Levels of Education in
the Russian Federation
The Russian Federation has been a full member of the Bologna Process / European Higher Education Area since 2003. As a result of joining, the system of higher education in Russia includes the following levels of education: bachelor's degree, specialist degree, master's degree, postgraduate degree (PhD), and post-doctoral degree.
Russian Language Preparatory Course (full-time – 1 year)
In order to apply for main educational programs in Russian or English language, international students must have a certificate of language proficiency, which is issued upon the successful completion of the Russian Language Preparatory Course.
Bachelor's Degree (full-time – 4 years, part-time – 4,5 years)
International students who have completed the Russian Language Preparatory Course and legalised their national school certificates in the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation (if necessary) can get admission for a bachelor's degree programme.
A bachelor's degree programmes include general training and profession-specific subjects. In order to obtain a diploma, students are supposed to write and defend their final qualification paper (60-80 pages). This diploma is needed for employment in the professional area, as well as admission for master's degree programmes.
Specialist Degree (full-time – 5 years, part-time – 5,5 years)
International students who have completed the Russian Language Preparatory Course and legalised their national school certificates in the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation (if necessary) can get admission for a specialist degree programme.
Compared to a bachelor's degree programme, this one is more closely focused on practical aspects, and offers more subjects related to chosen profession. After the defence of the final qualification paper (80-90 pages) and final qualification state exams, students receive a specialist degree which specifies the obtained qualification. This diploma is needed for employment in the professional area, as well as admission for postgraduate (PhD) degree programmes.
Master's Degree (full-time – 2 years, part-time – 2,5 years)
International students who have completed their bachelor's degree in Russia or obtained and legalised their national bachelor's degree in the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation (if necessary) can get admission for a master's degree programme.
This course is designed to provide in-depth profession-related knowledge and develop research skills in students. After the defence of the final research paper (80-120 pages), students are awarded with a master's degree. The obtained diploma is required to take research and teaching positions in higher education institutions, get employed in the professional area, and apply for postgraduate degree programmes.
Postgraduate (PhD) / Post-Doctorate Degrees (full-time – 3-4 years, part-time – 4-5 years / full-time – 3 years)
International students who have completed their master's degree in Russia or obtained and legalised their national master's degree in the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation (if necessary) can get admission for a postgraduate (PhD) degree. Duration of training for a PhD degree varies, e.g. Natural Sciences graduate students study for 4-5 years, while Social Sciences graduate students study for only 3-4 years.
This course includes studying and teaching, as well as extensive research activities. In order to obtain a PhD, graduate students need to select a research area and defend their PhD thesis (150-200 pages). A PhD graduate (Candidate of Sciences) is awarded a postgraduate diploma which allows taking high-level research and teaching positions in higher education institutions, get employed in the professional area, and apply for post-doctoral programmes. The latter requires a substantial amount of research papers and elaborate thesis (200-300 pages) in order to get a degree of Doctor of Sciences.
