Although education in Russia is largely based on the European style, degrees are structured
differently than in other countries in Europe.
• In addition to pursuing a bachelor’s or specialist’s degree after completing secondary
education, students can also pursue a master’s degree. Bachelor’s degrees are obtained after
four years of study at a university. Specialized degrees are awarded after five years of
study and are intended to provide practical training in a student’s chosen field. Students
must successfully defend a thesis and pass exams to earn both qualifications. Except for
medicine, where the first stage of education takes six years, this degree is conferred in
all fields.
• Typically, master’s degrees are awarded after two years of study with one year dedicated
to research, including practice and preparation for defense of a thesis. Students with a
master’s degree are eligible for PhD studies. To confirm a student’s status as a scientist,
two postgraduate degrees are required in Russia. Universities or scientific institutes are
the only institutions that offer postgraduate degrees. After successfully completing the
first part of their postgraduate education, students are awarded the degree of Candidate of
Sciences.
• In postgraduate education, you spend an additional 3-5 years studying for the final
Doctorate degree. This will lead to a Doctorate degree. There is a gap between the two
degrees, so the Doctorate qualification is often awarded to Candidates of Science at the end
of their careers in academia.
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees were not available in the Soviet system and were introduced
as a result of the Bologna Process to align the formal education system with international
standards.