COST OF EDUCATION: RUSSIA V/S. OTHER COUNTRIES

Firstly, NO capitation fees or donations are to be paid to the universities in Russia. The cost of education in the universities in Russia is regulated and subsidized by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. They are reasonable in contrast to the other universities in India and abroad. A comparative review of the cost of education in India and abroad is given below.

SOURCE. The above figures are in Indian Rupees, are aproximate and are obtained from their respective brochures or from reliable sources. The above figures are indicative and only for the sake of comparison.
Calculated @ 1US$ = Rs.42.50

The system of higher education in Russia is well formulated and advanced at par with the Western countries. Evaluation of the performance of students is designed in such a way that the progress of students in mastering the subjects, included in the curriculum is monitored objectively and in details. The number of tests and examinations to be taken during every academic year is strictly formulated by the Head of the institution. Performance of students in tests is evaluated as ''PASSED'' or ''FAILED'' and in examinations, as ''EXCELLENT '' ''GOOD'' ''SATISFACTORY'' or ''UNSATISFACTORY''. Students who accumulate a number of arrears in their new academic year are dismissed from their higher educational institutions. The final state examinations are also a very important part of the higher educational assessment process in Russia. These methods constitute a comprehensive evaluation system by which the knowledge and the skills of specialists are brought to light and the qualification obtained then becomes very authentic and invaluable.

In 1918, system of free education was introduced, hostels for students were opened and stipend for students was also initiated. In 1930, the medical faculty was seperated from Moscow State University to become the 1st Moscow Medical Institute with 2 faculties, the therapeutic prophylactic faculty and the sanitary prophylactic faculty. This was the first independent institution in the world's history of higher medical education.

In 1955, the institute was named after I.M.Sechenov. In 1990, it was understood that education and research had to be reorganised. In this line, the transformation of the country's most powerful medical institute into the medical academy, was absolutely natural and logical.

The Moscow Medical Academy today, has 20 buildings, 16 specialized clinics with 3080 beds, a research center, a research institute of phthysiopulmanology, a library, a laboratories, botanical gardens and a stadium. The total area of the academy's training and laboratory premises exceeds 200,000 sq. Mts or 25 sq. Mts. per student. About 8000 students from Russia and foreign countries including India, have been getting education and training every year in the academy.

The I.M.Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy has gained considerable experience in training foreign students. Since 1947 over 2000 specialists from 87 countries have been trained there. Degrees of the academy are recognised by all the countries of the world including India and the Great Britain.

During the recent 3 years, the number in the faculty for foreign students has become 900. Students are trained in therapeutics ( for a term of six years ) and pharmacy ( for a term of five years ). At the academy, at the preapratory faculty for 150 students, foreigners learn Russian, Physics, Chemistry, Biology during the one year term of study. All the students, interns and postgraduates are provided with lodging facilities in hostel, located near the academic campus.

The Tver State Medical Academy ( TSMA ) is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its establishment. In 1954 it was declared as a medical institute with two faculties of general medicine and stomatology. Now it is one of the leading higher medical schools of Russia, having 5 faculties. The institute has been training students from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 1994, TSMA was granted the status of an academy. According to the rating of the Ministry of Health, the TSMA is the best Medical Academy in Russia and the 43rd in training foreign students. The academy collabrates with the WHO and has extensive scientific contacts with some educational establishments of foreign countries. It has modern setup with clinics and hospitals.

Admission to the faculty is finalised after an interview, a counselling session and after signing the contract. Foreigners learn in groups of 7 students along with the Russians. In the second year foreign students attend clinics, where they gain experience in nursing the patients. Clinical subjects are taught from the third year of study. After passing the state examination, graduates receive the degree of 'Doctor of Medicine' or 'Master of Pharmacy'. The Moscow Medical Academy offers the post graduate-education to foreigners in the internship, postgraduate and doctoral studies, studentship and doctorate in all clinical specialties. In 1997, new faculty department was opened, where some subjects were taught in foreign languages including English. Thanks to that faculty students now have an academy library, which has literature both in Russian and foreign languages.

Apart from academic rich studies a significant amount of attention is also paid to sports and entertainment. Foreign students can enjoy swimming, tennis, volleyball, track and field athletics and many more sports and extracurricular activities in their free time.

1st September of the year is the first day of the beginning of the academic year in Russia. There are 2 semesters in an academic year i.e. September - January and February - June.

The first semester examination is held usually in January followed by the second semester examination in June. Students enjoy two periods of vacations in their curriculam. Winter vacations are from the 15th of January to the 30th of January and summer vacations are from July to August every year.

Knowledge and the practical skills, received by students, along with the international exposure in these universities, permit them to seek various opportunities in India as well abroad.