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Higher Education in the Republic of
Belarus
Belarusian education is ranked among the
best ones, and the Belarusian specialists are much in demand in the world.
Therefore both our citizens and foreign students wish to study in the higher
educational establishments (Universities) of the Republic. Belarus has been
involved in training foreign students since 1961. More than 20 thousand
foreigners have got their education in Belarus since then.
There are 340 students per 10,000
residents of Belarus. This ratio is among the highest in Europe. In the
system of higher education of Belarus a broad network of educational
establishments was shaped.
Four major types can be distinguished:
- Classical university;
- Profile university or academy;
- Institute;
- Higher college.
Altogether there are 57 higher educational
establishments, of which 43 are state owned (28 universities, 8 academies, 1
institute, 5 higher colleges, 1 higher school), 13 are private and 2 are run
by religious organizations. Every establishment occupies its particular
niche in training of highly qualified staff for various branches of national
economy.
Classical and profile universities as well
as institutes are classified as higher educational establishments of
university type and provide a two level system of higher education with
academic degrees of Bachelor and Master.
At the same time the old 5-year curriculum
is still in use. Graduates both from state and private universities are
granted state diplomas of higher education. But it is not that easy to
become a student. High demand on higher education led to high entrance
competition regardless of form of study or specialty. Therefore only the
very best can study at budget cost. The entrants who passed the entrance
exams successfully but did not win the competition (did not get the
necessary entrance score) have the opportunity to study for their own
account. As regards tuition fee, it does not significantly exceed education
services costs and stays within 500-3500 US$ for the most prestigious
specialties.
3 forms of learning are available at
Belarusian higher educational establishments: full-time, evening and by
correspondence. Full-time learning is the most widespread and in the
greatest demand with 2/3 of the students. Less than 1% of students use
evening form of learning and over 35% of students learn by correspondence.
Full-time students with positive grades
receive a monthly allowance. Its size depends on a student’s academic
success. Some groups of students are granted social allowances; the gifted
students are awarded with nominal scholarships. Correspondence and evening
forms of learning are a good opportunity for persons with financial, age,
physical and other limitations.
External studies represent another form of receiving higher education. It is
based on the independent study of subjects from the regular curriculum.
Credits and examinations are taken without obligatory attendance of classes.
This form of learning is available to persons with secondary education, who
cannot study full-time or leave their workplace. Diplomas are granted to
external students on a regular basis.
A combination of various forms of learning
is accepted, so is learning on individual curricula. The efficiency of any
form of learning is ensured by eminently qualified teaching staff including
a large number of candidates and doctors of science, associate professors
and professors.
But higher education in Belarus does not
only mean lectures, seminars and exams. In addition Belarusian students
participate in international scientific conferences and competitions,
student exchange programs. Belarusian teams take first places at
competitions in mathematics, economy and programming. However organization
of the educational process is not the only concern of the Higher School.
Much attention is paid to students’ living conditions, providing
non-residents with a hostel accommodation. University administration renders
assistance in conducting leisure activities of students. Let’s take for
example Belarusian State University (BSU), the largest higher educational
establishment in the Republic. The BSU Students’ Tutorial Board is the
initiator of students’ festivals, sports and athletics meetings, tourist
programs and the Bard’s club sessions, which became regular events in the
life of the BSU students. Such bodies function at many educational
establishments.
This is how the student years at
Belarusian higher educational establishments are spent. After graduation the
budget students are provided with the first workplaces. Finding a good job
on specialty both in the republic and abroad is not a problem for paying
students either. Belarus has bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of
education certificates with dozens of the world countries.
Low cost of learning and scientific
literature, accommodation, transport, high quality of academic education,
good conditions of Belarusian diploma recognition abroad, stable political
situation and low crime rate are just some of the reasons that attract
foreign students. Annually about 3,000 students from over 70 world countries
(China, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Poland, Jordan, India) study in the
republic. Foreign students are offered a year’s preparatory Russian language
course. There is a possibility of getting an inexpensive hostel
accommodation. Universities place at students’ free disposal sports
facilities and library funds, encourage their creative activities.
After university graduation young
specialists have the possibility to get a postgraduate education. Here
training of the scientific personnel with highest qualifications is
conducted with granting scientific degrees of Candidate of Science
(equivalent of PhD; postgraduate courses-aspirantura, adjunktura (military),
assistentura (probation period)) and Doctor of Science (doktorantura).
Establishments providing postgraduate education include higher educational
establishments (regardless of pattern of ownership), scientific and other
organizations entitled to engage in postgraduate education in accordance
with established procedure.
Regardless of pattern of ownership and
departmental affiliation all higher educational establishments are
subordinate to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.
Regulation on Study of Foreign Citizens
in Belarus
A valid passport or other means of
identification, a student visa and medical insurance are major enrolment
requirements for foreign citizens.
Admission of foreign citizens to
educational establishments of Belarus is based on a contract signed with a
potential student or his/her intermediary on terms of education cost
compensation (unless other condition is stipulated by international
agreements of the Republic of Belarus). However, the financial matter is not
the only condition for entering Belarusian higher educational
establishments. An adequate level of previous education is also required. It
should correspond to secondary or special secondary education in the
Republic of Belarus. To acquire a master’s degree an adequate education
background is also required.
Another condition is a good command of
Russian, though it is not obligatory. Foreign citizens with a poor command
of Russian are admitted to a preparatory course of a chosen educational
establishment, where Russian and specialty-related subjects are taught.
After the preparatory course examinations are held and those who passed the
exams successfully are admitted to a chosen faculty. Those who failed are
given the chance to repeat the preparatory course. The admission of foreign
citizens without a preparatory course certificate is possible after the
confirmation by the commission created by the order of the head of a higher
educational establishment, of the entrant’s proper language command and
educational background.
Foreign students have the same rights with
Belarusian students to change the specialty, form of learning (full-time,
shift (evening), correspondence) or even switch over to an individual
curriculum within the scope of educational standards. If a course is
completed successfully a student is granted a diploma of the established
standard.
Post-graduate courses are available (PhD
and doctorate) to students with the proper language command and educational
background.
It should be noted that according to the
Regulation on Study of Foreign Students in the Republic of Belarus, foreign
students can participate in autonomous bodies and create native country
associations. Medical service of foreign students is conducted on terms of
compulsory medical insurance, if other conditions are not stipulated by
international agreements of the Republic of Belarus.
Step-by-step directions
If the education in Belarus is what you
were looking for don’t waste time and start preparations immediately.
Step 1
The first thing a future student should do
is to choose the university you want to study and send there the following
documents:
-
A copy of education
certificate with a list of studied subjects and corresponding examination
grades or a certificate of education in progress for last year students
attested in accordance with established procedure;
-
A copy of a birth
certificate and a passport or other identity document.
These documents are required for a
Belarusian educational establishment to issue a study invitation, necessary
for obtaining a student visa. Student visas are issued by diplomatic
representatives and consular offices of the Ministry of foreign affairs of
the Republic of Belarus.
Step 2
An applicant to a full-time form of
education should present to a chosen educational establishment a list of the
following documents (in Belarusian, Russian, English, French, Spanish or
German):
-
A passport with a student
visa of the Republic of Belarus;
-
An application for admission
with indication of a chosen specialty;
-
A certificate of education
with indication of studied subjects and examination grades;
-
A medical certificate issued
by an official health care establishment of the country of residence of the
applicant;
-
Certificate of a negative
HIV-reaction issued by an official health care establishment of the country
of residence of the applicant;
-
A copy of birth certificate,
attested in accordance with established procedure;
- A list of publications (if any);
-
6 photos (4 x 6 cm).
In case a foreign citizen changes an
educational establishment his documents will be sent to the place of further
education.
Step 3
If an interview is passed successfully,
the applicant is to sign a study contract at the department of international
relations of a chosen educational establishment. The basic provision of the
contract is tuition fee which ranges from 700 to 3,500 US$ depending on a
chosen specialty and form of learning (full-time, shift, by correspondence).
It should be reminded, that foreign
citizens with a poor command of Russian are admitted to a preparatory course
of a chosen educational establishment, where the language of instruction and
specialty-related subjects are taught. After the course examinations are
held and those who passed the exams successfully are admitted to a chosen
faculty. Those who failed are given the chance to repeat the preparatory
course.
Step 4
When all the formalities are settled it’s
time to think about living conditions. The department of international
relations of an educational establishment will help you obtain a residence
permit and a lodging. The average monthly charge at a student hostel makes
15-30 US$ depending on the type of room (single or double) and hostel
location. |
