Courses offered to ease transition
WHILE there are no strict regulations governing the admission of foreign students to Russian institutions of higher education, students need to possess a reasonable proficiency in the Russian language as most undergraduate and postgraduate courses are taught in Russian.
Preparatory Russian language programmes are offered by many of the institutions.
Generally, it takes four years to complete a bachelor's degree and an additional one or two years to pursue a master's degree programme in Russia.
According to Dr Sergei Kulik, the tuition fees in Russia are relatively lower than those of other higher education institutions around the world.
In general, the average cost of tuition fees per academic year for preliminary courses in the Russian language are US$1,200 to US$1,600 (HK$9,280 to HK$12,370), and a Bachelor of Science degree costs US$1,500 to US$2,500.
Doing a Master's degree in Science costs US$1,500 to US$3,000 and reading for a Doctorate in Science costs between US$2,500 and US$5,000. The average annual living expenses in Moscow are put at US$3,000 to US$4,000.
Foreign students are allowed to work in Russia to support themselves during their studies.
'Many students work in branches of foreign companies as well as in joint ventures, and remuneration differs depending on the job. A lot of students in Moscow work as translators or interpreters and earn up to US$50 to US$100 per day,' Dr Kulik said.
Local university lecturers advised students to consider their situation carefully before embarking on studies in Russia.
'Language is definitely a big problem,' Professor Chan Yuk-shee, the Dean of the School of Business and Management at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said. 'The training in Russia may not be suitable for students who wish to work in Hong Kong and China, but it could be good exposure for students to study there for a semester or a year to witness the dramatic changes in its economy.' Students wanting information on academic standards of courses and institutions in Russia should consult the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation.
