1. Study System

The study system in Russia and in the countries of the former USSR has been changing for the past decade considerably, shaping itself more and more in line with the established standards of the world's leading educational criteria. A multi-level system of higher education has been introduced. Nevertheless, the system of studies in the university still remains to be quite different from those existing in most European and other countries, and this fact should be borne in mind by anyone wishing to take university studies in Russia.

Any independent international student who wants to receive a degree from Herzen University has to complete a rather fixed set of courses with much less freedom of choice of subjects that exists in other universities abroad. In other words, an international student needs to follow a course of studies very similar to that of the home students studying for the same degree. Such a mode presumes a sufficient knowledge of Russian as the basic language of instruction in most courses. That is why completing of a 10-month course aimed specially at preparation for studying in the Russian universities is a must for such students. However, this course can be skipped, if the student succeeds in passing the essential language skills test.

An international student wishing to take courses in Herzen as a part of his/her degree from another university needs to co-ordinate carefully the study curricula in both institutions. Co-ordination of study plans between different universities may take time and mostly done on the individual basis. This process is simplified, if the student comes to Herzen within bilateral exchange agreements. Currently the University runs different types of programmes for international students, such as double-degree programmes (receiving 2 diplomas from both home and Herzen universities), correspondence courses, summer educational and cultural programmes, which enhance opportunities for getting education at Herzen for degree and non-degree students.

Still, if you want to come to Herzen as an independent international student, you should make proper inquiries well in advance to get placement. Since the educational systems in universities can differ significantly, and there is not any officially adopted scale of converting grades and academic progress between Russia and other countries yet (the one like ECTS — the European Credit Transfer System), it should be understood that the problem of transferability of credits for university studies abroad, so that they might count for a final qualification in the home country, may take time to be solved.

1.1. Diplomas Awarded by the University and Duration of Courses

Bachelor — 4 years

Master — 2 years

Specialist — 5 years

Candidate of Science (PhD) — 3-4 years

Doctor (D.S.) — 3-4 years

1.2. Academic Year Structure

The academic year at the University includes 2 semesters (terms):

Autumn semester — September 1 to December 31;

Spring semester — February 1 — June 30.

1.3. Instruction and Grading

The most typical form of instruction at the University is a classical one, that is a lecture course with a final examination or a test, which a student is to pass usually within the set periods of academic term. In addition to lecture courses there are seminars, independent research, laboratory work in natural sciences, written assignments and other kinds of academic work.

The grades used are:

excellent — 5 (A or B on ECTS grading scale)

good — 4 (B or C)

satisfactory — 3 (D or E)

fail — 2 (FX or F)

Some courses are graded only with either pass or fail.

ECTS for foreign students.

1.4. Enrolment

The registration as a visiting/exchange student is done upon arrival at the University in the International Office. It mostly takes place on the first working day after arriving at the University. The student comes to the International Office to submit the passport and visa for registration, get a survival orientation and settle other issues concerning his/her studies, accommodation and so on. Besides the passport and visa, the student should have 1 photo to get a student card (given only to students who are enrolled in a full-time course of duration not less than 1 semester). This student card gives access to University's student facilities and some privileges with the St. Petersburg libraries and museums. It is desirable for a student to have an international student card, for in this case it is possible to receive up to 50% discount in majority of museums. Nevertheless, the certificates or student cards in neither way tell on the prices for meals or transport.

To enrol in a full-time University course one needs to present a certificate of a corresponding level of education (a certificate of secondary education equivalent to the Russian High School Certificate — for Bachelor's or Specialist's programmes; a certificate of higher education at the Bachelor's level along with the student's academic transcript showing the names of studied courses and grades — for a Master's course). These documents have to be presented as notarised translations in Russian. Candidates for enrolment should also have certificate of completing a preparatory university course from any Russian university. The latter can be substituted by a standardised test in the Russian language skills administered on site. A student presents the above documents to the International Office of the University where he/she fills in the application form and personal questionnaire. After that, the student has to have a talk at the office of the Dean of the Faculty where this student is going to study. The student should have the Dean's resolution on the application form. Then the student signs the study contract at the International Office, pays his tuition fee at a bank, and presents the receipt of payment to the International Office. Deadline for submitting documents is September 1.

Students in Bachelor's or Specialists programmes can also start their studies from the second or third year, if they present an academic document witnessing completing by them the required courses of the first or second year correspondingly at any other university.

The preparatory university course designed specially for those wishing to study at any Russian university is aimed mostly at developing skills in the Russian language and acquiring orientation in the Russian university study system. Enrolment is possible throughout the year, but the payment is done for at least one semester in full amount.

Enrolment in postgraduate courses is done upon presenting a notarized copies of  documents certifying the level of higher education corresponding to Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees with notarized translations into Russian of these documents, and abstracts from the student's academic transcripts showing the names of completed courses/subjects and academic progress/grades. The documents are submitted within the period September through March.

The Russian language courses of different levels and duration (from 2 weeks to 10 months) are held all year round, except the preparatory university course, which lasts 10 months and starts each September. Summer language courses are especially popular among foreigners, when student can beautifully combine classes with a rich cultural programme, which can provide the majestic city of St.Petersburg and its suburbs.

Another type of studies for international students either working on their theses or doing other special research projects is a training period in a chosen subject. Such training is organised individually and can last from 1 to 10 months during which the student has counselling sessions with his or her scientific supervisor and works independently in libraries or laboratories and so on.

Enrolment for bilateral exchange students is organised due to the terms envisaged in the agreement of co-operation concluded between the partner universities.

1.5 Cost of Tuition

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1.6. Language of Instruction

Practically all courses at the University are conducted in Russian. That is why a good command of Russian is required for enrolment in most university degree programmes, and preparatory university course is needed quite often. Special courses in Philology, Sociology, Chemistry, Physics and some other programmes can be taught in English. However, these cases are viewed separately, and beforehand inquiries about such opportunities are essential.

1.7. Certificates and Transcripts

Each course taken presumes the student's receiving a certificate reflecting his/her progress with an academic transcript attached or included in the certificate itself (if the programme is not an extensive one). Usually these show the names of the subjects with indication of number of academic hours for each subject and grades. Since the systems of measuring students' academic achievements are varied, the Russian system is used, a rough interpretation of which is presented above. Although, more precise approximations to European or American systems of measurement exist in already established programmes such as the ones carried out with the partner universities.