The Russian Federation or simply known as Russia is a country home to many great names and a land of rich history and natural beauty. Students who wish to study in Russia will be welcomed by its charming landscapes from the many lakes in Russia, to the forest that covers approximately 40% of the country. With its large population, being the world’s fifth-largest population, there can be a shortage of medical health workers. That is why studying nursing in Russia can be a great opportunity if you wish to pursue a career in nursing in Russia.

Getting a nursing degree in the country involves these simple steps: choose a university, prepare your finances or get scholarships, meet the entry requirements, undergo competitive selection, get an invitation letter from the university, and obtain a student visa. If you want to learn more about the detailed steps in studying nursing in Russia, continue reading below to find out.

1. Gather Information on Becoming a Nurse in Russia

Nursing education in Russia is similar to international education standards. To obtain a nursing license, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing which is completed in four years full-time. It includes all basic disciplines such as nursing basics, nursing theory, public health, nursing management, psychiatry, and many more. The language curriculum is in Russian, so it is best to learn the language before applying and studying nursing in Russia. If you wish to study an English-medium course, you can expect to find one for post-graduate degrees and other specialized nursing courses.

2. Know What Nursing Programs are Offered at Russian Universities

Most universities offer a bachelor’s degree program and only a few offer post-graduate degrees. For example, if you want to complete a bachelor’s degree, you can obtain it at First Moscow State Medical University and RUDN University. The course is taken for four years and studied in the Russian curriculum. For higher education or post-graduate degrees, Pavlov University and Samara State Medical University offer various specialized nursing programs that are either in English or Russian.

3. Gather Information about Russian Universities

Bearing in mind multiple layers of consideration, nursing schools should be carefully picked and researched thoroughly before you decide to study nursing in Russia. If you are looking for a nursing school based on location, you can find yourself looking to a few institutions offering the program. You have to decide why you want to live in a certain part of Russia. As commonly known, some places can be more expensive than others and the lifestyle can vary per location. Depending on your preferences, this can be easily decided once you know your reasons for choosing a location.

Aside from determining your preferred location, the type of institution is also another factor when researching a nursing school. Whether you are looking for a university, college, or any training institution, it highly matters as the cost of tuition is connected to these and how you would choose a nursing school. It is generally common that universities are more costly than small institutions. Your budget on location and cost of tuition are among the deciding factors in choosing a nursing school. If the budget is out of the question, then you can easily choose any nursing school you like.

Lastly, always research the school’s ratings. It would be good to know if the nursing school you are applying for has a good stand and reputation in the nursing field. Although not always, most employers can base their decisions on hiring you depending on the school and its curriculum. Nursing is a promising career that involves saving lives. Without proper training from a good school, your career can be on the line.

Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students

4. Fulfill the English Requirements in Russia

Most nursing schools offer the program in the Russian curriculum. If you want to study nursing in Russia in English, you can expect to find an English-medium course for post-graduate degrees or higher education courses. As expected, you must learn Russian to complete and obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing successfully. Although not specifically stated in the course requirements, it is a must to learn Russian to fully grasp the lessons.

5. Fulfill the Russian Requirements

Most nursing schools’ websites do not indicate the level of Russian proficiency needed. However, most of these institutions have preparatory training targeted at foreign nationals studying a course in Russian. It is a Russian language preparatory course to help students further understand subjects such as chemistry, science, math, and many more. Some examples of universities offering a language preparatory course are RUDN University.

6. Prepare to Meet the Cost of Tuition

Meeting the course requirements can be a breeze. A part of this step is taking into account the costs you will incur by studying nursing in Russia. The cost of tuition and your daily expenses are two things to keep in mind when choosing a nursing school. Thus, it is necessary to fully prepare yourself and fill up your bank account with enough money to support yourself. This is a requirement not stated on the websites but it will surely be asked when applying for a visa.

The cost of a nursing degree in each school is not far from different. To give an overview of the cost per year, here is an example from Sechenov University. The breakdown for each year for a full-time nursing degree is for the first year it costs RUB 242,000, the second year is RUB 255,000, the third year is RUB 268,000, and the fourth year is RUB 282,000. Aside from the cost of tuition, you should also take into consideration the cost of living depending on where you choose to study.

7. Prepare to Apply

When you have researched enough and are ready with your finances for studying nursing in Russia, you can prepare your application right away. Head on to the school’s website and carefully read the necessary entry requirements and documents for submission. Russian nursing schools have a similar application process and requirements. For example, at First Moscow State Medical University, they require a secondary school certificate with no specific grades needed and must have studied biology, chemistry, and physics. Moreover, they require a completed Application Form and a scanned copy of your passport or ID.

As mentioned, not all schools have the same requirements. For instance, at RUDN University, they require a secondary school certificate, scanned copy of passport, consent to the processing of personal data, a copy of the medical report on the absence of contraindications for training in the Russian Federation, and the absence of HIV and AIDS and a photo. Lastly, keep in mind that all documents are required to be translated into Russian and notarized.

8. Submit your Application

The application process is quite simple. First, gather your documents and submit them and then wait for a letter of acceptance from the nursing school. For a more detailed process, here is an example from Irkutsk State Medical University. First, send your application online along with your documents. Afterward, the school will review your application to see if you are qualified to study nursing in Russia. You will be notified by the school if you are accepted or rejected from the program. If you get lucky, you can expect an admission confirmation letter from the nursing school in one business day.

After receiving an acceptance letter, you can then apply for an invitation letter. An invitation letter is needed as part of the requirements for getting a visa. To get an invitation letter, you have to send your application form, a copy of your passport, a copy of the school certificate with subject details, and pay for the cost of the invitation letter and the cost of the courier. These can be sent via email or fax. For the last step, you can apply for a student visa once you receive the invitation letter.

9. Once You Get Accepted, Prepare for Student Visa

The last step is getting a student visa. Once you obtain an invitation letter, you can apply for a student visa. The requirements vary depending on nationality. You can check the Russian embassy in your country to learn more about the specific requirements. Generally, you need a filled-out application form, original invitation letter, original passport (valid for two years), a legalized or stamped Apostille higher secondary school certificate, health fitness certificate, a medical certificate indicating a negative Aids/HIV result, and two passport size photos.

 

We hope that this article on how to study nursing in Russia was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Programs in Europe for International Students to know more information!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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