News and Events/RUSSIA OFFERS HIGHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIAN STUDENTS

New Delhi, July 5, 2007: The Russian Centre of Science & Culture (RCSC), in association with "Russian-Asian Centre for University Services" (RACUS), St. Petersburg, is organizing a two-day Exhibition-cum-Presentation of Russian Higher Education at the RCSC, 24, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, 2007 and Sunday, July 8, 2007. A three-member Russian delegation, comprising Mr. Ali Nutsalov, Deputy Director, RACUS, Ms. Natalia Makarchuk, Manager--International Students Department, St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical Academy, and Ms. Ekaterina Polunina, Manager-International Students Department, Saratov State Medical University, are present to enable the aspiring Indian students seeking admission to Russian universities to equip themselves with required information, guidance and assistance, including spot-admission. Mrs. Elena A. Barman, Head of "EDURUSSIA", RACUS Branch at RCSC, will be coordinating the organization and conduct of the two-day educational fair.

Russian universities always attract foreign students. Credited with standard education, Russian universities enjoy high reputation, and the country is becoming a real magnet for the world intellectual elite. RACUS, working in the field of international educational services, fulfils on the basis of outsourcing the functions of international departments of more than 50 Russian Government Universities, assisting to foreign citizens in admission to higher educational establishments of the Russian Federation and guiding them within 6-7 years of studies at a university, providing them with any kind of help, controlling their study progress, keeping in touch with their parents, etc. Each year, more and more students from abroad come for pursuing studies in Russian higher educational establishments, the fact making evident and doubtless the answer to the question "why Russia?".

Owing to favourable conditions of getting higher education in Russia created for foreign citizens, about 1,10,000 foreign students from more than 200 countries of the world came to study at Russian universities last year. The Government of the Russian Federation provides financial support to back up the training of foreign students at state universities. In fact, a foreign student pays only 10-12 per cent of the net cost of education, which amounts to about US $ 12,000 (the amount can vary depending on speciality) Depending on the preferred area of studies, the average tuition fee per year for a foreign student, including text books, amounts to US $ 1500--2500; monthly accommodation costs at a university hostel is about US $ 30--50; the annual life and health insurance is about US $ 105--150; expenses for food, depending on the city, make up about US $ 120--150 pr month. In all, the annual average expenses for the tuition, accommodation, insurance, and food in Russia make up about US $ 3500-4500. This sum is much lower than in other European countries, where over US $ 1000 is spent monthly, only for food.

An applicant aspiring to study at a Russian university can choose among more than 500 highly demanding specialities in different areas: medicine, engineering, economics, humanities, etc. Training in the most popular specialities is carried out not only in Russian, but also in English and French. Higher education in Russia can be obtained along two lines: either 5 years of education leading to a specialist's degree, or 4 years of studies for a Bachelor's degree, followed by two years to get a Master's degree. With a Specialist's degree as well as with a Master's degree, one can continue education as a post-graduate student. Post-graduate courses are available in almost all possible specialties existing in the world. Russian university degrees are recognized in all countries according to inter-governmental treaties or agreements between them. In line with the Bologna Convention signed by 45 European states and the USA on mutual recognition of educational documents, degrees issued by Russian universities are accepted in all European countries. Similarly, the European degrees are recognized in Russia. Upon successful graduation from a Russian university, one receives a degree with the European appendix, which provides an opportunity to continue education or take a job in another European country.