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The USA vs. Russia Education Compared

No comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Education

The US and Russia have fairly old systems of education. They have several similarities and also main differences. In both nations, the governments are committed to a learned population that can continually thrust the nations forward economically, socially, and politically.

Formal education, especially higher education, contributes significantly to the high level of technological advancements observed in the two largest nations in terms of landmass. The similarities and differences in their education systems can be summarized as follows.

Education system controlled by the government

Both nations have government and private schools but they all follow an education system set by the government. The department of education sets the curriculum and controls what schools should teach, starting from the lowest grades to the highest.

This kind of system ensures a unified form of information for all students who go through the education system. To the governments, it is the best way to bring their citizens to a point where they will understand the nation’s dream and play their role towards its fulfillment.

Critical thinking versus memorization

In terms of teaching, American education differs from Russian. The American teacher creates an environment where the learner can actively use his or her mind to create a solution. The teacher will guide the learner on how to create the solution, but at the same time gives them space for independent thinking.

For example, if the students are learning a scientific principle, the teacher allows their students to think about how it works practically. They will do so through experiments, games, writing, and so on.

The system is different in Russia. The Russian teacher is interested more in answers than the process. The student who provides instant answers to a question is more favored than the slow student.

This disparity has turned the students into a community of crammers where students memorize answers instead of stating the facts. As a result, they get challenged when facing real-life after they complete schooling.

Essay writing assistance

Essay writing continues to be a major method for testing student knowledge while in college. It is also the form of testing that most students would wish was not part of college education study. The main reason is due to the hardships many students face when writing essays.

The solution is for the students to seek essay writing help from professional writers. Edubirdie is an established professional academic writing service provider for all college assignments. It includes essays, thesis, dissertations, term papers and much more.

Schooling in a geographical location

Preschool classes in the American system are the responsibility of parents/guardians. They teach their children the basics of education before taking them to grade one. In Russia, there are official early childhood schools and no child can join primary school without having gone through a pre-school. As a result, parents are less concerned with teaching their children at home.

In America, schools are classified into districts. A child can only attend a school within his or her district. If a parent wishes to transfer their child to a school in another district, the only option is to move and live in that district.

In Russia, however, every parent is free to take their child to any school they desire as long as they are willing to study in that school. During admission, the priority is given to children from the district before admitting those from other districts.

College education

Russia does not have too many requirements to join college. All that is needed is for the student to pass the national exam and attain the relevant college entry points. Every academic year has two semesters and each semester ends with an exam. In some instances, students can access higher education for free.

In the US, entry into college has several requirements . Apart from the exams, a student must be recommended by a teacher, be good in extra curriculum activities, write an essay, and be interviewed. During their study, regular knowledge and special talents are taken into account. Higher education in the US is paid for by all students. Special cases need to apply for scholarships or grants.

The level of literacy in any nation is first judged by the number of citizens that have gone through formal education. Every government should create a conducive environment for its citizens to pursue education to the highest level. The governments of Russia and America have played a significant role in ensuring their masses are educated. There are many more chances to improve the current system of education to a better one that produces critical thinkers who can become change agents in technology and the economy.

Author’s Bio:

Julius Sim is the Head of Support Team at EduBirdie and has been a major force behind the academic writing service’s massive success. He has been instrumental in reducing delivery errors to almost zero and ensuring fast resolution to student queries and issues. In his free time, he enjoys walking his pet and watching movies and following business news.

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Educational programs remain central in U.S.-Russia collaboration

Fulbright alumni with former U.S. Ambassador in Moscow John Beyrle in his residence Spaso House. Source: U.S. Embassy in Moscow / Press Photo

{***Educational programs remain central in U.S.-Russia collaboration***}

Educational exchange has always been a top priority in bilateral relations between the United States and Russia, and has played an important role in the “reset.” At the beginning of this year, U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul and former Russian Education Minister Andrei Fursenko signed a U.S.-Russia Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration between the two countries on educational exchanges and related activities.

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Students launched the second round of the U.S.-Russia reset

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A learning curve, steep and thrilling

Statistically, the number of undergraduate and postgraduate students from both the American and Russian sides has been steadily increasing for the last decade, according to the most recent Open Doors report on international educational exchange issued annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE). For example, the number of Russian students in the U.S. in the 2010-2011 academic year was more than double what it had been in 2006-2007. There is also growth among American students studying in Russia, but it is not so robust: In the past four years, the total number of American students in Russia has increased by only about 100.

 “We need to get more Americans to study in Russia,” said Edward Roslof, head of the Moscow Representative Office of the International Institute of Education and director of the Fulbright Program in Russia . “The differences between our two countries are decreasing. We can and do work together to address the world’s problems. American students understand this and want to learn more about Russia. When they learn Russian and come to Russia, they fall in love with the people and culture and history.”

Zsofia Budai, a foreign service officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow noted that the number of American students studying Russia is increasing. “Anecdotally, we hear that Russian language and Russian area studies programs are popular among U.S. exchange students,” Budai said in an interview with Russia Profile . “For instance, 2009 saw more than 26,000 students enrolled in university-level Russian language courses in the United States, a number that has seen steady growth since 2002.”

According to Roslof, educational programs such as Fulbright remain “central” to U.S.-Russia cultural cooperation.  “We concentrate on helping Russians and Americans learn more about each other’s culture,” he said, “so our two largest programs – English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) and Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship (FLTA) – focus on language teaching.” While young Americans participate in ETA and come to Russia to assist the teaching of English at 36 different Russian institutions of higher education, their Russian counterparts take part in the FLTA program and go to US universities and liberal arts colleges to help teach Russian to American students.

“In the 2011-2012 academic year, we sent 40 FLTAs from Russia to the U.S.,” Roslof said.

These numbers could increase if there were more funding. While the United States and many European countries offer grants and exchange programs for Russian students to study abroad, Russia’s Education Ministry offers few funding opportunities for Western students interested in coming to Russia. The Fulbright Program, which is funded by the U.S. government, offers grants for Americans interested in studying in Russia. Seventy U.S. citizens came to Russia on Fulbright grants last year.

“I am actively exploring possibilities for co-funding of Fulbright awards by both the U.S. and Russian governments in order to strengthen relations,” Roslof said. “[But] the problem is not the lack of funding by the Russian government, per se. It is Russian laws related to budgets and appropriation of funds over multiple years. The Ministry of Education and Science gives funds to universities for mobility, but they must spend them in the same calendar year. The U.S. government needed to pass a special law (eventually known as the Fulbright Act) to solve this same problem. It is not a simple thing – the rules for awarding funds over several years are complicated.”

There are many educational exchange programs between the United States and Russia funded by the U.S. Department of State. They include the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) and the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program , which are managed by IREX (International Research and Exchange Board) . The Bureau of International and Cultural Affairs of U.S. Department of State (ECA) sponsors these programs as a way of promoting mutual understanding between Russia and the U.S. Nevertheless due to the global financial crisis and its affect on the U.S., some programs have experienced a reduction in funding in recent years. For example, the number of participants in the IREX Global UGRAD program has been reduced by two-thirds, compared with 2011, according to recent data from the IREX office in Moscow.

Traditionally, Russia’s Education Ministry has supported international students from the CIS, or who have relatives in Russia, but not American students. However, Russia has plans to launch an experimental project that would give non-CIS foreigners government-sponsored grants. “About 39 foreign students, including eight Americans, are expected to participate in this project at the Russian Academy of National Economy,” said Alexander Abashkin, associate director of the Stanford-in-Moscow program at the Russian Academy of National Economy last year in an interview with Russia Profile .

{***In their own words: Impact of the educational exchange***}

In their own words

Impact of international educational exchange.

1. Renée de Nevers

"The Fulbright Scholarship to teach and live in Russia provides an excellent opportunity both to contribute to stronger academic and policy ties between the United States and Russia. The Soviet Union figured prominently in my decision to pursue a career in academics, and in graduate school I focused on two issues: international security, with particular emphasis on the strategic nuclear balance; and the Soviet Union, the United States’ opponent in the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. Russia has remained a factor in my professional and research activities since then."

Host Institution: European University at St. Petersburg

Teaching Topic: International Relations and International Security in Russia and Eurasia

Home Institution: Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, U.S.A., Department of Public Administration, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

2. Brian Taylor

"Receiving a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and live in Russia is a great opportunity. Russia is the primary focus of both my teaching and scholarly research. I began studying the language more than 25 years ago and have traveled to the country more than a dozen times in my career, starting in 1985. Despite this long engagement with Russia, for professional and personal reasons it has been impossible for me to live in Russia for long stretches of time since the mid-1990s, although I have regularly traveled there for shorter periods (a month or less) since then."

Host Institution: European University in St. Petersburg  

Teaching Topic: State Building in Russia and Eurasia

Home Institution: Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States, Department of Political Science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

For more information about participants visit Fulbright website:  http://fulbright.ru/en/community/11fsp

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Education System Profiles

Education in the russian federation.

Elizaveta Potapova, Doctoral Candidate, Central European University, and Stefan Trines, Research Editor, WENR

This article describes current trends in education and international student mobility in the Russian Federation. It includes an overview of the education system (including recent reforms), a look at student mobility into and out of the country, and a guide to educational institutions and qualifications.

The Russian Federation, more commonly and simply known as “Russia,” is a complex, heterogeneous state. Home to some 143.4 million citizens, its population includes a sizable number of ethnic minorities besides the Russian majority. Most citizens consider their mother tongue to be Russian. However, up to 100 other languages, including 35 that are “official,” remain in use. Russia, the largest nation in the world in terms of landmass, shares borders with 14 neighbors: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, North Korea, and China.

The Federation, like the Soviet Union before it, is a nominally federal system that consists of 85 “federal subjects,” including “republics,” “oblasts” (provinces), “krais” (districts), and “cities of federal importance.” However, Russia is not a truly federal system. Because of the re-centralization of power under the rule of Vladimir Putin, Russia is often referred to as a “quasi-federal” state, or a system that is “ unitary in function .” The autonomy of provinces, republics, districts, and cities of federal importance is limited.

Some 54 percent of 25- to 64-year-old Russians held tertiary degrees as of 2015, making the country one of the most educated in the world. However, its higher education system – especially its universities are in need of modernization , particularly in terms of research, which is deemed to be lagging . As of mid-2017, the country faces a range of pressures that are affecting its education system, especially at the tertiary level. Among these are:

• Economic challenges: In recent years, the Russian government has enacted deep spending cuts across the board. Economic sanctions, deteriorating exchange rates, and a decline in the price of oil , Russia’s main export, have led to severely decreased revenues  and tightened governmental spending in multiple sectors. According to government data , federal spending on education decreased by 8.5 percent between 2014 and 2016, from 616.8 billion rubles to 564.3 billion rubles (USD $10 billion).
• Demographic pressures: The number of college- and university-age students in Russia has plummeted in recent years. Today, the country’s demographic crisis is so profound that the Russian parliament radically loosened citizenship requirements in recent months . Population decline has motivated the Russian government to stimulate the immigration of skilled workers and position the country as an international higher education destination. The decline, expected to cut tertiary enrollments by as much as 56 percent between 2008 and 2021, has also played a role in the proposed closure and merger of many universities.
• Lingering corruption:  Weak government institutions were a hallmark of the years immediately following the Soviet era. Many forms of systemic corruption went unchecked for years. As of 2017, Russia is ranked 131 st out of 176 countries on the 2016 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index . In 2016, Russia’s general prosecutor recorded 32,824 corruption crimes , and estimated that corruption deprived the government of revenues totaling $USD 1.3 billion in that year alone – likely a lowball estimation, given that officially reported cases only represent a fraction of all instances of corruption. The higher education system is particularly vulnerable to corruption : Instructors at poorly funded universities are routinely underpaid. Ambitious students, meanwhile are seeking academic advancement and, upon graduation, improved employment prospects; many are willing to pay instructors for better grades, revised transcripts, and more. Efforts to stem admissions-related and other forms of corruption are in place, but have so far had mixed results. (See additional detail below.)

Still, the Russian government has pushed an ambitious higher education agenda focused on improving quality and international standing. The country is seeking to radically enhance the global ranking of its universities by 2020 and to attract substantial numbers of internationally mobile tertiary-level students from around the globe. At the same time, the government has actively sought to send scholars abroad – and incent them to return home as part of a broader effort to modernize the flagging economy.

This article seeks to provide an overview of the education system in Russia, especially at the tertiary level. It provides a broad context for understanding the current state of higher education in Russia; analyzes inbound and outbound mobility trends; provides a brief overview of the education system from the elementary through higher education levels; and addresses issues of quality and accreditation. It also provides a number of sample documents to help credential evaluators and others familiarize themselves with the appearance of authentic academic documents from the federation.

Economic Trends: A Recession Drives A Push for a Modernized Economy

Throughout 2015 and 2016, Russia experienced a recession that can be traced to two primary root causes: Economic sanctions imposed by Western countries in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its military intervention in Ukraine, and the decline of crude oil prices. Oil exports accounted for more than 50 percent of the value of all Russian exports in 2013. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned as early as 2009 that Russia needed to reduce its economic dependence on commodities and modernize, and technologically upgrade Russian industries in order to sustain economic growth. The economic fallout of the recent price decline has laid bare the country’s dependence on energy exports, giving new urgency to efforts to modernize the Russian economy.

Demographic Trends: Declining Birth Rates Affect the Higher Education System

Demographic trends have had a profound effect on the Russian Federation , not least its university system. The number of secondary school graduates dropped by about 50 percent between 2000/01 and 2014/15, from 1.46 million to 701,400 graduates . The number of students enrolled in tertiary education institutions, likewise, decreased from 7.5 million students in 2008/09 to 5.2 million in 2014/15 and is expected to further decline to approximately 4.2 million students by 2021 . The United Nations estimates that the Russian population will shrink by 10 percent in the next 35 years, from 143.4 million people in 2015 to 128.6 million in 2050 ( medium variant projection , 2015). According to the World Bank, Russia’s labor force shrinks by an estimated  one million workers annually due to aging, and that aging will drain pension funds while increasing public debt . Further compounding labor shortages is a net outmigration of scientists and highly skilled workers, even though current outmigration rates remain a far cry from the massive brain drain that Russia experienced shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In the near term, these pressures may ease, at least in the education system. After sharp declines in the 1990s, Russia’s birth rates have, since the 2000s, rebounded , and current increases in fertility rates have given some observers cause for optimism. However, most analysts maintain that current fertility rates remain too low to stem overall population decline, and that demographic pressures remain one of Russia’s biggest economic challenges .

Reforms, Mergers, and University Closures

Declining student enrollments have coincided with a decrease in the number of Russian higher education institutions. In 2012, the government initiated a process of reforms and consolidation that had, by 2017, already reduced the number of institutions by more than 14 percent, from 1,046 accredited tertiary institutions in 2012/13 to 896 in 2016. In 2015, it announced that it intended to close or merge as many as 40 percent of all higher education institutions by the end of 2016, with a particular focus on the private sector. It also intended to reduce the number of branch campuses operated by universities by 80 percent. It is presently unclear, however, to what extent these cuts will go forward. In late 2016, Russia’s newly appointed minister of education suspended the mergers because of resistance from affected universities.

Other objectives included modernization and the effort to shift education and to focus on technical innovation: Simultaneous to the cuts among existing universities, plans were announced to create up to 150 new public universities specializing in technological innovation and high-tech in order to improve Russia’s international competitiveness. In 2012, Russia also established a “Council on Global Competitiveness Enhancement of Russian Universities” and launched the so-called 5/100 Russian Academic Excellence Project , an initiative that provides extensive funding for a group of 21 top universities with the goal of strengthening research and placing five Russian institutions among the top 100 universities in global university rankings by 2020 . The initiative also seeks to shift the mix of students and scholars on Russian campuses, pulling 10 percent of academics and 15 percent of students from abroad .

International Student Mobility

Inbound mobility.

Foreign student quotas are seen as a measure of the effectiveness of higher education institutions, and the Russian government has, as part of its effort to boost the rankings of its universities, made it a priority to boost international enrollments. In 2015, Russia raised the international student quota at Russian universities by 33 percent . It also significantly increased the scholarship funds available to foreign students. That same year, a number of top Russian universities included in a newly-founded Global Universities Association to jointly recruit at least 15,000 international students to Russian annually .

The majority of foreign students in Russia are enrolled in undergraduate programs at public universities. Beyond that, the trends in inbound mobility and the reasons behind them vary, depending on students’ place of origin.

• Former Soviet Republics : Geographic proximity, linguistic and economic ties make Russia the top destination of mobile students in the majority of post-Soviet Republics, where most students speak Russian as a second language. The Russian government encourages regional student exchange in an attempt to expand influence and “soft power” in other former Soviet Republics. Thus, the vast majority of foreign students in Russia, more than 60 percent, come from these countries. The three top sending countries in 2015 were Kazakhstan, which accounted for 25 percent of all students, Belarus (7.8 percent), and Ukraine, accounting for 7.2 percent.
• China: The number of Chinese students enrolled at Russian universities has increased considerably in recent years, and in 2015, China became the fourth-largest sender of international students to Russia, accounting for 7.1 percent of enrollments. Governments on both sides have in recent years taken steps to boost student exchange , and many Russian universities are expanding their recruitment efforts in China. Efforts include dual degree programs and the establishment of Russian language learning centers in China. Russia offers Chinese students a low-cost alternative compared to Western countries like the U.S., and enrollments can be expected to rise in the years ahead. (Geographic proximity is another factor.) At the same time, the inflow of Chinese students is impeded by language barriers, since most education programs in Russia are taught in Russian.
• Other Asian countries : India and Vietnam are other Asian countries that send significant numbers of international students to Russia. Enrollments from outside of Asia, by comparison, are small. European countries (excluding Turkey, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus) in 2014 only accounted for about one percent of international degree students in Russia, more than half of them from the Baltic States.

In 2014, students from Africa and the Americas respectively made up only about two percent and less than one percent of the total international student population.

Outbound Mobility

As of 2017, Russia’s government encourages Russian students to further their education abroad. In 2014, the government introduced a Global Education Program that seeks to facilitate human capital development in Russia and remedy shortages of skilled professionals by funding Russian graduate students at 288 selected universities abroad. Some 72 are located in the United States. The program is intended to support up to 100,000 Russian citizens over a time period of ten years and targets master’s and doctoral students in disciplines, such as engineering, basic sciences, medicine, and education. It covers students’ tuition costs and living expenses up to 2.763 million rubles (USD $48,372) annually. At the same time, the government is seeking to curtail outmigration. Grant recipients are required to return to Russia within three years to take up employment in a number of select positions, mostly in the public sector.

As of recently, such scholarship programs appear to be bearing fruit. Between 2008 and 2015, UIS data indicates that the number of outbound Russian degree students increased by 22 percent, from 44,913 to 54,923. This increase in mobility has likely been influenced by the rising cost of education in Russia, as high tuition fees have spurred students’ interest in the comparatively inexpensive universities of Central and Eastern Europe, for instance. The number of Russian applications in the Baltic countries, Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as China and Finland, has reportedly increased by 50 percent in recent years. Given Russia’s population size, however, the overall number of degree students going abroad is still quite small and makes up just about 1 percent of Russia’s 5.2 million tertiary students (2015).

The most popular destination choice among Russian degree students abroad in recent years has been Germany, where 18 percent of outbound students were enrolled in 2015 (UIS). The U.S., the Czech Republic, Great Britain, and France were the next popular choices, accounting for 9 percent, 8 percent, and 7 percent of enrollments, respectively.

China, Russia’s neighbor and an increasingly important international education provider, is another notable destination. UIS data, which tracks degree-seeking students only, does not rank China as a top-50 study destination. But China is presently ranked as the number one destination of Russian students if non-degree candidates are included in the count. According to the Project Atlas data , 21.6 percent of outbound Russian students studied in China in 2015, reflecting the strong growth in exchange programs, language training programs, and internships that has accompanied the strengthening of Sino-Russian cooperation in recent years.

Russian student mobility to the U.S. is, by comparison, anything but booming. After peaking at a high of 7,025 students in 1999/2000, the number of students has fluctuated over the past decades. The country has not been among the top 25 sending countries since 2012 (IIE, Open Doors). In 2015/16, 5,444 Russian students were enrolled at U.S. institutions, a decrease of 2.1 percent over 2014/15. In Canada, on the other hand, Russian enrollments have been mostly increasing in recent years – the number of students grew by more than 200 percent between 2006 and 2015, from 1,252 to 3,892 students, according to the data provided by the Canadian government .

Transnational Education: A Different Kind of Internationalization

Compared to countries like China or the United Arab Emirates, Russia is not a major host of foreign universities or branch campuses. The global branch campus directory maintained by the “Cross-Border Education Research Team” (C-BERT) lists only one wholly foreign-owned provider in Russia: the U.S.-based Moscow University Touro . There are a number of other foreign institutions licensed to operate in Russia, such as the “ Stockholm School of Economics Russia ,” as well as transnational partnerships like the “ German-Russian Institute of Advanced Technologies ,” but the overall number of such ventures is still relatively small.

On the other hand, Russia is a major player in transnational education (TNE) in post-Soviet countries, where Russian state universities currently operate 36 branch campuses , most of them located in Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Unlike in countries like Australia or the UK, where TNE is primarily driven by private providers, TNE in Russia is directed by the government and presently pursued vigorously. Despite charges by the previous Minister of Education in 2014 that education at cross-border campuses was of poor quality and should be suspended, President Vladimir Putin in 2015 instead vowed to strengthen TNE in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), where Russia is already the predominant TNE provider.

One of the reasons the Russian government is pursuing TNE is that international education is a major element in Russia’s soft power strategy in the “near abroad” aimed at fostering “economic, political and socio-cultural integration in the post-Soviet space .” This objective is formalized in the role of a government agency called Rossotrudnichestvo (Federal Agency for the CIS), which was set up to promote Russian higher education abroad, support Russian institutions located in foreign countries, and popularize Russian culture and improve the image of Russia in the CIS.

In Brief: Russia’s System of Education

Administration.

Federal Law №273 on education (2012) provides the core legal framework for the Russian education system. The Federal Ministry of Education is the executive body responsible for the formulation and implementation of education policies at all levels. Under its purview is the Federal Education and Science Supervision Agency, which is tasked with the supervision and quality control of educational institutions. Regional Ministries of Education are responsible for policy implementation at the local level.

General Education

General education in Russia comprises pre-school education, elementary education, lower-secondary, and upper-secondary education. The course of study takes 11 years in a 4+5+2 sequence. Four years of elementary education are followed by five years of lower-secondary education, which are followed by two years of upper secondary schooling. In addition to general academic programs, students can enroll in vocational-technical programs of varying lengths at the upper-secondary level (discussed further below).

Education has been compulsory until grade 11 since 2007 (until then, it was only compulsory until grade 9), and access to general education is a guaranteed right of every Russian citizen, according to article 43 of the constitution . Schooling is provided free of charge at public schools; private schools are also available, although in limited numbers. Private schools in Russia only reportedly accounted for about 1 percent of all 42,600 schools that existed in Russia in 2015.

The overall number of pupils enrolled in the Russian school system has decreased considerably over the past decades as birth rates have declined. They dropped by more than 32 percent between 2000 and 2013, from 20.5 million to 13.9 million students. Only in the last few years have enrollments started to grow again, reaching 14.6 million students in 2015/2016. The trend has been driven by an increase in birth rates beginning in the 2000s.

Participation and completion rates in general education are high. The net enrollment ratio at the elementary level was 95.2 percent in 2014, according to the World Bank . In 2011, 94 percent of 25-64 year-olds had completed at least upper-secondary education (compared to an average of 75 percent in the OECD and a 60 percent average among G-20 countries). Youth literacy is universal and has held steady at 99.7 percent since 2002, as per UIS data.

Types of Schools: Lyceums, Gymnasiums, Schools for the Gifted and Talented

Most Russian schools incorporate all stages of general education, from elementary to upper-secondary school. However, there are a number of schools that only provide elementary or lower-secondary education, mostly in more rural regions. Other schools only provide upper-secondary education. Evening schools, known as “schools for working youth” in Soviet times, for example, deliver upper-secondary education to students who completed compulsory education (grade 9, until 2007), but want to continue their education or prepare for tertiary education. These schools are attended by both children above the age of 15 and adults who want to further their education.

Other types of schools include lyceums, gymnasiums, schools for the gifted and talented, and general schools. All of these schools teach the general academic core curriculum, but some offer curricular specializations and are more selective. For instance:

• Lyceums offer specialized programs in a variety of disciplines, including sciences, mathematics, or law, and many of these schools are affiliated to universities.
• The gymnasium is a special type of school focusing on education in the humanities, including the study of two foreign languages.
• The schools for the gifted and talented are often associated with conservatories and fine arts universities and specialize in music, ballet, and performing arts, although some schools for gifted and talented children also exist in the sciences .

Education at lyceums, gymnasiums, and other specialized schools is of high quality; these schools are considered to be among the best secondary schools in Russia. An annual ranking of Russian schools conducted by the Ministry of Education included 160 lyceums and 175 gymnasiums among the country’s 500 best schools in 2016. Admission to the schools is typically competitive and may involve entrance examinations. Only about 16 percent of Russian pupils presently attend specialized schools and the availability of these schools tends to be limited in more remote provinces.

Elementary Education

Russian children enter elementary education at six to seven years of age. This stage of education lasts four years and includes instruction in the subjects of Russian language (reading, writing, literature), mathematics, history, natural sciences, arts and crafts, physical education, and a foreign language starting in grade two. Most classes are taught by one primary class teacher for the whole duration of the elementary cycle, although subjects like foreign language, physical education, music, or arts may be taught by specialized teachers. The school year runs from the beginning of September to the beginning of June. Completion of elementary education is a requirement for progression to the lower-secondary cycle, but there is no final centralized state examination as in the other stages of general education.

Lower-Secondary Education (Basic General Education)

Elementary school is followed by five years of lower-secondary education, called “basic general education” in Russia. Classes meet for 34 weeks a year and include 27 to 38 hours of weekly instruction. The federal government sets a general core curriculum of compulsory subjects, but within this framework schools have limited freedom in designing their own curricula at the local level.

Subjects studied in lower-secondary education include Russian language, foreign language, mathematics, social sciences (including history and geography), natural sciences, computer science, crafts (taught separately for girls and boys), physical education, art, and music. Students from Russian republics that have a language other than Russian as their official language have the right to study their native language in addition to Russian and can substitute Russian with their native language in the final graduation examination (a right that is guaranteed as per Russia’s education law).

The basic general education stage concludes with a final state examination, called Gosudarstvennaya Itogovaya Attestatsia or GIA. The examination covers mandatory subjects – Russian and mathematics – as well as elective subjects. Students who pass the examination are awarded the Attestat ob osnovnom obschem obrazovanii,’ commonly translated as “ Certificate of Basic Secondary Education ” or “Certificate of Incomplete Secondary Education.”

The certificate enables students to obtain entrance to secondary education, either along a general university-preparatory track or a vocational-technical track.

General Upper-Secondary Education

General upper-secondary education lasts for two years  and includes a range of subjects similar to those offered at the lower-secondary stage. It prepares students for the Unified State Examination ( Ediny Gosudarstvenny Examen or EGE), which is a series of standardized examinations conducted in May/June of each year. The EGE functions both as a final graduation examination, as well as an entrance examination for higher education. High EGE scores are important for access to the limited number of tuition-free seats at Russian universities.

The EGE is overseen by the Federal Education and Science Supervision Agency ( Rosobrnadzor ) but administered by local authorities. All students sit for mandatory mathematics and Russian language exams. Since 2015, the exam in mathematics has been split into a “base examination” required for high school graduation, and a more advanced “profile examination” required for university admission. Students who do not wish to go to university can opt to only test in the base exam and Russian language. All students who pass are awarded a Certificate of General Secondary Education ( Attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii ) – a final graduation certificate. The certificate also lists the grades for all subjects studied during grades 10 and 11.

Students who fail the exam can sit for it a second time, but if they fail again, they do not qualify for the award of the “ Attestat ,” and only receive a certificate of study from their secondary school. Pass rates, however, are nearly universal. According to a recent report published by Rosobrnadzor , only 1.5 percent of students in 2015, and 0.7 percent of students in 2016 failed to reach the minimum threshold in the mandatory core disciplines, which in 2016 was 27 on a 100 point scale in mathematics, and 24/100 in Russian language .

In addition to the two compulsory subjects, students can elect to be tested in an unlimited number of “profile subjects” for admission into degree programs of their choice. The subject options include physics, chemistry, biology, geography, history, social studies, literature, foreign languages, and computer science.

University Admissions

Until recently, Russia’s universities made independent admissions decisions  and did not necessarily factor in EGE performance. In 2009, however, the Russian government decided to make the use of the EGE in admissions mandatory. The impetus was twofold: to fight corruption in academic admissions, and to widen participation in higher education.

Prior to 2009, academic corruption challenges were particularly prevalent in university admissions. According to some reports, the total volume of bribes paid in connection to university admissions in Moscow in 2008 amounted to USD $520 million, with individual students paying bribes as high as $5,000 . The introduction of the EGE sought to take admissions decisions away from the universities, and replace them with objective external criteria.

The EGE also facilitates broader access to higher education. Before the introduction of the EGE, applicants often had to travel to universities across the country to sit for institutional entrance exams – a costly and time-intensive process that has now greatly improved. As per the Russian ENIC/NARIC, the EGE exam is now used in the admission of nearly 100 percent of applicants. Only two elite universities (Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University) have been exempted and continue to administer their own admissions tests in addition to the EGE.

As of 2015, students could, according to Sergey Kravtsov , the head of the Federal Education and Science Supervision Agency, sit for the EGE examination in 5,700 testing centers throughout Russia, as well as in 52 countries abroad. A reported 584,000 students took the base stage EGE examination in 2016, and 492,000 sat for profile exams.

Upon passing the EGE exams, these students receive a certificate of results. These can be used to can apply to three different study programs at five universities at a time. Admission is competitive and based on test scores in the subjects required for particular degree specializations. Higher scores improve the chances of admission into top universities.

Certain programs that require special creative or physical abilities, for example, in artistic disciplines, sports, or military sciences, may require additional entrance examinations. Foreign students are admitted based on separate institutional admissions requirements, and typically have to take the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL).

Academic Corruption in the EGE and Beyond

Russia is afflicted by a widespread culture of academic fraud. The introduction of the centralized EGE exam has reduced the use of direct bribes for university entrance but has reportedly led to significant test-related fraud, including, prior to the test, distribution of exam questions, and after the test, revision of incorrect answers .

Fraud is prevalent in graduate admissions as well. In one notorious example, a senior lecturer at Moscow State University was in 2010 caught accepting a bribe of €35,000 (USD $39,140) to guarantee admission to the faculty of public administration. The sale of fake degrees and the ghost-writing of papers and dissertations constitute another problem. Some experts reportedly claim that as many as 30 to 50 percent of doctoral degrees circulating in certain disciplines like law and medicine may either be fake or based on plagiarism, while other researchers assert that 20 to 30 percent of all Russian dissertations completed since the fall of the Soviet Union were purchased on the black market . The use of such suspect degrees is blatant, and not uncommon among politicians and higher-level civil servants. A 2015 study of the Dissernet Project , an organization dedicated to exposing academic fraud, found that one in nine politicians in the lower house of the Russian parliament had a plagiarized or fake academic degree . In 2006, researchers from the U.S. Brookings Institution analyzed the dissertation of President Vladimir Putin and alleged that it was plagiarized .

Vocational and Technical Education

Russia’s education system includes both secondary-level and post-secondary vocational programs, as well as programs that straddle secondary and higher education. As of the 2012 adoption of Russia’s latest federal education law, all of these programs are now primarily taught at the same types of institutions called technikums ( tehnikum ), and colleges ( kolledzh ). The professional-technical uchilische (PTU) and professional-technical lyceums (PTL) that existed prior to 2012 were largely upgraded to, or merged with, technikums and colleges.

Basic vocational programs at the secondary level are entered on the basis of the Certificate of Basic Secondary Education (grade 9) and are between one and four years in length. Programs have a focus on applied training but may also cover the general secondary education curriculum. Students who have completed general upper-secondary education can enroll in shortened versions of these programs, which are typically one to 1.5 years in length. The final credential is the Diplom o Nachalnom Professionalnom Obrazovanii (Diploma of Vocational Education). It gives access to higher-level vocational education programs and specialized employment, mostly in blue-collar occupations, such as carpentry, tailoring, cookery, or automotive technology. Graduates from programs that include a general secondary education component have the option of sitting for the EGE university entrance exams.

The popularity of basic vocational education declined rapidly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The fact that employment was more or less mandatory during Soviet times meant that 98 percent of graduates from basic vocational programs were employed in the Soviet Union. Today, employment prospects are more precarious. The number of graduates from lower-level vocational programs has declined by 43 percent between 2000 and 2013 alone, from 762,800 to 436,000, as per the statistical data provided by the Russian government.

Advanced vocational programs, referred to as “middle level professional education” in Russia, are considered (non-tertiary) higher education. They typically last two to three years after upper-secondary school (grade 11). Students who have not yet completed upper-secondary education, however, may enter these programs after grade 9 if they meet certain additional admissions requirements. They may, for instance, have to pass admissions tests, and are required to complete the general secondary education curriculum as part of the program. Advanced vocational programs combine applied training with theoretical instruction, and usually require the preparation of a written thesis. The final credential is called Diplom o srednem professionalnom obrazovanii, which can be translated as “Diploma of Middle Level Professional Education.”

The Diploma of Middle Level Professional Education continues to serve an important function in the Russian education system, even though enrollments have begun to decline, if at smaller margins than those in basic vocational education. The credential certifies formal training in a wide range of occupations, ranging from technician to elementary school teacher to accountant. Nurses in Russia, for example, can work after completing mid-level professional education rather than earning a bachelor’s degree, as is required for licensure in the United States.

Mid-level professional education also aligns with tertiary education in that graduates may, on a case-by-case basis, be granted exemptions towards university programs in similar disciplines, and may be allowed to enter directly into the second or third year of bachelor’s programs at some universities.

Tertiary Education

Institutions.

In 2015/16, there were a total of 896 recognized tertiary education institutions in operation in the Russian Federation. Public institutions are categorized into :

• Big multi-disciplinary universities
• Academies specialized in particular professions, such as medicine, education, architecture, or agriculture
• Institutes that (typically) offer programs in singular disciplines, such as music or arts.

There are 50 specially-funded and research-focused National Research Universities and Universities of National Innovation, as well as nine Federal Universities, which were established to bundle regional education and research efforts and focus on regional socioeconomic needs in more remote parts of Russia.

Finally, there are two National Universities, the prestigious Lomonosov Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University. These well-funded elite institutions have special legal status and are under the direct control of the federal government, which appoints their rectors and approves university charters. Moscow State University is arguably Russia’s most prestigious institution and currently enrolls more than 47,000 students. Modeled after German universities, it was founded in 1755.

Private Universities

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought about the de-ideologization of education, and successively replaced the rigid centralization and state planning of the Soviet Union with new paradigms of institutional autonomy, effectiveness, innovation, and internationalization. In contrast to other sectors, the education system, however, was spared the “ shock-therapy ” of economic liberalization, which brought about what has been described as “the most cataclysmic peacetime economic collapse of an industrial country in history.” There was no large-scale privatization of state universities and the overall structure of the education system remained largely intact. Over time, however, Russia has seen the emergence of a healthy private higher education sector following the legalization of private education in 1992.

Private institutions now account for some 366 accredited institutions – just over one-third of all higher education institutions in Russia. The number of students enrolled in these universities has increased considerably over the past decades – between 2000 and 2014 alone the number of students at private universities grew by 88 percent, from 470,600 to 884,700 students .

Today, private universities tend to supplement public education with more specialized niche offerings, rather than compete directly with the bigger state-funded universities. Private enrollments account for only about 16 percent of all tertiary enrollments. And, as demonstrated by prestigious funding projects for state universities, and the closure of private niche universities , the Russian government does presently not prioritize the development of the private sector. Private education, thus, is for the time being expected to primarily gain traction in the “ sphere of non-formal and extra-system education .”

Rankings and International Reputation

The Russian Ministry of Education maintains a webpage dedicated to tracking the progress of Russian universities in global rankings. As of 2016 rankings, the goals of the 5/100 project to place five Russian universities in the top 100 of global rankings still seem distant. Lomonosov Moscow State University was the only Russian university among the top 100 in the most common rankings. It was ranked at 87 th place in the Shanghai ranking (followed by St. Petersburg State University and Novosibirsk State University at 301-400 and 401-500, respectively). In the Times Higher Education Ranking , Lomonosov reached 188 th place in 2016/17 with no other Russian universities among the top 300. In the QS ranking , Russia’s flagship university reached 108 th place followed by St. Petersburg State University ranked at place 258. Of note is also that Russia in 2016 announced that it will launch its own international ranking , including universities from Russia, Japan, China, Brazil, India, Iran, Turkey, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Funding and Education Spending

As a result, education has become more expensive for many students, even in the public sector. Students with high EGE scores are usually allowed to study for free; however many students pay annual tuition fees averaging 120-140 thousand rubles (USD $2,084 to $2,432) for a bachelor’s degree and 220-250 thousand rubles (USD $3,822-4,343) for a Specialist degree (described in more detail below). Although students can take out low-interest loans, these costs are high considering Russian income levels. Inflation rates of more than 11 percent in 2014 caused many Russian universities to raise tuition fees by significant margins , while the average monthly income simultaneously dropped by 35 percent to USD $558 in 2015.

As noted earlier, federal spending on education decreased by 8.5 percent between 2014 and 2016. This downturn reverses spending increases in previous years. Between 2005 and 2013, overall Russian higher education spending as a percentage of GDP increased from 2.7 percent in 2005 to 3.8 percent in 2013 . In the tertiary sector, spending levels stayed mostly constant between 2005 and 2013, but because the number of students simultaneously declined, the amount spent per student actually rose by 32 percent to $USD 8,483 . This number, however, is still low when compared to the average spending in countries at comparable levels of development, causing observers like the World Bank to recommend that Russia increase education spending and prioritize human capital development in order to ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth.

Quality Assurance: State Accreditation and the Role of the Bologna Process

All higher education institutions in Russia, public or private, must have a state license to deliver education programs. To award nationally recognized degrees, institutions must also obtain state accreditation. The accreditation process is overseen by the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science ( Rosobrnadzor)  and is based on institutional self-assessments, peer review, and site visits certifying compliance with standards set by Russia’s National Accreditation Agency (subordinated to Rosobrnadzor) .

Accreditation is granted for six-year periods and entitles institutions to award state-recognized diplomas in a set number of disciplines, and to apply for funding by the government. Both the National Accreditation Agency and Rosobrnadzor maintain online databases of accredited institutions and the degree programs they are authorized to offer.

A signatory to the Bologna declarations since 2003, Russia has adopted many of the quality assurance provisions stipulated in the declarations. Internal quality assurance systems have been established at most of Russia’s universities , and there are now at least five independent accreditation agencies operating in Russia. These agencies accredit programs and institutions in disciplines such as engineering and law, but accreditation by these agencies is not mandatory and does not replace existing quality assurance mechanisms, which remain strictly based on institutional accreditation by the government. Accreditation by European agencies, including those registered with the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) is presently not recognized by the Russian government.

Threats to Academic Freedom: The Case of the European University in St. Petersburg

Under the rule of Vladimir Putin, Russia has become an increasingly authoritarian country in which the government suppresses journalistic and academic freedoms. Threats to academic freedoms are also on the rise in other European countries like Hungary, where the government is trying to shut down the Central European University founded by U.S. billionaire philanthropist George Soros (see our related article in this month’s issue). In Russia, another Soros-supported Western-style university, the European University in St. Petersburg (EUSP) is facing a similar fate. 

EUSP is an internationally renowned private graduate school specializing in social sciences that is regarded as one of Russia’s best universities. Founded in 1994, EUSP received state accreditation in 2004, only to be closed in 2008 in what has been described as a case “ domestic ‘lawfare’ , in which state-run courts enforce political conformity through legal pretexts”. EUSP is known as a liberal-minded institution with foreign board members that teaches Western-style political science. The 2008 closure coincided with the award of a €673,000 EU grant to EUSP to improve election monitoring in Russia, after which Rosobrnadzor inspected and cited the university with technical infractions, followed by temporary closure for not meeting fire-safety standards .

The university was reopened shortly afterward but continued to face difficulties. Passage of Russia’s “ law on undesirable organizations ” forced EUSP to forego foreign funding in 2015. In 2016, Rosobrnadzor launched another wave of inspections, citing the school with 120 violations , including the lack of a fitness room and an information stand against alcoholism, after a conservative Russian politician and a key-author of Russia’s “ gay propaganda law ” had logged a series of complaints , reportedly after hearing that EUSP was teaching inappropriate content in its gender studies curriculum . Other possible reasons suggested by the media involve interests in lucrative construction contracts for the building in which EUSP is housed. In March 2017, EUSP’s license was revoked . Appeals are currently working their way through the courts while the fate of the university remains uncertain. 

Tertiary Degree Structure

Prior to the introduction of the Bologna three-cycle degree structure in 2003, tertiary education in Russia consisted mainly of long single-cycle degree programs of five to six-year duration leading to the award of a “Diploma of Specialist,” followed by a doctoral research degree called Kandidat Nauk (Candidate of Science). In 2007, the single-cycle Specialist program was replaced with a two-cycle degree system consisting of an undergraduate Bakalavr (Bachelor) degree, and a graduate Magistr (Master) degree in many fields of study. In these fields, Specialist degrees are being phased out, and the last waves of students studying under the old structure are currently reaching graduation. However, implementation of the two-cycle Bakalavr/Magistr system has not been mandated across the board, and long Specialist degrees continue to be awarded in a number of fields, including the professions and technical disciplines. The three degrees still in common circulation are thus:

• Bakalavr : Bakalavr degrees in Russia are always four years in duration (240 ECTS credits). (In other European countries the length of bachelor’s degrees varies between three and four years.) Bakalavr degrees are awarded in a wide variety of disciplines and require completion of a thesis (prepared over a time period of four months) and passing of a final state examination in addition to coursework. Admission is based on EGE results in disciplines related to the major of the program.
• Magistr : Magistr degrees are research-oriented graduate degrees that are always two years in length (120 ECTS). Programs conclude with the defense of a thesis and state examination. Admission requires a Bakalavr degree, but universities are free to set additional admission requirements, including entrance examinations and interviews. Bachelor graduates that completed a degree in a different field of study generally have to pass an entrance exam to demonstrate proficiency in the intended area of study. Holders of Specialist degrees are also eligible for admission.
• Specialist Degrees : Specialist programs are at least five years in length and involve state requirements of approximately 8,200 hours of instruction, a thesis, and state examination. Programs lead to the award of the “Diploma of Specialist” and are generally considered to be professionally rather than academically oriented, although the Specialist degree has the same legal standing as the Magistr degree and gives full access to doctoral programs.

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits are used in Bakalavr and Magistr programs, but, as of now, rarely in Specialist programs. The ECTS grading scale, as well as a new 0-100 grading scale, have been introduced in recent years, but are generally not used on state format academic transcripts, which continue to be issued using the standard 2 to 5 grading scale. Degree programs at both public and private universities conclude with state examinations and the defense of a thesis in front of a State Attestation Commission.

Diploma Supplements existed in Russia prior to the Bologna reforms, and are still issued for all Russian tertiary degrees.

Kandidat Nauk and Doktor Nauk

Students obtain entrance to doctoral research programs – or aspirantura – on the basis of Magistr or Specialist degrees. Doctoral programs are usually three years in length, including lectures and seminars, and independent original research. Upon completion of the study program, doctoral candidates are awarded a diploma of completion of aspirantura . A final Kandidat Nauk degree is conferred only after the public defense of the doctoral dissertation.

Another type of doctoral program, the Doktor Nauk (Doctor of Science), requires additional study beyond the Kandidat Nauk . It is a higher doctorate that entails the completion of another dissertation and takes most candidates anywhere between five and fifteen years to complete. The Doktor Nauk is required to obtain full-tenured professorship in Russia, as well as the prestigious rank of “Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences.” Full tenure is otherwise only granted to professors with at least 15 years of outstanding teaching service at a university.

Teacher Education

Teacher training in Russia takes place both in post-secondary vocational education and the tertiary education sector, depending on the level. Pre-school and elementary school teachers are commonly trained at pedagogical colleges and are allowed to work as teachers on the basis of the Diploma of Middle Level Professional Education (although pre-school and elementary teacher training programs are also offered at universities). Secondary school teachers, on the other hand, are taught at universities and tertiary-level teacher training institutes. Upper-secondary school teachers are required to have a Specialist (or Magistr ) degree. Programs include academic study in the areas of teaching specialization, pedagogical and methodological subjects, and an in-service teaching internship.

Document Requirements

Russia is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention and officially certifies documents for use in other signatory states through government agencies. WES relies on this process in the authentication of academic documents from Russia.

Secondary Education

• Final graduation certificate including all subjects and grades – E.g. Certificate of (Complete) Secondary General Education ( Attestat o Srednem (Polnom) Obshchem Obrazovanii including Prilozhenie or Tabel ) – Certified by apostille through an authorized body of education of the Russian Federation. (See here for a list of appropriate education authorities).
• Precise, word-for-word English translations of all documents

Post-Secondary and Higher Education

• Degree Certificate and Academic Transcript – Certified by apostille through an authorized body of education of the Russian Federation. See here for a list of appropriate education authorities.

Click here for a PDF file of the academic documents referred to below.

• Attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
• Diplom o srednem professionalnom obrazovanii (Diploma of Middle Level Professional Education)
• Diploma of Specialist
• Bakalavr (Bachelor)
• Magistr (Master)
• Kandidat Nauk (Candidate of Sciences)

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of World Education Services (WES).

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The foundation of Russian-American relations – both our friendship and our capacity to work together as two great nations – ultimately rests on how well ordinary citizens on both sides understand each other. That is why the U.S. Government believes that the most important contribution we can make to a stronger Russian-American relationship is to invest in expanding the knowledge and contacts among people in both countries. As a result of U.S. government exchange programs, more than 50,000 Russians and Americans have had the opportunity to take part in academic or professional exchanges during the past decades.

The effect of an exchange experience on a person’s life extends far beyond the time actually spent abroad. Similarly, an exchange program affects not only individual participants, but also those who get to know them while the United States and those back home in Russia who hear about their experiences once they return. In this way, people-to-people exchanges between Russians and Americans benefit both countries by improving our ability to understand each other, by enabling us to compare and share approaches to common problems, and by increasing the network of ties binding our nations together in the peaceful pursuit of common goals.

This section of the website provides an overview of our current exchange programs, as well as the numerous educational activities supported by the Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in the Russian Federation.

• Study in the U.S.A.
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Capital:  Moscow Population:  141,722,205 (July 2020 est.) GDP:  4.016 Trillion USD (2017 est., Purchasing Power Parity) Currency:  Russian rubles (RUB) Language:  Russian (official)

UNESCO Student Mobility Number: Russia has 56,659 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook: 26.78% of the Russian population is under 24 years of age.  

OVERVIEW Russia is the 6th largest economy in the world. Russia’s GDP purchasing power parity is $3.6 trillion. The Russian economy is expected to grow to almost $4 trillion in 2020. The country has a population of 140 million with a growing purchasing power that demands well known global brands and quality service. Russia is mostly an urban country. Between 15-25% of the country’s population belong to the middle class and 74 % of Russians live in urban areas. Besides Moscow and St. Petersburg, there are fifteen other Russian cities with population over one million. 

Education in Russia is provided predominantly by the state and is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Science. Regional authorities regulate education within their jurisdictions within the prevailing framework of federal laws. In 2004 state spending for education amounted to 3.6% of GDP, or 13% of the consolidated state budget. In 2018, the spending on education amounted to $20 billion. Private institutions account for 1% of pre-school enrollment, 0.5% of elementary school enrollment and 17% of university-level students. Education in state-owned secondary schools is free; first tertiary (university level) education is free with reservations: a substantial number of students are enrolled for full tuition fees. Male and female students have equal shares in all stages of education, except tertiary education where women lead with 57%. The literacy rate in Russia, according to a 2018 estimate by the Central Intelligence Agency, is 99.7% (99.7% men, 99.6% women). According to a 2018 OECD estimate, 53% of Russia’s adults (25 to 64 year-olds) have attained a tertiary (college) education. 

Russian students are increasingly choosing to pursue university degrees abroad. Based on the latest Institute of International Education Open Doors Report 5,292 Russian students studied in the U.S in 2018-2019. Over the last five-year period there is a 15% increase in the number of Russian students studying in the U.S. schools. 

SUB-SECTORS Russian students are traditionally interested in pursuing their Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in the U.S. In view of the Russian ruble devaluation, many students favor less expensive Community Colleges and/or one or two-year undergraduate programs. Most Russian students choose to major in Business/Management, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Fine/Applied Arts, Maths/Computer Science, and Engineering. Summer English language programs are gaining popularity among Russian high school and undergraduate students.

There is also a growing interest in elite U.S. Boarding schools for children (from the age 8 y.o.) from wealthy Russian families from 15 major cities throughout Russia. 

OPPORTUNITIES Russian students are attracted by the quality of U.S. graduate and undergraduate programs and all the extracurricular opportunities student life on campus has to offer.  In recent years Russian students that choose to pursue their studies in the U.S. came not only from Moscow and St Petersburg but also from many other regions of Russia.

RESOURCES EducationUSA, Moscow, Russia; Email: [email protected] U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT        Diana Ryan, Education Commercial Specialist  U.S. Commercial Service – Moscow, Russia [email protected] +7 495 7285398  

Education Stats : compare key data on Russia & United States

• Country Info
• Russia vs. United States

Definitions

• Children out of school, primary : Children out of school, primary. Out-of-school children of primary school age. Total is the total number of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary schools.
• Children out of school, primary per 1000 : Children out of school, primary. Out-of-school children of primary school age. Total is the total number of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary schools. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Children out of school, primary, female : Children out of school, primary, female. Out-of-school children of primary school age. Female is the total number of female primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary schools.
• College and university > Gender parity index : Country's gender parity index for college and university enrollment. For countries with a rating of over 1, more females are enrolled while countries with a rating under 1 have more males enrolled.
• College and university > Share of total education spending : Percentage of government education funding that goes to post-secondary education.
• Compulsary education duration : Number of years students are required to be enrolled in school for all levels of education. For instance, compulsary education lasts for 12 years in the United States.
• Government spending on education > Proportion of GDP : Percentage of public funding for education out of country's total GDP.
• Homeschooling legal status : Legal status of homeschooling.
• Literacy > Female : This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of our source. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons.
• Literacy > Total population : This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of our source. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons.
• Primary education, duration > Years : Primary education, duration (years). Duration of primary is the number of grades (years) in primary education.
• Primary education, teachers per 1000 : Primary education, teachers. Teaching staff in primary. Public and private. Full and part-time. All programmes. Total is the total number of teachers in public and private primary education institutions. Teachers are persons employed full time or part time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) and persons who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Pupil-teacher ratio, primary : Pupil-teacher ratio, primary. Pupil-teacher ratio. Primary is the number of pupils enrolled in primary school divided by the number of primary school teachers.
• Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary : Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary. Pupil-teacher ratio. Secondary is the number of pupils enrolled in secondary school divided by the number of secondary school teachers.
• Secondary education, duration > Years : Secondary education, duration (years). Duration of secondary education is the number of grades (years) in secondary education (ISCED 2 & 3).
• Children out of school, primary, female per 1000 : Children out of school, primary, female. Out-of-school children of primary school age. Female is the total number of female primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary schools. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• College and university > Gender ratio : Ratio of female to male tertiary enrollment is the percentage of men to women enrolled at tertiary level in public and private schools.
• Child care (preschool) > Duration : Number of years students study at the pre-primary (preschool) level. It should be noted that not all countries require pre-primary education.
• Secondary education > Teachers > Per capita : Secondary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• Duration of compulsory education : Duration of compulsory education is the number of grades (or years) that a child must legally be enrolled in school.
• Secondary education, pupils : Secondary education, pupils. Enrolment in total secondary. Public and private. All programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled at public and private secondary education institutions.
• College and university > Private school share : Percentage of post-secondary students who attend a private school, college, or university.
• Primary education, teachers : Primary education, teachers. Teaching staff in primary. Public and private. Full and part-time. All programmes. Total is the total number of teachers in public and private primary education institutions. Teachers are persons employed full time or part time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) and persons who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions.
• Primary education, pupils : Primary education, pupils. Enrolment in primary. Public and private. All programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled in public and private primary education institutions.
• Tertiary enrollment : Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary level is the sum of all tertiary level students enrolled at the start of the school year, expressed as a percentage of the mid-year population in the 5 year age group after the official secondary school leaving age.
• Spending per student > College and university : Public expenditure per student is the public current spending on education divided by the total number of students by level, as a percentage of GDP per capita. Public expenditure (current and capital) includes government spending on educational institutions (both public and private), education administration as well as subsidies for private entities (students/households and other privates entities)."
• High school > Gender ratio : Ratio of female to male secondary enrollment is the percentage of girls to boys enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.
• Compulsary education starting age : Age at which children must be enrolled in school.
• Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary per million : Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary. Pupil-teacher ratio. Secondary is the number of pupils enrolled in secondary school divided by the number of secondary school teachers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
• Literacy > Definition : This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of our source. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons.
• High school > Upper secondary school duration : Number of years students study at the upper secondary (high school) level.
• Literacy > Male : This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of our source. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons.
• Spending > USD : Education expenditure refers to the current operating expenditures in education, including wages and salaries and excluding capital investments in buildings and equipment."
• High school > Private school share : Percentage of secondary students who attend a private school.
• Spending > Proportion : Education expenditure refers to the current operating expenditures in education, including wages and salaries and excluding capital investments in buildings and equipment. Expressed as a proportion of GNI."
• Pupil-teacher ratio > Primary : Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the number of pupils enrolled in primary school divided by the number of primary school teachers (regardless of their teaching assignment).
• Child care (preschool) > Starting age : Average age at which students begin pre-primary (preschool) education.
• Preschool enrollment rate : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music."
• Tertiary > Students studying abroad : Total number of post-secondary students who were studying abroad during given year.

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• Elementary (primary school) > Duration : Number of years students study at the primary level.
• Children out of school > Primary : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.
• Secondary education, teachers : Secondary education, teachers. Teaching staff in total secondary. Public and private. Full and part-time. All programmes. Total is the total number of teachers in public and private secondary education institutions (ISCED 2 and 3). Teachers are persons employed full time or part time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) and persons who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions.
• Secondary education, teachers per 1000 : Secondary education, teachers. Teaching staff in total secondary. Public and private. Full and part-time. All programmes. Total is the total number of teachers in public and private secondary education institutions (ISCED 2 and 3). Teachers are persons employed full time or part time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) and persons who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Child care (preschool) > Students per teacher : Number of students per teacher for pre-primary (preschool) education.
• High school > Lower secondary school duration : Number of years students study at the lower secondary (middle school) level.
• Children out of school, primary, male per 1000 : Children out of school, primary, male. Out-of-school children of primary school age. Male is the total number of male primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary schools. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Secondary education, general pupils : Secondary education, general pupils. Enrolment in total secondary. Public and private. General programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled in general programmes at public and private secondary education institutions.
• High school > Gender parity index : Country's gender parity index for secondary level enrollment. For countries with a rating of over 1, more females are enrolled while countries with a rating under 1 have more males enrolled.
• Scientific and technical journal articles : Scientific and technical journal articles refer to the number of scientific and engineering articles published in the following fields: physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences.
• College and university > Teachers > Proportion of teachers female : Percentage of country's college and university professors that are female.
• Tertiary > Students studying abroad proportion : The number of students from a given country studying abroad in a given year, expressed as a percentage of total tertiary enrollment in that country. Ratios greater than 100 % are possible, because those currently studying abroad do not count towards total enrollment.
• Education enrolment by level > Tertiary level per 1000 : . Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Scouting > Genders admitted : Admits boys/girls.
• Elementary (primary school) > Starting age : Average age at which students begin primary education.
• Children out of school, primary, male : Children out of school, primary, male. Out-of-school children of primary school age. Male is the total number of male primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary schools.
• High school > Students per teacher : Number of students per teacher for all levels of secondary education.
• Secondary education > General pupils : Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training.
• Secondary school starting age > Years : Secondary school starting age (years). Entrance age of 2A lower secondary is the age at which students would enter lower secondary education, assuming they had started at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, had studied full-time throughout and had progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade.
• High school starting age > Years : Secondary school starting age is the age at which students would enter secondary education, assuming they had started at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, had studied full-time throughout and had progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade."
• Primary education > Teachers > Per capita : Primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• High school > Population with at least high school education > Women : Population with at least high school education > Women.
• Elementary school graduate rate : Persistence to last grade of primary is the percentage of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary education. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.
• Schools connected to the Internet : Schools connected to the Internet are the share of primary and secondary schools in the country that have access to the Internet.
• Secondary education, pupils per 1000 : Secondary education, pupils. Enrolment in total secondary. Public and private. All programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled at public and private secondary education institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Primary education, pupils per 1000 : Primary education, pupils. Enrolment in primary. Public and private. All programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled in public and private primary education institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Education enrolment by level > Tertiary level > Per capita : Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• Universities > Top 100 : Number of universities in the top 100
• Tertiary > Students studying abroad per thousand people : Total number of post-secondary students who were studying abroad during given year. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
• Outcomes > Secondary education > Duration > Years : Secondary education, duration (years) is the number of grades (years) in secondary school."
• Teacher student ratio > High school : Secondary school pupil-teacher ratio is the number of pupils enrolled in secondary school divided by the number of secondary school teachers (regardless of their teaching assignment).
• Children out of school > Primary per 1000 : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Class size > Age 13 : The average number of 13-year-old students per class.
• Teacher student ratio > Elementary school : Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the number of pupils enrolled in primary school divided by the number of primary school teachers (regardless of their teaching assignment).
• Elementary school > Enrolled students : Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.
• Primary education > Duration > Years : Primary duration refers to the number of years of full-time equivalent duration in primary education in the school system according to ISCED.
• Services, etc., value added > Constant 2000 US$ per capita : Services, etc., value added (constant 2000 US$). Services correspond to ISIC divisions 50-99. They include value added in wholesale and retail trade (including hotels and restaurants), transport, and government, financial, professional, and personal services such as education, health care, and real estate services. Also included are imputed bank service charges, import duties, and any statistical discrepancies noted by national compilers as well as discrepancies arising from rescaling. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The industrial origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3. Data are in constant 2005 U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
• School enrolment rate > 1st grade : Gross intake rate in grade 1 is the number of new entrants in the first grade of primary education regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population of the official primary entrance age."
• Secondary education, general pupils per 1000 : Secondary education, general pupils. Enrolment in total secondary. Public and private. General programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled in general programmes at public and private secondary education institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• High school > Lower secondary starting age : Average age at which students begin lower secondary (middle school) education.
• Elementary (primary) school) > Private school share : Percentage of primary students who attend a private school.
• Elementary school > Gender ratio : Ratio of female to male primary enrollment is the percentage of girls to boys enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.
• Duration of education > Secondary level : Duration of secondary education is the number of grades (or years) in general secondary education .
• Public spending per student > Tertiary level : Public expenditure per student, tertiary level is the total reported current spending by the government on tertiary education , divided by the total number of pupils in tertiary education , expressed as a percentage of per capita GDP .
• Primary education > Pupils : Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.
• High school > Population with at least high school education > Men : Gender Inequality Index.
• Education enrolment by level > Secondary level > Per capita : Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• Secondary education, vocational pupils : Secondary education, vocational pupils. Enrolment in total secondary. Public and private. Technical/vocational programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled in technical/vocational programmes at public and private secondary education institutions.
• Elementary (primary) school > Students per teacher : Number of students per teacher for primary education.
• Secondary education > Teachers : Secondary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.
• Scientific and technical journal articles per million : Scientific and technical journal articles refer to the number of scientific and engineering articles published in the following fields: physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
• Duration of education > Primary level : Duration of primary education is the number of grades (or years) in primary education .
• Participation > Children out of school > Elementary : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.
• Participation > Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education : Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education is the percentage of girls to boys enrolled at primary and secondary levels in public and private schools.
• Public spending per student > Secondary level : Public expenditure per student, secondary level is the total reported current spending by the government on secondary education , divided by the total number of pupils in secondary education , expressed as a percentage of per capita GDP .
• Children out of school > Primary > Per capita : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• High school > Upper secondary starting age : Average age at which students begin upper secondary (high school) education.
• Elementary school starting age > Years : Primary school starting age is the age at which students would enter primary education, assuming they had started at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, had studied full-time throughout and had progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade."
• Elementary school repeaters > All : Repeaters in primary school are the number of students enrolled in the same grade as in the previous year, as a percentage of all students enrolled in primary school."
• Universities > Top 200 : Number of universities in the top 200
• Secondary education > General pupils > Per capita : Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• Education enrolment by level > Primary level per 1000 : . Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Education enrolment by level > Primary level > Per capita : Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
• Pupils-teacher ratio > Primary level : Pupil-teacher ratio, primary level is the average number of pupils per teacher in primary education . Cross-country comparisons may be affected by such factors as the composition of teachers by part- and full-time employment.
• Elementary (primary school) > Teachers > Proportion of teachers female : Percentage of country's elementary, or primary, teachers that are female.
• Primary education > Teachers : Primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.
• Students from households with computer > Age 13 : Percentage of 13-year-old students who come from households with at least one computer.
• Private school enrolment > Primary level : Private sector enrolment share, primary level is the share of primary school pupils who attend a privately managed school, regardless of whether or not the school receives subsidies from the government .
• Outcomes > Primary education > Duration > Years : Primary duration refers to the number of years of full-time equivalent duration in primary education in the school system according to ISCED.
• Primary education > Teachers per 1000 : Primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Children out of school > Primary > Female > Per capita : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• Female enrolment share > Primary level : Girls' enrolment share, primary level is the number of girls enrolled in primary school, expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils in primary school.
• Services, etc., value added > Constant 2000 US$ : Services, etc., value added (constant 2000 US$). Services correspond to ISIC divisions 50-99. They include value added in wholesale and retail trade (including hotels and restaurants), transport, and government, financial, professional, and personal services such as education, health care, and real estate services. Also included are imputed bank service charges, import duties, and any statistical discrepancies noted by national compilers as well as discrepancies arising from rescaling. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The industrial origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3. Data are in constant 2005 U.S. dollars.
• Universities > Top 200 per million : Number of universities in the top 200. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
• Proportion of primary education time spent learning technology : Intended instruction time spent studying technology, as a percentage of total intended instruction time for students 12 to 14 years of age. Data for 1999.
• Primary school starting age > Years : Primary school starting age (years). Entrance age of primary is the age at which students would enter primary education, assuming they had started at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, had studied full-time throughout and had progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade.
• Scouting > Members : Members of boy or girl scout groups which are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).
• Participation > Secondary education > General pupils : Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training."
• Ratio of female to male primary enrollment : Ratio of female to male primary enrollment is the percentage of girls to boys enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.
• Secondary education > Teachers per 1000 : Secondary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Secondary education > General pupils per 1000 : Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Children out of school > Primary > Male : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.
• Elementary (primary) school > Gender parity index : Country's gender parity index in primary, or elementary, school. For countries with a rating of over 1, more females are enrolled while countries with a rating under 1 have more males enrolled. 
• Female enrolment share > Secondary level : Girls' enrolment share, secondary level is the number of girls enrolled in secondary school, expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils in secondary school.
• Private school enrolment > Secondary level : Private sector enrolment share, secondary level is the share of students in general secondary education who attend a privately managed school, regardless of whether or not the school receives subsidies from the government .
• Education enrolment by level > Secondary level per 1000 : . Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Scouting > Members per thousand people : Membership (from 2012). Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
• Proportion of primary education time spent learning science : Intended instruction time spent studying science, as a percentage of total intended instruction time for students 12 to 14 years of age. Data for 1999.
• Elementary school repeaters > Female : Repeaters in primary school are the number of students enrolled in the same grade as in the previous year, as a percentage of all students enrolled in primary school."
• Elementary school repeaters > Male : Repeaters in primary school are the number of students enrolled in the same grade as in the previous year, as a percentage of all students enrolled in primary school."
• Children out of school > Primary > Male > Per capita : Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
• Elementary school teachers : Primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.
• High school teachers : Secondary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.
• Teacher qualifications > Share with special training > Age 13 : Of those teachers who teach students aged 13, the percentage who have specialised teacher training.
• Students from households with more than 25 books > Age 13 : Percentage of 13 year-old students who come from households owning more than 25 books.
• Students from households with computer > Age 13 per million : Percentage of 13-year-old students who come from households with at least one computer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
• Teacher qualifications > Years experience > Age 13 : The average number of years of teaching experience, for teachers of students aged 13.
• Universities > Top 100 per million : Number of universities in the top 100. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
• Students from households with study desk > Age 13 : Percentage of 13-year-old students who come from households with at least one study desk.
• Participation > Secondary education > Pupils : Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.
• Proportion of primary education time spent learning vocational skills : Intended instruction time spent studying vocational skills, as a percentage of total intended instruction time for students 12 to 14 years of age. Data for 1999.
• Universities > Top 200 > Per $ GDP : Number of universities in the top 200 Per $ GDP figures expressed per 1 billion $ gross domestic product.
• Ratio of female to male secondary enrollment : Ratio of female to male secondary enrollment is the percentage of girls to boys enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.
• Primary education > Pupils per 1000 : Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Students from households with calculator > Age 13 : Percentage of 13-year-old students who come from households containing at least one calculator.
• Proportion of primary education time spent learning foreign languages : Intended instruction time spent studying modern foreign languages , as a percentage of total intended instruction time for students 12 to 14 years of age. Data for 1999.
• Universities > Top 100 > Per $ GDP : Number of universities in the top 100 Per $ GDP figures expressed per 14.1 billion $ gross domestic product.
• Students living with mother > Age 13 : Percentage of 13-year-old students who live with their mother.
• Students from households with dictionary > Age 13 : The percentage of 13-year-old students who come from a household with a dictionary.
• Students from households with more than 25 books > Age 13 per million : Percentage of 13 year-old students who come from households owning more than 25 books. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
• Students whose mothers have secondary education > Age 13 : Percentage of 13-year-old students whose mothers have at least secondary education .
• Elementary school > Enrolled students > % female : Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.
• Elementary school teachers > % female : Female teachers as a percentage of total primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.
• Participation > Secondary education > Vocational pupils > % female : Secondary vocational pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in technical and vocational education programs, including teacher training."
• Participation > Total enrollment > Primary > Male > % net : Total enrollment is the number of pupils of the school-age group for primary education, enrolled either in primary or secondary education, expressed as a percentage of the total population in that age group."
• Preschool enrollment rate > Female : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment."
• Preschool enrollment rate > Male : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment."
• School enrolment rate > 1st grade > Female : Gross intake rate in grade 1 is the number of new entrants in the first grade of primary education regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population of the official primary entrance age."
• School enrolment rate > 1st grade > Male : Gross intake rate in grade 1 is the number of new entrants in the first grade of primary education regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population of the official primary entrance age."
• Services, etc., value added > % of GDP : Services, etc., value added (% of GDP). Services correspond to ISIC divisions 50-99 and they include value added in wholesale and retail trade (including hotels and restaurants), transport, and government, financial, professional, and personal services such as education, health care, and real estate services. Also included are imputed bank service charges, import duties, and any statistical discrepancies noted by national compilers as well as discrepancies arising from rescaling. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The industrial origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3. Note: For VAB countries, gross value added at factor cost is used as the denominator.
• Public spending on education, total > % of government expenditure : Public spending on education, total (% of government expenditure). Public expenditure on education as % of total government expenditure is the total public education expenditure (current and capital) expressed as a percentage of total government expenditure for all sectors in a given financial year. Public education expenditure includes government spending on educational institutions (both public and private), education administration, and subsidies for private entities (students/households and other privates entities).
• Unemployment with primary education, male > % of male unemployment : Unemployment with primary education, male (% of male unemployment). Unemployment by level of educational attainment shows the unemployed by level of educational attainment, as a percentage of the unemployed. The levels of educational attainment accord with the International Standard Classification of Education 1997 of the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO).
• Labor force with tertiary education, male > % of male labor force : Labor force with tertiary education, male (% of male labor force). Labor force with tertiary education is the proportion of labor force that has a tertiary education, as a percentage of the total labor force.
• Unemployment with tertiary education, female > % of female unemployment : Unemployment with tertiary education, female (% of female unemployment). Unemployment by level of educational attainment shows the unemployed by level of educational attainment, as a percentage of the unemployed. The levels of educational attainment accord with the International Standard Classification of Education 1997 of the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO).
• Unemployment with tertiary education, male > % of male unemployment : Unemployment with tertiary education, male (% of male unemployment). Unemployment by level of educational attainment shows the unemployed by level of educational attainment, as a percentage of the unemployed. The levels of educational attainment accord with the International Standard Classification of Education 1997 of the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO).
• School enrollment > Primary > Female > % gross : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.
• Primary education > Teachers > % female : Female teachers as a percentage of total primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.
• Proportion of primary education time spent learning arts : Intended instruction time spent studying arts, as a percentage of total intended instruction time for students 12 to 14 years of age. Data for 1999.
• Participation > School enrollment > Primary > Female > % net : Net enrollment ratio is the ratio of children of official school age based on the International Standard Classification of Education 1997 who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music."
• Government spending on education > % of government spending : Public expenditure on education consists of current and capital public expenditure on education includes government spending on educational institutions (both public and private), education administration as well as subsidies for private entities (students/households and other privates entities)."
• Participation > School enrollment > Primary > Female > % gross : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music."
• School enrollment, primary, private > % of total primary : School enrollment, primary, private (% of total primary). Percentage of private enrolment. Primary is the enrolment in private primary schools expressed as a percentage of total enrolment (public and private) in primary schools. 'Private' refers to all educational institutions not operated by a public authority, regardless of whether they receive financial support from public authorities. A high percentage indicates strong involvement of the non-governmental sector (including religious bodies, other organizations, associations, communities, private enterprises or persons) in providing organized educational programmes.
• Primary education, pupils > % female : Primary education, pupils (% female). Percentage of female students. Primary is the number of female students at the primary level expressed as a percentage of the total number of students (male and female) at the primary level in a given school year.
• School enrollment, primary, female > % gross : School enrollment, primary, female (% gross). Gross enrolment ratio. Primary. Female is the total female enrollment in primary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the female population of official primary education age. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.
• Primary completion rate, total > % of relevant age group : Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group). Primary completion rate. Total is the total number of new entrants in the last grade of primary education, regardless of age, expressed as percentage of the total population of the theoretical entrance age to the last grade of primary. This indicator is also known as "gross intake rate to the last grade of primary." The ratio can exceed 100% due to over-aged and under-aged children who enter primary school late/early and/or repeat grades.
• Gross intake ratio in first grade of primary education, female > % of relevant age group : Gross intake ratio in first grade of primary education, female (% of relevant age group). Gross intake ratio in first grade of primary education is the number of new entrants in the first grade of primary education regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population of the official primary entrance age.
• Secondary education, general pupils > % female : Secondary education, general pupils (% female). Percentage of female students. Total secondary. General programmes is the number of female students enrolled in general programmes at the secondary education level expressed as a percentage of the total number of students (male and female) enrolled in general programmes at the secondary education level in a given school year.
• Total enrollment, primary, male > % net : Total enrollment, primary, male (% net). Adjusted net enrollment is the number of pupils of the school-age group for primary education, enrolled either in primary or secondary education, expressed as a percentage of the total population in that age group.
• Labor force with primary education, female > % of female labor force : Labor force with primary education, female (% of female labor force). Labor force with primary education is the proportion of the labor force that has a primary education, as a percentage of the total labor force.
• Labor force with tertiary education > % of total : Labor force with tertiary education (% of total). Labor force with tertiary education is the proportion of labor force that has a tertiary education, as a percentage of the total labor force.
• Services, etc., value added > Current US$ per capita : Services, etc., value added (current US$). Services correspond to ISIC divisions 50-99. They include value added in wholesale and retail trade (including hotels and restaurants), transport, and government, financial, professional, and personal services such as education, health care, and real estate services. Also included are imputed bank service charges, import duties, and any statistical discrepancies noted by national compilers as well as discrepancies arising from rescaling. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The industrial origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
• Services, etc., value added > Current US$, % of GDP : Services, etc., value added (current US$). Services correspond to ISIC divisions 50-99. They include value added in wholesale and retail trade (including hotels and restaurants), transport, and government, financial, professional, and personal services such as education, health care, and real estate services. Also included are imputed bank service charges, import duties, and any statistical discrepancies noted by national compilers as well as discrepancies arising from rescaling. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The industrial origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed as a proportion of GDP for the same year
• Secondary education, vocational pupils per 1000 : Secondary education, vocational pupils. Enrolment in total secondary. Public and private. Technical/vocational programmes. Total is the total number of students enrolled in technical/vocational programmes at public and private secondary education institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Secondary education, teachers, female per 1000 : Secondary education, teachers, female. Teaching staff in total secondary. Public and private. Full and part-time. All programmes. Female is the total number of female teachers in public and private secondary education institutions (ISCED 2 and 3). Teachers are persons employed full time or part time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) and persons who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
• Participation > School enrollment > Preprimary > % gross : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment."
• Participation > School enrollment > Primary > % net : Net enrollment ratio is the ratio of children of official school age based on the International Standard Classification of Education 1997 who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music."
• Participation > School enrollment > Primary > Male > % gross : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music."
• Participation > School enrollment > Primary > Male > % net : Net enrollment ratio is the ratio of children of official school age based on the International Standard Classification of Education 1997 who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music."
• Participation > School enrollment > Primary > Private > % of total primary : Private enrollment refers to pupils or students enrolled in institutions that are not operated by a public authority but controlled and managed, whether for profit or not, by a private body such as a nongovernmental organisation, religious body, special interest group, foundation or business enterprise."
• Adjusted savings: education expenditure > % of GNI : Adjusted savings: education expenditure (% of GNI). Education expenditure refers to the current operating expenditures in education, including wages and salaries and excluding capital investments in buildings and equipment.
• Ratio of female to male tertiary enrollment > % : Ratio of female to male tertiary enrollment (%). Ratio of female to male tertiary enrollment is the percentage of men to women enrolled at tertiary level in public and private schools.
• Persistence to last grade of primary, total > % of cohort : Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort). Survival rate to last grade of primary. Total is the share of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary. The estimate is calculated on the basis of the reconstructed cohort method, which uses data on enrolment and repeaters for two consecutive years.
• School enrollment > Secondary > Female > % gross : Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.
• School enrollment, primary, male > % net : School enrollment, primary, male (% net). Net enrolment rate. Primary. Male is the ratio of male children of the official primary school age who are enrolled in primary school to the male population of the official primary school age.
• Persistence to last grade of primary, female > % of cohort : Persistence to last grade of primary, female (% of cohort). Survival rate to last grade of primary. Female is the share of female children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary. The estimate is calculated on the basis of the reconstructed cohort method, which uses data on enrolment and repeaters for two consecutive years.
• Repeaters, primary, male > % of male enrollment : Repeaters, primary, male (% of male enrollment). Percentage of repeaters in primary. All grades. Male is the number of male students enrolled in the same grade as in the previous year, as a percentage of all male students enrolled in primary school. It is calculated by dividing the sum of male repeaters in all grades of primary education by the total male enrolment of primary education and multiplying the result by 100.

SOURCES: UNESCO Institute for Statistics; UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling_international_status_and_statistics; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; World Development Indicators database ; UNESCO; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; Source: UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; World Bank staff estimates using data from the United Nations Statistics Division's Statistical Yearbook, and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics online database.; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; Wikipedia: List of countries by student performance (Reading) ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; United Nations Statistics Division . Source tables ; United Nations Statistics Division . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; Source: UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: List of World Organization of the Scout Movement members (Table of World Organization of the Scout Movement members) ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; United Nations Development Programme . Source tables ; The Times, 2005 ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables . Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Development Indicators database . Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; "Efficiency and Equity in Schools around the World" by Eric A. Hanushek and Javier A. Luque, April 2002; World Bank national accounts data . Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; UNESCO Institute for Statistics . Source tables ; World Bank national accounts data ; The Times, 2005 . Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; UNESCO Institute of Statistics ; "WOSM MEMBERSHIP as at 31st December 2012". World Organization of the Scout Movement . August 2013.; United Nations Statistics Division . Source tables ; Wikipedia: List of World Organization of the Scout Movement members (Table of World Organization of the Scout Movement members) ( "WOSM MEMBERSHIP as at 31st December 2012" . World Organization of the Scout Movement . Retrieved 2014-03-03 . ). Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; "Efficiency and Equity in Schools around the World" by Eric A. Hanushek and Javier A. Luque, April 2002. Population figures from World Bank : (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: International Mathematical Olympiad ; International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.; World Bank national accounts data . GDP figures sourced from World Bank national accounts data , and OECD National Accounts data files.; World Bank staff estimates ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.

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Compare russia and united states in.

Factoid #72

• Over the years,  Africa  has had some of the worst literacy rates on Earth; up to 50% of the population is illiterate in some countries.

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• Society ›

Education & Science

Education in Russia - statistics & facts

General education in russia, higher education in russia, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Government spending on education as a GDP share in Russia 2010-2022

Number of universities worldwide in 2023, by country

Education Index - comparison of selected countries 2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Government spending on education in Russia 2022, by level

Number of higher education students in Russia 2010-2022

Educational Institutions & Market

Highest earning EdTech platforms in Russia 2023

Further recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic Number of universities worldwide in 2023, by country
• Premium Statistic Leading countries by R&D spending worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Top host destination of international students worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic International student share of higher-ed population worldwide in 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Field of study of international students worldwide 2022, by country
• Basic Statistic Pupil-teacher ratio in Russia 2022, by education level
• Premium Statistic Supplementary professional education market size in Russia 2017-2022

Estimated number of universities worldwide as of July 2023, by country

Leading countries by R&D spending worldwide 2022

Leading countries by gross research and development (R&D) expenditure worldwide in 2022 (in billion PPP U.S. dollars)

Top host destination of international students worldwide 2022

Top host destination of international students worldwide in 2022, by number of students

International student share of higher-ed population worldwide in 2022, by country

Countries with the largest amount of international students as a share of the total higher education population in 2022

Field of study of international students worldwide 2022, by country

Field of study of international students worldwide in 2022, by country

Pupil-teacher ratio in Russia 2022, by education level

Average number of students per teacher in Russia in 2022, by educational stage

Supplementary professional education market size in Russia 2017-2022

Market volume of supplementary professional education in Russia from 2017 to 2022 (in million academic hours)

Education spending

• Basic Statistic Spending on education in Russia 2019-2022, by source
• Basic Statistic Government spending on education as a GDP share in Russia 2010-2022
• Basic Statistic Government spending on education in Russia 2022, by level
• Basic Statistic Public education spending per student in Russia 2022, by segment
• Basic Statistic Average consumer prices on education services in Russia 2022

Spending on education in Russia 2019-2022, by source

Education spending in Russia from 2019 to 2022, by source (in billion Russian rubles)

Share of government expenditure on education in gross domestic product (GDP) in Russia from 2010 to 2022

Government expenditure on education in Russia in 2022, by segment (in billion Russian rubles)

Public education spending per student in Russia 2022, by segment

Government expenditure on education per student in Russia in 2022, by stage (in 1,000 Russian rubles)

Average consumer prices on education services in Russia 2022

Average consumer prices on selected types of education services in Russia in 2022 (in Russian rubles)

Preschool & general education

• Premium Statistic Children enrolled in preschool education in Russia 2015-2022
• Basic Statistic Share of children enrolled in preschool education in Russia 2022, by region
• Basic Statistic Number of school students in Russia 2022/2023, by educational stage
• Basic Statistic Number of school students in Russia 2015-2022, by type of area
• Basic Statistic General education institution count in Russia 2014-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of village schools in Russia 2010-2022, by ownership
• Basic Statistic Leading schools in Russia 2022, by graduate competitiveness
• Basic Statistic Unified State Exam average score in Russia 2022, by subject
• Basic Statistic Unified State Exam participants in Russia 2022, by subject
• Basic Statistic Attitude toward the Unified State Exam in Russia 2009-2023

Children enrolled in preschool education in Russia 2015-2022

Number of children enrolled in preschool institutions in Russia from 2015 to 2022 (in millions)

Share of children enrolled in preschool education in Russia 2022, by region

Number of children enrolled in preschool education institutions as a share of total children aged 1-6 years in Russia in 2022, by federal district

Number of school students in Russia 2022/2023, by educational stage

Number of students enrolled in general education institutions in Russia as of the beginning of school year 2022/2023, by stage (in 1,000s)

Number of school students in Russia 2015-2022, by type of area

Number of students in state (municipal) schools in Russia from school year 2015/2016 to 2022/2023, by type of area (in millions)

General education institution count in Russia 2014-2022

Number of primary, basic general, and general secondary education institutions in Russia from school year 2014/2015 to 2022/2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of village schools in Russia 2010-2022, by ownership

Number of state (municipal) and private schools in rural areas in Russia from school year 2010/2011 to 2022/2023

Leading schools in Russia 2022, by graduate competitiveness

Ranking of secondary schools in Russia in 2022, by graduate competitiveness (in points)

Unified State Exam average score in Russia 2022, by subject

Average score in the Unified State Exam achieved by high school graduates in Russia in 2022, by subject (in points)

Unified State Exam participants in Russia 2022, by subject

Number of high school graduates taking the Unified State Exam in Russia in 2022, by subject (in 1,000s)

Attitude toward the Unified State Exam in Russia 2009-2023

What is your opinion on the modern schoolchildren's certification system, the Unified State Exam?

Vocational & higher education

• Basic Statistic Vocational education student count in Russia 2016-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of higher education students in Russia 2010-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of university students in Russia 2014-2022, by degree
• Basic Statistic Number of university students in Russia 2022, by gender and age
• Basic Statistic University graduates employed in their field in Russia 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Employed university graduates in Russia 2022, by sector & field of study
• Premium Statistic Number of doctoral students in Russia 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic University admission share in Russia 2010-2022, by funding type
• Basic Statistic Leading Russian universities by QS ranking 2024

Vocational education student count in Russia 2016-2023

Number of students enrolled in vocational education programs in Russia from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of students enrolled in higher education in Russia from 2010 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of university students in Russia 2014-2022, by degree

Number of students enrolled in higher education institutions in Russia from academic year 2014/2015 to 2022/2023, by degree (in 1,000s)

Number of university students in Russia 2022, by gender and age

Number of higher education students in Russia in academic year 2022/2023, by age and gender

University graduates employed in their field in Russia 2019-2022

Number of university graduates working and not working in their field of study in Russia from 2019 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Employed university graduates in Russia 2022, by sector & field of study

Number of university graduates from 2019 to 2021 who were employed in Russia in 2022, by sector and field of study (in 1,000s)

Number of doctoral students in Russia 2019-2023

Number of doctoral students in Russia from 2019 to 2023

University admission share in Russia 2010-2022, by funding type

Distribution of admissions into higher education institutions in Russia from school year 2010/2011 to 2022/2023, by tuition funding type

Leading Russian universities by QS ranking 2024

Leading universities in Russia by rank in the QS World University Rankings 2024

Teaching personnel

• Basic Statistic Education employment in Russia 2023, by segment
• Basic Statistic Number of teachers in Russia 2022, by educational stage
• Basic Statistic School teacher count in Russia 2022, by specialization
• Basic Statistic University employee age distribution in Russia 2022, by position
• Basic Statistic Monthly salary of teachers in Russia 2022, by education segment

Education employment in Russia 2023, by segment

Number of employees in the education sector in Russia in the academic year 2022/2023, by segment (n 1,000s)

Number of teachers in Russia 2022, by educational stage

Number of teaching personnel in education system in Russia in 2022, by segment (n 1,000s)

School teacher count in Russia 2022, by specialization

Number of school teachers in schools in Russia in school year 2022/2023, by specialization

University employee age distribution in Russia 2022, by position

Distribution of higher education employees in Russia in school year 2022/2023, by age group and position

Monthly salary of teachers in Russia 2022, by education segment

Average monthly salary of teaching personnel in Russia in 2022, by educational stage (In Russian rubles)

• Premium Statistic Online education revenue in Russia 2018-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Online education users in Russia 2018-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Highest earning EdTech platforms in Russia 2023
• Premium Statistic Most visited online education platforms in Russia 2023
• Premium Statistic Most visited educational websites in Russia 2023

Online education revenue in Russia 2018-2028, by segment

Revenue of online education in Russia from 2018 to 2028, by segment (in million U.S. dollars)

Online education users in Russia 2018-2028, by segment

Number of users of online education in Russia from 2018 to 2028, by segment (in millions)

Leading EdTech platforms in Russia in 4th quarter 2023, by revenue (in billion Russian rubles)

Most visited online education platforms in Russia 2023

Leading online education platforms in Russia in August 2023, by monthly visits (in millions)

Most visited educational websites in Russia 2023

Leading educational websites in Russia in August 2023, by monthly visits (in millions)

Further reports

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