Foreign students and postgraduates in Russia
Recently QS-British company made the top list of countries with the best system of high education. The United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are of course among the leaders. Germany, Australia and Canada, then France and Netherlands are among the top five countries. Foreign experts gave the 26th from 50th places to Russia. In general it is rather good result. Moreover, the number of foreign students is increasing every year due to the high quality of education in Russian universities.
At the same time, every year four times more young men and women arrive Russia for studying than leave Russia for studying abroad. Citizens from CIS countries mainly arrive in Russia for studying. Most students arrive from Kazakhstan (49252 in 2015) and Belarus (24880 in 2015).
Moreover, many Chinese citizens arrive Russia for studying (7954 in 2015).
Can foreign citizen study in Russia?
Foreign citizens and stateless persons have the right to receive high education at the expense of budget in accordance with the international treaties of Russia, federal laws or established by the Russian Government quota for education of foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as at the expense of individuals and legal entities in accordance with contracts for the provision of paid educational services (art. 11 of the Federal Law as of 22.08.1996 №125-FZ "On high and postgraduate professional education").
Education: paid or not?
Foreign citizens as Russian citizens have the right to receive high education at the expense of budget or receive paid educational services.
High education at the expense of budget
There are four variants for future students and postgraduates for receiving high education at the expense of Russian budget:
- within the quota established by the Russian Government;
- in accordance with international treaties and agreements;
- based on the certificate of the participant of the State program assisting the voluntary resettlement to Russia of compatriots living abroad;
- in accordance with the Federal Law as of May 24, 1999 № 99-FZO "On State Policy of Russia for compatriots abroad.
Quota for studying at the university. Is it possible to receive quota?
Russian legislation provides the legal regulation of quotas for universities at the expense of the Russian budget.
In accordance with the Decree of Russian Government as of October 08, 2013 №891 foreign citizens who want to receive high education in Russia can do it at the expense of Russian budget.
Every year quota for receiving high education in Russia at the expense of Russian budget does not exceed 15000 thousand people.
Note that Government makes high demands to institutions, receiving budget quotas as well as to future students and postgraduates.
Institutions and universities that receive funding from federal budget for students studying must meet special requirements and have a standard for each direction of education.
Thus, we can come to the conclusion that to enter a university on the quota for foreign citizens is quite difficult. That is why for those who want to study in Russia there is an option of studying on commercial base.
Studying on commercial base
If foreign applicants have their own funds they can chose any university they like and apply. Very often universities asks to apply via email and enclose some documents.
Of course, for a foreign citizen it is easier to enter the university on commercial base as well as it is needed less paperwork.
What is nostrification and why is it necessary?
Foreign citizens who received education abroad and who want to continue their education in Russia (second high education or a degree (postgraduate), including citizens of CIS countries) should provide certificate of equivalence of international documents of high professional education issued by Russian Ministry of education. Therefore, nostrification procedure is done for it.
Nostrification of foreign education documents is the standard form of legalization in Russia of education documents received abroad.
There are two variants of nostrification-academic and professional:
- Academic nostrification gives the opportunity to study in Russian educational institution.
- Professional nostrification gives the opportunity to work in Russia.
In accordance with the Order of Russian Government as of September 19, 2013 № 1694-р there is the list of foreign educational organizations that issue educational documents accepted in Russia.
Moreover, some famous Russian institutions have the right to make nostrification themselves. This information is usually can be found out on the university website.
What is the next step?
All documents are collected, the date of entrance examination is appointed. So how do foreign citizens arrive Russia? Everything is rather easy for citizens from visa-free countries. Ensure correct purpose of visit is underlined as «учеба»/»education» in Migration Card while entering Russia.
There are several variants of visa receiving for citizens from visa countries. As a rule, universities and institutions obtain invitations for education visa receiving for their students themselves:
- Single entry invitation with purpose – education for 3 months;
- Single entry invitation with purpose – education for 3 months with the possibility to extend visa for one year.
Applicants, who are sent to universities and institutions based on quota contest, get visas directly from Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such applicants receive six-digit number of the invitation at Rossotrudnichestvo and tell this number at Consulate while submitting documents for visa.
The long-waited enrollment to university
At the moment of enrollment foreign citizen provides the originals of all necessary documents including copy of his visa and directive from Russian Ministry of education in case of entering university on the quota base.
Responsible persons from universities and institutions are obliged for the next steps: migration registration, visa extension. As a rule, contacts of such persons as well as terms of documents provision for making migration registration are specified on website of educational organization.
All students and postgraduates are obliged to have migration registration within 7 days from their entry to Russia.
Note that students and postgraduates have the right to work in Russia. They need special permits for it.
Work in Russia for foreign students and postgraduates
In accordance with art.13.4 of the Federal law «On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in Russia»
foreign citizens who study on a full-time basis in Russian professional and high education organizations can work in Russia with work permit. Therefore, for work in Russia they need to receive work permits.
Legal regulation of work of students and postgraduates was established on January 01, 2014, when the amendments to the Federal law (as of July 23, 2013 № 203 "On amendments to the Federal law" "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in Russia” and certain Russian legislative acts in order to create more favorable conditions for education in Russia of foreign citizens and stateless persons came into force.
Foreign students have the right to work in Russia during their studying. They can work on the territory where their university or institution is situated or directly in their university or institution.
The list of minimum documents for such applicants is established by the legislation. Moreover, work permits for students are issued without taking into account annually established quotas.
Such work permits are issued only for students/postgraduates who study on a full-time basis in Russian professional and high education organizations with state accreditation. Please note that they can work only in region where their education organization is situated as well as can work only on position specified in work permit.
Work permit for a foreign student/postgraduate is issued for a period of validity of concluded labor contract/ civil law contract but no more than for one year.
The period of validity of such work permit can not exceed the period of studying.
Work permit can be repeatedly renewed (no more than for one year) if a foreign student/postgraduate continues his studying. In case of studying termination such work permit is cancelled.
Confidence Group provides consulting services on work permits issuing including work permits for students and postgraduates. For additional information please contact consultants of Confidence Group.
