What is your personal attitude to State Unified Test?

According to the Law on Education in Russia, the overall system of education in this country is made up of several stages.

They include nursery\preschool education, primary\elementary education, secondary education, vocational or technical education, university education and post-university studies.

Compulsory schooling starts at the age of 6\7 and covers a 9-year course of studies, so the minimum school-leaving age is 14\15.

To continue with their studies and then go on to a university, students have to stay at school for another two years and either take final exams or do Unified State Tests at the end.

USTs provide university examination boards with a unified basis for selecting applicants.

University education in Russia is not compulsory and may be provided either on a fee-paying basis or free of charge.

Admission standards may differ, but competition for free university places is very high.

Most universities offer both full-time and part-time undergraduate courses of studies which take 4 or 5 years.

The system of baccalaureate (4-year undergraduate course of studies) and magistrate (further 2-year course) is currently being introduced in Russian universities.

This means that a student is awarded the degree of a Bachelor of Science (or Arts) upon the completion of a 4-year course of studies, and is granted the degree of a Master (of Arts or Sciences) after another two years of studies.

More traditional is a 5-year course of studies that gives both professional and teaching qualifications and an opportunity to do research during the 3-year post-graduate course of studies, which leads to the degree of a Candidate.

The highest degree at the post-university level in Russia is a Doctor of Science (Russian term).

Russian university education is a fairly uniform system.

An academic year is divided into two terms (or semesters), the autumn term starting in September and ending in January, the spring term starting in February and ending in June.

The system of assessment includes credits and exams which are taken at the end of each term, and a course paper or project which is submitted at the end of an academic year.

Course papers\projects are written as part of research work guided by a scientific supervisor.

Final examinations at the end of the course of studies, and a diploma research paper complement the system of assessment.

The uniformity of the university education leaves little freedom in the choice of subjects to be studied.

The first two years of studies cover a compulsory set of liberal arts courses such as world history, philosophy, native and foreign language, mathematics, economics, and the basics of future specialization.

Majoring (specialization) starts in the third year of studies and involves doing courses related to your major (subject or field of study representing student’s principal interest).

Teaching is done in the form of lectures and seminars (or practical classes), during which a lecturer (or an instructor) encourages students to discuss the most important issues of the current courses.

University facilities may be located either on campus or elsewhere and traditionally include libraries, sports grounds and gyms, a computer center, halls of residence (both on campus and off campus), catering facilities, student medical center and university community center.

Comprehension check

Where is the right to education started?

What is the right to education ensured by?

What right does a secondary education certificate give?

Whom are Higher Educational establishments headed by?

How many years do the students in a college and in a medical institute spend?

What should a student do to be admitted to an institution?