Higher education in Russia

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 417.

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Unit 5. Higher education in Russia and abroad

Russia has a long-standing tradition in high-quality education for all citizens. Higher education is provided by public and non-public (non-state) accredited higher education institutions. Nowadays Russia is in the process of migrating from its traditional education model, incompatible with existing Western academic degrees, to a modernized degree structure in line with Bologna Process model. Russia co-signed the Bologna Declaration in 2003. In October 2007 Russia enacted a law that replaces the traditional five-year model of education with a two-tiered approach.

There are two levels of new higher education: basic higher education (4 years) leading to the Bachelor's degree, the first university level degree. This is equivalent to the B.Sc. degree in the US or Western Europe. After two years, students receive a Master's degree. This is equivalent to a Master's Degree (M.Sc, M.A.) in the US or Western Europe. After a Master's degree, students can continue to study towards a doctoral degree, the first level, equivalent to Ph.D. and the second, highest level, equivalent to Professor.

The Bachelor's degree programmes last for at least 4 years of full-time university-level study. The programmes are elaborated in accordance with the State Educational Standards which regulate almost 80% of their content. The other 20% are elaborated by the university itself. The programmes include professional and special courses in Science, the Humanities and Social-economic disciplines, professional training, completion of a research project and passing State final exams. The Bachelor's degree is awarded in all fields except Medicine after defending a Diploma project prepared under the guidance of a supervisor and passing the final exams. In Medicine, the first stage lasts for six years.

Having obtained the Bachelor's degree, students may apply to enter the Master's programme.

Access to these programmes is competitive. The Master's degree is awarded after successful completion of two years' full-time study. Students must carry out a year of research including practice, prepare and defend a thesis and pass final examinations.

Russia's higher education system started with the foundation of the universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg in the middle of the 18th century. The system was constructed similar to that of Germany. In Soviet times all of the population in Russia had at least a secondary education. The pursuit of higher education was and still is considered to be very prestigious. More than 50% of people have a higher education.

Russia's top universities have very competitive entry requirements, and special entry exams are held each year. Students with Russian citizenship, regardless of residency outside of Russia, must apply for studies according to the standard competitive system and directly with a faculty admissions office. If you have dual citizenship, you can apply as a foreign student using the non-Russian passport. Applicants for advanced degrees (M.A./M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc.) should have their prior degree in the same or a very similar field. This is a more strict requirement than in some other countries, especially the US.

Many Russian universities also offer distance education and provide courses for the public and for specific professional needs. However, such systems are usually less developed than in the US and other Western European countries.

The academic year lasts from Sept 1 to Mid June everywhere, with long summer vacations from July 1st to Aug 31.