Higher Education in Russia

Higher education plays an important role in the development of any country. It provides the country with highly-qualified specialists. It trains people to become teachers, engineers, doctors and other professional workers.

Today higher educational institutions of Russia include over 700 universities, academies, colleges and other educational institutions.

University gives training on a full-time and part-time basis. Tuition is free only for Russian citizens who successfully pass entrance examinations.

The academic year usually lasts 9 months and has 2 terms or semesters. Students take exams at the end of each semester. If the results of the examinations are good students get state grants. Twice a year students have vacations – two weeks (a fortnight) in winter and two months in summer.

The first- and second-year students get knowledge in fundamental sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and humanities, for example, foreign languages, history, philosophy and others.

At the third year students get more advanced knowledge and begin to concentrate on their special interests, that is, their major subjects.

After four years of study students get a Bachelor’s degree. Then students can continue their studies and in a year or two of further study they get a Master’s degree. After graduating from University they may go on with their study and research and get a higher degree.

Universities have their own students hostels and some of them have large and excellent sport centres.

2.4. Подберите каждому русскому слову соответствующий английский эквивалент по образцу: 1-a.

1. более высокого уровня a) advanced b) excellent c) fundamental

d) highly-qualified

2. включать a) to evolve b) to include c) to obtain

d) to receive

3. обучение a) education b) training c) tuition

d) studies

4. длиться a) to last b) to become c) to go d) to pass

5. успешный a) excellent b) highly-qualified d) good

d) successful

6. предлагать a) to provide b) to offer c) to train d) to get

Подберите слова или словосочетания из двух колонок так, чтобы получить пары антонимов.

А В

1. to enter University a. to fail an exam

2. part-time b. special

3. to receive c. final exams

4. to pass an exam d. to graduate from University

5. general e. to give

6. entrance exams f. full-time

Подберите слова из двух колонок так, чтобы получить пары синонимов.

A B

1. role a. to go on

2. specialists b. semesters

3. training c. vacations

4. to continue d. part

5. to get e. experts

6. holidays f. tuition

7. terms g. to receive

2.7. Замените подчёркнутые слова синонимами из упражнения 2.6.

1. Higher education plays a very important role in the life of any country.

2. Tuition is offered on a full-time and part-time basis.

3. The academic year is divided into two semesters.

4. Twice a year students have holidays.

5. After graduating from the university students can continue their studies.