACUS provided in Russia, because RACUS carries out the functions of the universities’ international departments on the basis of the outsourcing, and the organization is funded by the universities themselves. Moreover, those international students who were enrolled to study in Russia by RACUS, pay less for their education because of the tuition discounts that the organization receives for bringing a great number of students to some universities.
Thus not only do the international students who are studying at Russian state universities through RACUS have an opportunity to pay less tuition fees, but they are also entitled to a broad range of services provided by RACUS free of charge. Throughout the whole period of studies (up to 7 years), international students are supervised by experienced managers, which is very important for the parents sending their children to a new country for a long time.
You can get further information on the services provided by RACUS and on the regulations of training at Russian higher education establishments at  WWW.EDURUSSIA.RU

Life and Health Insurance

The life and health insurance is obligatory for any foreign citizen arriving in the Russian Federation to study. The sum of life and health insurance amounts to 100 – 200 EURO and depends on the chosen programme of insurance. The telephone numbers of the insurance company office and the Accident Medical Service are indicated in the policy of insurance that the students must always carry with them. All universities have medical posts for first aid and medical advice.

Accommodation and Food

All Russian and international students stay in student hostels in rooms for 2-3 people that meet the sanitary requirements and norms of the Russian Federation. Rooms are provided with the necessary furniture and bedding. The student can buy some personal items such as dishes, electrical equipment etc. on his/her own expences.
In winter, all rooms in university hostels are heated. The average temperature indoors is +22°С.
Almost every student hostel has a cafe, a gym, classrooms for studying, laundries, telephone call boxes for long-distance calls, medical posts, and Internet centers.
There are toilets and showers with hot and cold water supply system on every floor of the hostel. Unlike many other European countries, there is a kitchen on every floor of a Russian student hostel, where you can prepare meals according to your individual taste and wishes. There is a good and widely enjoyed tradition of inviting co-eds and friends for a dinner of a national cuisine: European, Asian, Arab, African, or Latin American. A broad variety of food products from all over the world that you find in food stores and supermarkets gives foreign citizens an excellent opportunity to stick to the same foods they were accustomed to at home. It is a good idea for a student to learn how to cook.
Students themselves are responsible for their rooms’ tidiness. A cleaner on the staff of the hostel cleans the rooms of public use (corridors, halls, kitchens, showers and lavatories).
The student is fully liable for breakage or loss of any university property that the student is using within the period of studies.
Students should keep the hostel clean and tidy, as well as take into consideration and respect the interests of their neighbors. At night, they should be quiet. No matter what their background, citizenship, nationality, status and income are, students live in a hostel as one big multinational family.
The average cost of accommodation in a student hostel may vary, depending on the town and university, from 30 to 60 US Dollars per month.
The student, who first time arrives to Russia, does not know in advance, who will be his or her room-mate. However, if it happens that the neighbor is not from the same country, it will be an additional reason to enforce the language practice and to speak in Russian language to each other. Nevertheless, if there are more vacant places available in the hostel, the administration of the hostel will be glad to consider the wishes of the student and to change a room for the student or to give him or her the possibility to live alone with the extra-payment for the additional place.Accommodation costs may change due to an increase of energy resources cost rates (gas, cold and hot water, electric power). These changes are brought about by alterations in the situation on the global market of energy resources and the economic condition of the country, and not by the university or RACUS. Russia is one of the leading powers supplying energy resources to the world market. It holds one of the largest stocks of natural resources. Therefore, changes in the accommodation cost rates are small.

On the first arrival in Russia, the student should have about USD 500 for buying some basic personal things like clothes, dishes, electrical equipment, etc.

The average food expences are about 100 – 130 EURO per month. Students may go to cheap student cafes, or prepare their own meals in a hostel kitchen.

Safety and Security

The public safety in Russia is provided by the state security and law enforcement service – the Militia (Police). The Militia is responsible for the safety of both Russian and foreign citizens on the territory of the country.

Special attention is paid to the security of international students. All buildings of universities and student hostels are constantly guarded by the university’s internal security department, or by officers of a hired professional security company.

Entrances to all universities in Russia are guarded by security. To enter a university building or a hostel at any time, one needs to show a pass. Students get their passes at the moment they are admitted to the university. Entrance to a hostel is open from 6 a.m. till 12 o’clock midnight. Guests who come to see the students in their hostel are let in from 4 till 11 o’clock p.m. They must show their ID. These rules are equally valid all over Russia.

When being on the territory of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens must always carry their passport and migration card. Students should obey the law, respect the customs and traditions of Russia, and follow the simple rules of personal safety, just like in any other country of the world.

Foreign citizens are equal to Russian citizens in being liable for any criminal or administrative offense committed on the territory of the Russian Federation. The specially appointed university employees hold meetings with the new-coming students to instruct them on some basic rules regulating life in Russia, norms of behavior, their legal responsibilities and safety measures.

Any person in need of help concerning security is entitled to address a militioner (policeman), whose job and professional duty is to assist on emergency.

In case of emergency, dial the emergency telephone number 01 (police, ambulance, fire brigade) from any place in Russia. The call is free.

Work During the Period of Studies

The student must not forget that the main goal of his/her stay in Russia is education, acquiring knowledge and skills in the subject he/she has chosen for specialization.

Within the period of studying, according to the article 13, paragraph 4 of the Federal Law dated on July, 25th, 2002, № 115-FZ “About the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation” students can only work at their free time (after classes or on holidays at their universities as support personnel). Their employer must be licensed to hire foreign citizens. The job must not hinder the student’s training at the university. The student who misses classes may be expelled from the university for poor academic achievement. During the first two years in Russia students are not recommended to work, since they do not yet speak Russian fluently enough, and they have not yet got used to the conditions of life in the new country. Jobs that are available for international students are most often temporary ones, with employers seeking for unqualified and cheap hands. International students must consider such low-paid jobs as only a way to earn some pocket money, to improve their Russian language and gain a better understanding of the Russian culture, but certainly not as the source of income to cover the tuition fees or other expenses during their stay in Russia.

Student’s Main Responsibilities (A Brief Summary)

• The student must present all the documents needed for consideration of his/her application for a university course; follow all the instructions of a RACUS representative in the country where the student receives the official letter of invitation to study in Russia and gets the entrance visa issued by the Russian Embassy, including the instructions the RACUS representative gives to arrange the departure of a group of students, which is formed by the RACUS representative, to Russia. The student must try and meet all the requirements of RACUS in order to have on time all the necessary documents for staying in Russia during the training period. The student must strictly obey the rules and terms of registration, attend all classes in accordance with the academic schedule, and master the curriculum contents in his/her chosen speciality. Students must keep their rooms at the university hostel clean and tidy, obey the Russian law and the internal regulations of the university and of the hostel, follow the safety instructions, and respect the laws, customs and traditions of Russia.  
• The student needs to know that, like any Russian citizen on the territory of the Russian Federation, he/she is liable for any criminal or administrative offense, and for breakage or loss of the university property. He/she can be expelled from the university due to poor academic results or failure to fulfill the conditions of the contract, including the financial ones. If an international student is expelled from the university, he/she must leave the Russian Federation within 14 days, for which purpose he/she must have an airplane ticket for his/her home country with the open date of departure, or the money to buy one. 
• The student must strictly fulfill the conditions of the contract concluded between the student and RACUS, and/or between the student and the university. He/she must have the amount of money sufficient for paying the tuition, hostel accommodation fees and life and health insurance, as well as for covering food expenses and other personal needs while staying and studying in Russia. Tuition and accommodation fees, as well as life and health insurance must be paid every year no later than September 1st.
  Students must perform all their duties and responsibilities, and strictly follow the recommendations of RACUS employees. They must properly inform RACUS on their problems and needs in order to get help and protection of their interests within the period of their stay in Russia and within the duration of the contract with RACUS and/or with the University. 
• Students need to know that the acting rules of admission to universities of the Russian Federation for foreign citizens are the same; namely, applicants who have successfully finished school and got positive grades are entitled to be admitted to Russian Universities on equal terms. That is, those who got the Certificate with the 50% results enjoy the same rights as applicants with 100% grades. The main requirement to the educational certificates is that they contain positive, even if modest, grades. 

For those who apply for Medical specialties the lowest passing score is 50%, and it is just 40% for university applicants who choose specialities related to Engineering, Technology, Economics, and Humanities.Evidently, admission to the first year at the university does not guarantee that the student will be able to study successfully throughout the whole course. Further studying depends on how thoroughly the student fulfills the curriculum. International students should be aware that attendance to all every-day classes on the time-table (lectures, laboratory sessions, and practical training) is compulsory. Classes usually take place every day except Sunday, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.Reading course books cannot substitute the daily communication with an experienced teacher. Regular attendance of lectures is essential for good education. This can be different in other countries, where students are free to choose which classes to attend. In that case, the contact with the teacher is reduced to the minimum, which largely decreases the education level. Therefore, Russian university graduates are worldly recognized as being thoroughly and comprehensively educated, energetic and independent at work, which meets the standards of labor market in any country on the globe.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW that according to the current legislation of the RF, an international student must study at the same higher education establishment throughout all years of studies (at the Preparatory Faculty and in the 1st – 6th years). If the student wants to be transferred from one University to another to continue their education there, he must get an exit visa, leave the country, and then enter Russia again by the invitation of a different University. Students wishing to change university have to know and gather the needed documents in advance, beginning from June. Preparation of these papers takes 2-3 months including the time spent comparing the university curriculums, getting the approval of the receiving university, and drawing up a new official letter of invitation to the new University.