OVERVIEW
The country of Russia spans the Northern region of Asia and most of Eastern Europe. It is the largest country in the world and covers almost one-eighth of the inhabited land area on the earth. Russia is considered as a great power, and is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Russia is the world’s most economically developed republic with its economy ranking tenth in the world by Nominal GDP. The country has extensive natural resource reserves that make it one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the global arena. It is also a nuclear nation and a major arms exporter. Russia’s well developed, high income market economy has made it an interesting prospect for people from other countries as well.
Why Study in Russia
Why Study in Russia
Russia has always been ahead of the pack in the field of education, specifically medicine and engineering. It has one of the best education systems in the world with a literacy rate of 98%. More than 54% of Russians have an education that corresponds to the graduate level, thanks to its subsidized higher education programs.
Here are some more factors that draw students to pursue their higher education in Russia:
- Presence of several world-class universities in Russia
- High emphasis on quality courses for medicine, science and technology
- Education at the college level is relatively less expensive.
- Wide variety of courses to suit the student’s interests.
- Huge investment by the government in the education sector.
- Westernised model of education.
- Variety of job prospects.
- Possibility of studying in English.
Access to state of the art laboratories and research centres
Courses Offered
Russia has more than 600 state universities and a number of private universities as well. Quite a few of these universities follow English as the medium of instruction. Five Russian universities are placed among the top 400 universities of the world.
Russia has three kinds of higher education institutions:
- Universities – for all subject disciplines
- Academies – for research in science, art or architecture
- Institutes – for professional education programs
The higher education programs offered at these universities are as follows:
- Preparatory course (1 year)
- Bachelor’s Degree (4 years)
- Engineering Degree (5 years)
- Master’s Degree (1 to 3 years)
- Doctorate Degree (2 to 3 years)
Education Requirements
Each course has its own eligibility criteria corresponding to the academic qualifications of the applicant and their prior performance. Most postgraduate and professional courses are taught in English. If the student picks a course that’s taught in Russian, he/she would have to undertake a year-long preparatory course and pass an entrance exam.
Most universities do not conduct any qualifying examinations, and students do not have to show their IELTS/TOEFL scores. The upper age limit for college applications is 28 years, and for doctoral studies, it is 35 years.
Cost Of Education
Since Russia is relatively new to the field of international education, the cost of education is relatively low. Some professional courses would cost a bit more, depending on the nature and complexity of the subject.
Some organisations offer academic scholarships for a select few outstanding students, to help offset their education expenses. On an average, students would have to be ready to pay about $1500 to $5000 per year just for living expenses alone.
Application Procedure
The academic year in Russia runs for 10 months from September to June. The year is divided into two semesters with an examination at the end of each semester. The first semester runs from September to January, while the second semester runs from February to June. The major intake of students in most universities occurs in September.
Here’s the application procedure for most universities in Russia:
- Meet with our education consultant and select a course/university that suits the student’s career goals.
- Apply to the university with all supporting documentation.
- Once admission is confirmed, apply for a student visa at the nearest Russian embassy.
- Once the visa has arrived, communicate with the university and arrange for travel and accommodation.
It’s best to start the visa process at least 3 months prior to the commencement of the course. The visa has to be registered soon after the student reaches the country. Also, the initial study visa is only valid for 90 days so students would have to apply for an extension as required. For longer stays, students may have to undertake medical tests and produce the reports.
Work Rights
Students are allowed to take up part time jobs – either on campus or outside, but they might need to apply for a work visa for the same. Wages might not be high, but small jobs can help students offset their living expenses. These part time jobs can only be taken up during the student’s free time, after classes or on holidays.
International students also have high prospects of getting a good job and permanent residency status, providing they meet all the necessary requirements.
More About Russia
For centuries, Russia has been a major force in the world through history, art, politics, literature and technology. It is home to over 20 world heritage sites and has extensive natural resource reserves. The majority of Russia experience extreme weather conditions and has only two distinct seasons – summer and winter.
The official language is Russian, although over 100 languages are spoken by the 160+ culturally diverse ethnic groups that currently reside in Russia. More universities are opening up to tutoring in English as they see an increase in foreign students. Russia is a great place for students who want to gain a professional international degree at a reasonable cost, while being exposed to a global culture.