CZECH REPUBLIC
For 12 years now (since 1999) Czech state universities have been open to foreign applicants. It is possible to enroll in any Czech university on a budget-funded department and study completely free of charge. Moreover, Czech universities are also rightly renowned for their high level of teaching, so students can be confident that they will receive a worthy and highly valued education.
True, you will have to work hard beforehand, learning the Czech language. There will be no concessions for foreign students: free education in Czech universities is conducted only in the state language (education in Czech state universities is also possible in English, but such programs are paid), and as entrance exams, applicants will have to take Czech.
However, mastering this language is not so difficult – Czech is quite close to Russian, and there are enough opportunities to learn it on the educational market today.
For example, the Prague Educational Center, according to director Mr. Ladislav Komarek, offers two academic courses of the Czech language for foreign applicants: a one-year and a semester course. The goal of both courses is full preparation of the applicant for passing entrance exams and studying in Czech at Czech universities.
The Center also offers vacation courses of the Czech language, intended for schoolchildren who want to get acquainted with the possibilities of obtaining higher education in the Czech Republic. The program of the course includes, in addition to language classes, presentations and excursions to Czech universities, meetings with students and teachers, excursions around Prague and Karlovy Vary, and Czech castles. Among the most popular universities chosen by our compatriots: Charles University – the first higher education institution in Central Europe, the University of Economics – a member of the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS), the Czech Technical University – one of the oldest technical universities in Europe (founded in 1707).
In most Czech universities, applicants take entrance exams in June-August – these are usually Czech language and two specialized subjects. It is important to remember that documents must be submitted in advance – as early as January-February; if you delay a little, the applicant will simply not be allowed to enroll in the current year.
There are no age restrictions in Czech universities. Formally, you can enroll right after school, but in practice it is not easy – during the last school year, applicants will have to travel to the Czech Republic at least three times. The first time – to submit the certificate for nostrification (recognition of foreign educational documents in the Czech Republic), the second – to submit documents, the third – for the entrance exams themselves, the timing of which overlaps with Russian school graduation exams.
The most reliable option is to enter preparatory courses after finishing school, complete them, and only then submit documents to the chosen university.
SPAIN
To enroll in a college or university in Spain, it is necessary to pass entrance exams, including a test of Spanish language proficiency.
Foreign applicants must document their level of Spanish language proficiency. The official exam is the DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera), preparation for it is offered in many language schools in Spain and Russia. The exam can only be taken twice a year – in May and November; candidate registration is carried out in advance, within set deadlines and according to specific rules. The certificate confirming the exam is usually sent by mail, and you have to wait from five to eight months, so you need to start preparing for admission to a Spanish university well in advance to avoid missing the deadline for submitting documents.
It should also be kept in mind that Russian citizens, in order to submit documents to higher education institutions in Spain (both for undergraduate and postgraduate programs), need to undergo the procedure of recognition of obtained education (homologación) at the Ministry of Education of Spain (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes, MECD). This procedure, also quite lengthy, can take up to six months.
«The system of higher education in Spain includes three successive cycles. The first cycle of study: an analogue of the Russian bachelor's degree,» says Anna Savinova, development manager at StudyLab. «In the Spanish system of higher education, this is four years of study, resulting in the awarding of the Grado degree.
The second cycle of study: an analogue of the Russian master's degree or a diploma of higher education under the old education system in Russia. In the Spanish higher education system, this is the Master's degree, aimed at acquiring specialized higher education. Training in the Master's program is a supplement to the general higher education received in a specific specialization in the field, and also, in some cases, retraining of a higher profile or obtaining additional specialization. The duration of study depends on the Master's program and can be one, one and a half, or two years. Most Master's programs are proprietary and exclusive program products of Spanish universities, both public and private.
One of the main values of higher education in Spain is that all study programs have a clear professional orientation and relevance to today's realities. Each university can independently decide and introduce all necessary updates to the program according to changing market demands, latest world achievements and discoveries.
You can only enroll in the second cycle of study in Spain if you already have a higher education diploma from your own country.
The third cycle of study: an analogue of postgraduate studies in the Russian education system. In the Spanish higher education system, the candidate receives the Doctor degree. The duration of study is one year and involves writing a dissertation».
Speaking about the cost of education, the expert notes that it ranges on average from 1000–2000 euros per year (in state universities in Spain) to 4000–10,000 euros per year in private educational institutions.
SWITZERLAND
Anna Savinova also notes that higher education in Switzerland is traditionally in demand among our compatriots. The percentage of foreign students at universities in this country is quite high: on average around 18%, and at the University of Geneva – up to 33%. However, higher education in Switzerland also has its difficulties. For example, after the first year of study, the country's universities hold a special exam and screen out about half of the students. It is also difficult for foreigners to enter a state university, since they need to be fluent in German, French, or Italian and pass difficult entrance exams based on local educational standards. For foreigners in Switzerland, private educational institutions are more accessible – universities of hotel, tourism, sports business, and business schools. The main requirement for admission is a Russian secondary school certificate and knowledge of English.
Glion Institute of Higher Education is a Swiss university ranked among the top three educational institutions for tourism and hotel management. Thanks to the university's close ties with representatives of global business, all students complete up to six internships during their studies in the best hotels and restaurants in the country. Les Roches International School of Hotel Management is the number one school in hospitality. The university's campuses are located in Switzerland, Spain, the USA, and China. A distinctive feature of Les Roches is practical classes, which take up to 50% of study time. Students study a wide range of specializations – from financial management to hotel design.
After graduating from a hotel management school, the choice of workplace becomes truly limitless – with a Swiss diploma you can work in any company. Knowledge of English plays an important role in admission (500–550 points on TOEFL or 5.5–6.0 IELTS).
«DCT International Hotel&Management School (Lucerne), a hotel management school ranked among the top ten such institutions in Switzerland,» says Yaroslav Bolshakova, General Director of the educational agency «Class Consult,» «which offers an Advanced Diploma in European Culinary Management course in English. The culinary department at DCT is arguably the strongest in Europe, with the very famous chef Patrick Diethelm teaching there. So 'if you feel a calling for gastronomy and want to get one of the most prestigious culinary diplomas in Europe – this is the place for you. The duration of this program is 1.5 years (three trimesters and practical training).
Graduates receive a top Swiss diploma in «Management in the Field of Culinary Arts, European Cuisine,» which allows them to work as a chef in any country in the world. The main requirements for applicants: age from 18 years, completed secondary education, English at Upper-Intermediate level.
The cost of tuition is 25,000 euros for the entire course, accommodation and meals are included in the cost.»
HUNGARY
Diplomas from Hungarian higher education institutions are recognized both in the EU and the USA. However, it cannot be said that Hungary is a popular destination for international educational migration: in most local universities, instruction is in Hungarian, which is considered one of the most difficult languages in the world. Nevertheless, this problem can be circumvented. With its thermal springs and health resorts, Hungary has been a favorite place for Europeans to recuperate for centuries. So it is not surprising that among the most relevant study programs in Hungary is the training of specialists in the field of medicine.
The Higher Medical School at the University of Debrecen, located in the city of Debrecen, is one of the most respected educational institutions in Hungary. The educational process is conducted here in English, so the school is in particular demand among applicants from other countries. «The duration of study is six years for general practitioners and five years for dentists,» says Yaroslav Bolshakova. «Graduates receive a Doctor of Medicine degree. Requirements for applicants: age from 18 years, completed secondary education, English not lower than Advanced level, successful passing of entrance exams in chemistry and biology. Tuition fee: 15,000 euros per academic year plus living expenses. The medical school also has one-year preparatory courses for foreign students, where they study English, Hungarian, biology, and chemistry.»
At the Faculty of Economics of Janus Pannonius University, one can obtain a bachelor's degree in business/economics. Instruction is also in English, the duration of study is three years, graduates receive a bachelor's degree. Requirements for applicants: age from 18 years, completed secondary education, English not lower than Advanced level. Tuition fee: 6500 euros per academic year + living and food expenses (approximately another 2500 euros). Advantages of this study program: two diplomas – Hungarian and UK.
GREECE
Despite the difficult economic situation the country has been in for the last couple of years, the opportunity to get an education in Greece should not be overlooked. If only for the simple reason that many European and American educational institutions have branches in Greece and issue their diplomas and certificates to graduates upon completion of studies. Thus, at «Greek prices» (education and living here are much cheaper than in Western European countries), you can get a quite prestigious «diploma.»
“One such educational institution,” says Yaroslava Bolshakova, “is Alpine Centre – The Swiss Business School in Greece, located in Glyfada, a suburb of Athens. It offers a very interesting educational course: Cruise Ship Hotel Operation Management, with a duration of six months, including practical training (Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean). The instruction is in English; upon completion, graduates receive a certificate in Cruise Ship Management.
Requirements for applicants: age 18 and older, completed secondary education, English not below Upper-Intermediate. Tuition fee – 4000 euros for the course.”
Elena BORISOVA.