With an area of ​​over 17,000,000 square kilometers, Russia is the world’s largest country. The Russian economy has undergone a major development in the last ten years, characterized by modernization and high economic growth. A stay in Russia can offer great insights into a country in great development – both politically and economically.

The Russian Soviet Republic was, with Moscow as its capital, the core of the Soviet Union until the dissolution of the union in 1991. Modern Russia – the Russian Federation – has existed since the adoption of the country’s constitution in 1993, and the country is by virtue of its enormous size, richness of natural resources and great economic potential an important player in international politics and economics.

In the field of education, the dissolution of the Soviet Union meant a number of important reforms, the most radical changes of which have taken place at the higher level, in relation to both the content of education and in relation to the local institutions’ local autonomy, which has generally been increased. Russia has also introduced an 11-year upper secondary education level (compared to 10 years ago) as well as a division of university education into a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, in contrast to earlier, where a university education was combined under one degree.

According to topschoolsintheusa, the Russian education system is divided into a basic level with 9 years of compulsory schooling, a high school level with either 2 years of general high school or 3-5 years of vocational high school education and higher education divided into bachelor and master level.

Worth knowing

Vocational training in Russia

Vocational training in Russia takes place at the initial, upper secondary and upper secondary level, and can be started after the 9 years of compulsory primary school.

• The initial vocational training (nachalnoe professionalnoe obrazovanie) is the first stage of vocational training in Russia and is offered by vocational schools (Professionalno-technicheskoe uchilishche). It includes 1 to 2.5 years of education on the basis of 9th grade graduation certificates and 1 to 1.5 years of education on the basis of 11th grade graduation certificates. The education ends with a state degree that qualifies for work as a skilled worker, and can also provide access to higher, not university educations.
• Vocational education at upper secondary level – offered by vocational high schools (Professionalnye litsei) – contains both a professional qualification and general education corresponding to the teaching in 10th and 11th grade. This type of vocational education leads to a diploma that entitles both to a profession and to higher education. The certificate, Diplom o srednem professionalnom obrazovanii, certifies that the graduate has completed a full general syllabus. Furthermore, this diploma can provide access to higher education on an equal footing with the diploma of a general Russian high school, the Certificate of Certificate.
• For vocational educations of a longer-term degree, there are vocational higher education programs at either the technical (uchilische) or colleges (kolledz) in continuation of either the 9 or 11-year school education. If you start directly on the education after 9th grade, the education also includes general subjects.

In Russia, vocational education, which is an extension of the upper secondary level, is called either “non-university higher education”, the Russians’ own translation into English, or “middle level professional education” – a more eloquent translation of srednee professionalnoe obrazovanie.

Internship

If you are thinking of taking all or part of your own internship abroad, read the section on internships abroad for vocational education under the section Primary school and upper secondary education.

Higher Education in Russia

To meet the developments in the European world of education, including the Bologna process, Russia has introduced at the upper secondary level a two-tier degree structure to replace the former single-degree structure, a specialist lasting five years.

University education in Russia therefore today follows a two-part degree structure, divided into bachelor’s and master’s degrees. At bachelor level (bachelor) the duration of the educations is typically four years, and at master’s level (master) the duration is usually two years. However, the transition from the old structure (one degree of five years duration) to the new two-part structure is still under way, and in practice some universities still operate according to the old structure.

After obtaining an examination at either specialist or master’s level, students can also apply for studies at PhD level. The PhD degree in Russia is called Candidate Nauk.

Recording and access

Depending on whether you are applying for admission to a Russian university as an exchange student through an agreement with your Danish educational institution, as a guest student or to take your entire education in Russia, the application process and admission requirements may vary.

The same may be the case between the various educational institutions in Russia, so it is best to stay informed about admission requirements and application process for the universities you may be interested in.

Language proficiency

Russian is the official language of Russia, and a large part of the teaching takes place at Russian level. Education is also offered in English at several universities, but as a starting point, the fees on English courses are higher than on the Russian-speaking ones. The individual universities will typically specify whether international students must have proof of their English or Russian language skills.

Recognition of foreign educations in Denmark

If you have completed a publicly recognized education abroad, you can have it assessed by the Danish Agency for Research and Education

Economics and education

In Russia, you pay tuition fees for higher education and if you are going on a study stay in Russia as part of your Danish education as a guest student, or if you take your entire education in Russia, you must also pay tuition fees. How much depends on the specifications of the individual universities and whether you take subjects in English or Russian.

However, the Russian Ministry of Education specifies that foreign students who have to pay tuition fees should expect to pay between $ 3,000 and $ 10,000 annually for their studies in Russia, depending on the institution in which they enroll.

As a Danish student, you can take your SU abroad. It requires that the study stay is part of your Danish education, and that your Danish place of education approves that the study stay gives full credit. You can also apply for support through a scholarship abroad that fully or partially covers study-related expenses on approved study stays.

You can read more about the possibilities for SU abroad and a scholarship abroad at SU.dk – SU abroad

At the same time, you can apply for support through private grants. You can read more about this in the section grants and foundations.

Work in Russia

The latest updated figures from the OECD show an unemployment rate in Russia – as% of the total workforce – is 6.6%.

If you want to work in Russia, you must apply for either a work visa or a so-called business visa. For Danish citizens, such are sought through the Russian embassy in Copenhagen.

Practical conditions

Visa

Whether you are going on a stay in Russia as a student, employee, volunteer or as anything else, you need to apply for a visa. This takes place at the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen.

The embassy emphasizes the importance of setting aside enough time to apply for a visa before traveling. The processing time for visa applications varies and the embassy cannot guarantee to have completed your application within a certain deadline. It is therefore crucial that you take into account a significant amount of time to obtain your visa.

On the embassy’s website you can read about all the practicalities of applying for and obtaining a visa for different types of stay in Russia.

Housing

If you need to find a private home in Russia, you can start your search on housing sites online. These are generally found for all the major cities, e.g. Apartments Moscow for Moscow and Saint Petersburg Appartments for Skt. Petersburg.

General info

• Expatinfodesk.com: general info for foreigners who are just coming or have come to Russia for a longer stay. Info about housing options, prices, transport, culture and the like, as well as links to other pages with the same purpose.

If you are applying for education in Russia, it is crucial that you thoroughly research the quality of the education. There can be a big difference between the educational institutions, the educations and the form of teaching internally in the country. You can obtain knowledge and experience about educations from relevant professionals in Denmark (eg teachers / researchers with knowledge of the subject area or the country), the international offices at Danish educational institutions or Danish students who have been to Russia.

Facts about Russia

Population: Approx. 142 million.

Language: Russian.

Employment: Unemployment of 5.6% of the total workforce in 2013 (IMF).

Currency: Russian rubles.

Visa: Applied through the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen.