It is very important to figure out in which college you want to study at the end of high school i.e 11th and 12th because according to that a student can figure out how they need to prepare and on which aspect they will need to focus on to make their application more desirable. Let’s find out, Is College Free In Russia?
When it comes to the citizens of Russia, higher education is free for some students, all they have to do is clear a university exam but if they are doing a degree then the state would only pay the tuition.
The case for foreign students is a little different, the Russian government has a few scholarships for these students but other than that their education is not free. To qualify for this government scholarship the candidates have to go through the rigorous competition.
How can you apply for these scholarships as a foreign student?
Step 1: Choose the programme and the University
There are unlimited options available for students to choose from in every university, the student should have the right academic background to apply for the programme, as every programme has different criteria or requirements of subjects not everyone can apply for any programme. The student can apply a maximum of 6 universities and not more than that.
Step 2: Learn about financing and scholarship suitable for you
Both foreigners and Russian students can study at a Russian university at the expense of the Russian government or on private tuition.
There are 3 options:
- Become the winner of one of the competitions held by the Russian government or abroad.
- Pass the unified state examination or the university entrance exam.
- Pass the competitive selection for government scholarship or quota
Step 3: Prepare the documents
The documents which are required are the application for admission, documents confirming your citizenship, certificates of your education qualification, standard medical forms, and photographs.
Step 4: Undergo the selection process
The most important part is the entrance exam after which an interview is conducted by the university and the last step is the competitive selection in which students are selected from thousands of students.
Step 5: Get an invitation and apply for a student visa
As soon as a student is selected they are sent an invitation from the particular university and then they can start applying for their visa.
How can a Russian student be applicable for a scholarship?
The cost of education is not that expensive so according to a census conducted, the majority of students in Russia pay for their own education. However, if the student wants a scholarship, they just have to score a high score in the unified state examination and must maintain a high academic standing in high school through which they can easily get a scholarship to a prestigious university.
What is the Unified State Examination?
When enrolling at a Russian college on the usual terms, the student has to submit the result of EGE or the unified state examination. The EGE is the test that is given by all high school students in Russia, and its results are accepted for enrollment in the university. International students can also take this test but it totally depends on the rules of the university that they are applying to because in some colleges EGE is compulsory for all and in some it is optional.
What is the fee structure of Russian universities?
The fee structure for foreign students varies from university to university. Coming from North America and Europe, they tend to be inexpensive. The minimum tuition which is determined by the ministry of education has said that the fee can not be less than the amount invested by the Russian government in the education of a student. The range of tuition fees is as follows
- A Bachelor’s is USD 3,385 to 3690 per year (RUB 222,00 to 240,000).
- A Specialist degree is USD 3,385 to 3690 per year (RUB 222,00 to 240,000).
- A Master’s degree is USD 3746 t0 4058(RUB 240,00 to 260,00) upto USD 8082(RUB 450,00).
- A Postgrad course can cost anywhere from USD 1293(RUB 72,000) to USD 4490(RUB 250,000).
What are the advantages of applying to Russian universities?
There are multiple advantages of applying to Russian universities one of them being the cost of education is not as expensive and the living cost is also considered to be less than that in the USA, international students have an option of choosing out of 788 universities across the country and 205 different fields and majority subjects there are taught in English so the international student can easily adjust and they don’t necessarily need to learn Russian.
Conclusion
The Russian government has kept 15,000 scholarships for foreign students as of 2020. To get these, the student has to maintain a stellar record and has to start preparing for these entrance exams from the beginning because of the competitive nature of these tests. The government is very particular in this process and only gives these scholarships to exceptional students. It is important especially for an international student to get a scholarship because it reduces the financial burden on the student.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What all is included in the scholarships?
The scholarship includes the tuition, a small maintenance allowance, and dormitory accommodations if applicable.
2. What is the fee for specialty subjects?
The fee range for specialty subjects is the same as for the Bachelor’s USD 3,385-3690 per year.
3. What are the other options of financing?
There are three options
- Personal funding
- External funding
- Scholarships
4. What does the Russian scholarship not include?
It does not include the cost of travel or from Russia, voluntary health expenditure, and outside dormitory living expenses.
5. Is it difficult to get a scholarship from the Russian government?
The procedure is very competitive and the scholarship is only given to students who excel in the entrance exam and have an excellent track record in school.