Degrees from Russian universities are rated high in many countries across the world, including Malaysia. Following are the guidelines to enter a prestigious Russian university and learn an in-demand profession.
The Soviet Union and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1967, and have maintained contacts in various fields since, including education. Many Malaysian students enrol in medical programmes at Russian universities. Medical practice is one of the most prestigious occupations in Malaysia; Russian universities offer quality education in various areas of medicine. The Malaysian Medical Council recognises degrees from several Russian medical universities including I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (MGMU). It means the graduate can immediately begin to practice medicine upon returning to their homeland. Prior to starting the career they have to register at the Malaysian Medical Council1. If the university is not on the list2, the graduate has to complete the degree recognition procedure and take the qualification examination in Malaysia.
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Malaysians also choose engineering fields and humanities, for example applied geology, mining, oil and gasfield development, geodesy and language studies. Malaysian applicants can enrol in undergraduate, specialist, graduate, medical internship and PhD programmes provided they have the appropriate education level recognised in the Russian Federation.
To attract prospective Malaysian students, Russian universities hold education fairs, academic competitions and other events. The Russian Science and Culture Centre in Kuala Lumpur arranges education fairs every year to offer information on fields of study and admission requirements at Russian universities and supply useful tips. Its personnel meet with prospective students over the year to highlight the opportunities to get higher education in Russia.
Russian universities cooperate with Malaysian education centres. For example, Ural Federal University has partnership agreements with Technological University of Malaysia, University Utara and Petronas University of Technology. The partners implement joint short programmes, exchange students and conduct joint research. Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University implements a joint exchange programme with Petronas University of Technology for oil and gas field development students.
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Tuition fees in Russia
Education in Russia has many advantages such as a large number of professions to choose from, English medium programmes and affordable fees compared with European or American universities.
If you want to be a doctor, you have to enrol for full-time study whose length depends on the chosen specialty. For example, it takes four years to complete the programme in Nursing Care. Tuition fee is 150,000 rubles ($2,500) to 200,000 rubles (3,330) a year. Other medical professions require five or six years of study on specialist's degree programmes. The dentistry programme length of study is five years. Tuition fee ranges from 218,400 rubles ($3,640) to 520,000 rubles ($8,670) a year. Length of study on other tracks such as pediatrics, pharmacy, medical care is at least six years. Tuition fees vary from 84,000 rubles ($1,400) to 530,000 rubles ($8,830) a year.
If a student seeks a narrow area of expertise and wants to be a surgeon, gynaecologist, oncologist, otolaryngologist, they must take a medical internship course. Tuition fee ranges from 242,000 rubles ($4,030) to 600,000 rubles ($10,000) a year.
The undergraduate programme in oil and gas field development costs 98,000 rubles ($1,630) to 200,000 rubles ($3,330) a year, tuition fee for the graduate programme ranges from 220,800 ($3,680) to 490,000 rubles ($8,170) a year and for the PhD programme from 112,224 rubles ($1,870) to 305,000 rubles ($5,080) a year.
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The cost of undergraduate programmes in philology varies between 92,393 rubles ($1,540) and 350,000 rubles ($5,830) a year; the graduate programme fee ranges from 100,000 rubles ($1,670) to 320,000 rubles ($5,330) a year, and PhD programme fees amounts to 79,780 rubles ($1,330) to 290,000 rubles ($4,830) a year.
These are reference prices; the final fee depends on the mode of study, university, region and other factors. To find out the precise cost, examine the list of education programmes offered by prestigious Russian universities. You can also send an enquiry directly to the chosen university from our website after completing registration. To register, follow the link to sign into the website, fill out the questionnaire and send your question to the university. University representatives will reply to you within ten workdays.
Scholarship options
The most talented and well-prepared Malaysian applicants can try to win free tuition at a Russian university using one of the following options. They can take part in international Olympiads held by Russian universities. There are many academic competitions in various disciplines such as physics, chemistry, computer science, Russian etc. Both online and onsite Olympiads are arranged. Incentives for participants vary from extra points to admission without examinations.
Tuition free education in Russia is also available for government quota (scholarship students); candidates are selected by representatives of the the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). Kuala Lumpur is the annual venue of International Olympiad in chemistry and biology organised by Rossotrudnichestvo and I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University to identify talented prospective medical students. The winners are entitled to admission without examinations.
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Language of instruction
Russian universities offer Russian and English medium programmes. Before enrolling in a Russian-taught programme make sure your language proficiency level is sufficient. If you have doubts concerning your language skills take a course at Russian universities or join a summer/winter school in Russian. You can also apply to the Preparatory Department which is available at any university. Its advantage is that aside from language learning, you will study profession-oriented disciplines which will make your enrolment in a major easier. You can select an English-taught programme, too; however, learning basic Russian is strongly recommended as you will find it useful in everyday life.
Document requirements
Prospective Malaysian students have to submit their ID with a notarised translation into Russian, an education certificate with a document acknowledging its recognition in Russia, and a medical certificate. Contact the university for details because document requirements differ across universities. You can send your enquiries from studyinrussia.ru after signing into the website.
Legalisation of education documents
All education documents issued in Malaysia, from secondary education certificates to academic degrees have to be legalised at the consulate department of the Russian Embassy in Malaysia. These documents need preliminary legalisation at the consulate department of the Malaysian Foreign Ministry. Also, prospective students have to complete the education and/or qualifications recognition procedure in the Russian Federation. On arrival in the Russian Federation for the purpose of studying at the university, a foreign citizen must send his/her education certificates to the Main State Expert Centre for Education Estimation (Glavexpertcentre) for the procedure of recognition and equivalence assessment. Some Russian universities have the right to recognise education certificates issued in other countries, so this matter can be settled with their representatives. Among these universities are Ural Federal University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Higher School of Economics, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, ITMO National Research University, Far Eastern Federal University and South Ural State University.
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Russian university degree certificates must be legalised before leaving the country. The graduate has to attest the document at the consulate department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The document is then legalised at the consulate department of the Malaysian Embassy in Moscow. A Russian university graduate has to complete these mandatory procedures before showing his degree certificate in their country.
Russia entry rules for Malaysian nationals
A Malaysian applicant needs a student visa to enter Russia. Contact the Russian Embassy in Malaysia at 263 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur over visa information. You can get a student visa if you have an invitation from a Russian university or study placement by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. An applicant has to register with Russian migration authorities within seven days from the date of arrival in the country; assistance in registration is provided by university staff.
