So, before answering the question of how to enter graduate school, let's first think about why to do this. After all, not all postgraduate students defend diplomas after training. Moreover, the statistician cites inexorable facts: only one out of six graduate students defends their dissertation right away. Many complete their PhD within the next three to five years. But there are those who graduated from graduate school, but never acquired a degree.
For some, to be honest, an extra three years of study is an opportunity not to go to serve in the army or to delay time in order to decide on a future job. Someone is just used to learning and wants to get even more knowledge. Someone needs to save a place in the capital's hostel.
But if you really dream of a scientific career, you are attracted by research and writing scientific articles, then you should seriously think about where to go to graduate school so that training brings maximum benefit and pleasure.
Requirements have become tougher
To date, the form of postgraduate education has changed for the better. For better training, some toughening methods have been undertaken. For example, high school is gradually abolishing the application process. Representatives of higher education believe that this type of education does not quite meet the modern requirements of science. Also, the correspondence form of postgraduate education is being gradually eliminated as it is not effective enough.
Who can become a graduate student?
How to get into graduate school? To begin with, you must have a completed higher education. Young people up to 35 years old are admitted to graduate school. At the same time, you can apply immediately after graduation, or after working at an enterprise or institution for at least two years in the specialty you have received.
If you enter immediately after the university, then attach to your application an extract from the protocol of the Academic Council of the university where you defended your diploma. If there is no such extract, you can limit yourself to the recommendations of your department.
Graduates of foreign universities can also apply for postgraduate studies. To do this, they only need to provide a notarized certificate that the education received meets the requirements of the selection committee.
Required documents
Is it difficult to get into graduate school? If you have solid knowledge and strong self-confidence, then this is a fairly easy process. The main thing at the same time is to collect the package of documents necessary for admission.
In addition to the recommendation or extract from the Academic Council, you will also have to provide an abstract on the chosen specialty, which should contain a review of the supervisor. Instead of this abstract, you can provide your scientific papers, if they are available and have been published.
You will also be required to:
- A copy of your higher education diploma.
- A copy of the diploma insert.
- If you do not act immediately, but after working at the enterprise, you must prepare a personal sheet from the personnel department.
- For workers, a characteristic from the place of work will be required.
- Three 3 x 4 photos and one 4 x 5 photo.
- Topic and substantiation of the dissertation.
In addition, you must submit an autobiography and a medical certificate of the established form.
After checking all the documents, if there are no questions, you will be admitted to the exams.
Simplified Requirements
Is it possible to enter graduate school without exams? Yes, this opportunity is provided to some candidates and this form is called a job seeker. You must be affiliated with a specific scientific institution or organization. In this case, you can prepare your dissertation without postgraduate study.
Know a foreign language and be a philosopher
When applying to graduate school, you will need to pass exams in some subjects. These are history, philosophy, a foreign language and a profile subject in specialization. It should be noted that the philosophy for applicants to graduate school is quite voluminous and complex, so look in advance on the website of the university of your choice, what questions you can expect. It happens that the list of topics in this subject is much wider than you studied it at your university.
The same applies to other disciplines.
Issue price
And one more question is of great interest to future graduate students - money. Will I need to pay for my education?
Here, much depends on the number of vacancies in a particular university. For example, it is rather problematic to enroll in graduate school in Moscow on a free basis, because Moscow universities have a high rating, and there are much more people who want to defend themselves in the capital of Russia than in the provinces.
Pay attention to this fact and calculate your material possibilities. On average, the cost of postgraduate education in Moscow today fluctuates between 70,000 and 80,000 rubles a year. The amount is considerable.
Given the fact that many universities today are refusing part-time education, in which it was possible to earn extra money, think about it, will you pull three years of study? Are there enough resources? It would be a shame to interrupt training in the middle or at the very end of the process just because the money ran out.
Huge pressure
Do not think that a graduate student is a person who is all about science, and his only goal is to defend a dissertation. Any graduate student, especially if he is a full-time student, has a lot of obligations. This includes attending classes, participating in scientific conferences and colloquia, and teaching workload: you may be required to conduct seminars for students.
In addition, during the training, each graduate student must prepare and publish a certain number of scientific papers.
And also periodically submit reports to your teacher on the work done. And at the same time, do not forget about the most important thing - to gradually prepare your main essay: a dissertation!
Why study for three more years?
Of course, any person who builds his future with a perspective, before answering the question of how to enter graduate school, must understand that new knowledge and a scientific degree will make his career more interesting.
If you have the skills to teach, then, of course, you need to defend your degree and go further in order to know much more of your students and students.
For many professionals, especially technical professionals, having a degree is very important for career advancement. In some large companies, especially those related to science, technology, and production, it is difficult to take a high management position without a defended dissertation.
It is these moments that are the main motive for those entering graduate school.
But do not forget also that any science should have practical application in our life. So try to make the topic of your future dissertation not only interesting, but also beneficial to ordinary consumers. How to get into graduate school? Easier than simple, if there is a goal and a great desire!
Attention! Due to the large number of applications, the processing time for applications has increased. All applications submitted before 18:00 March 13 will be processed.
First stream: from December 2, 2019 to March 13, 2020 (until 18.00 Moscow time).
Submission of documents in person
Document submission deadlines-2020
HSE — Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg:
First stream: from December 2, 2019 to March 13, 2020 (until 18.00 Moscow time).
Second stream: from August 3, 2020 to September 15, 2020 (until 18.00 Moscow time).
List of documents
A document proving the identity and citizenship of the applicant.
The original or a copy of the document on education and qualifications (master's or specialist) (provided no later than the deadlines established by the Admission Rules).
Two photographs of the applicant (3×4).
Information about the intention to pass the entrance examinations in English.
A document confirming limited health or disability (if available).
Copies of documents confirming belonging to compatriots (if any).
Foreign citizens who enter training on the basis of international treaties also submit documents confirming their assignment to the number of persons specified in the relevant international treaties.
Applicants to graduate school have the right to provide documents confirming the receipt of the results of individual achievements.
The list of individual achievements taken into account when applying for training, the list of documents confirming the receipt of the results of individual achievements, the procedure for accounting for individual achievements for each competition are given in
Submission of documents by mail
Applicants to the Postgraduate School have the right to send an application for admission to study and documents through public postal operators (by mail) by mail with a return receipt and a description of the attachment to the Admissions Committee. The notification and inventory of the attachment are the basis for confirming the acceptance of the applicant's documents.
For applicants to the HSE Postgraduate Program (Moscow), the address of the Admission Committee: 101000, Moscow, Myasnitskaya st., 20, Higher School of Economics, Office of Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies.
The applicant must notify the Admissions Committee about sending documents by e-mail ().
For applicants to the PhD program of the National Research University Higher School of Economics—Nizhny Novgorod, the address of the Admissions Office: 603155, Nizhny Novgorod, Bolshaya Pecherskaya st.
Applicants to the PhD program must notify the Postgraduate Department of the National Research University Higher School of Economics - Nizhny Novgorod about sending documents by e-mail ( [email protected]).
For applicants to the HSE Postgraduate Program—St. Petersburg, the address of the Admission Committee: 190008, St. Petersburg, st. Union Pechatnikov, 16, National Research University Higher School of Economics—St. Petersburg, Student Admissions Department.
Applicants must notify the HSE Admissions Department—St. Petersburg about sending documents by e-mail ( [email protected]).
Documents sent by mail are accepted by the Higher School of Economics upon their receipt no later than the deadline for the acceptance of documents established by clause 2.2 of the Rules.
In case of submission of an incomplete set of documents, the discovery of the fact of submission of false documents and (or) non-compliance of the submitted documents with the requirements established by the Rules, HSE returns the documents to the applicant
Applicants to the Postgraduate School have the right to withdraw the submitted documents at any stage of admission to study by submitting an application for the withdrawal of documents. Persons who withdraw the submitted documents are eliminated from the competition. The organization returns the documents to the specified persons.
Admission to graduate school should be preceded by a clear understanding that graduate school is a form of postgraduate education designed to form the composition (teaching, scientific) for working in higher educational (scientific) institutions.
Each applicant must critically assess their own inclinations, answering for themselves the question related to the advisability of entering graduate school and the willingness to stay for several years as a graduate student.
How is admission to graduate school
According to the 125th Federal Law of December 13, 2011, which regulates relations in the field of higher and postgraduate professional education, a person who has a higher professional education and is studying in graduate school can act as a graduate student, while simultaneously preparing a dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Sciences.
Thus, citizens of the Russian Federation with higher education can enter graduate school.
Admission is carried out on a competitive basis. For applicants wishing to enroll in full-time postgraduate study, there are age restrictions - up to 35 years. For part-time education, this period will be longer by five years, i.e. up to 40 years.
What are the requirements for admission to the budget
The budget form of education assumes the presence of two possibilities for admission:
- immediately after graduating from a higher educational institution and receiving a diploma;
- after acquiring practical work experience related to the profile of the chosen specialty.
Additional requirements are set for each of the two possibilities. In the first case, this is the presence of creative results in research work and recommendations for admission, presented by the academic council (department) of the institution. The latter can be presented both to the postgraduate study of the university itself, where the student studied, and to that of another higher educational institution in accordance with the profile of the performed scientific research.
As for work experience, it should cover at least two years of work in the specialty profile. The general period of study is from 3 (full-time) to 4 years (correspondence).
What documents are required
Persons who meet the above requirements and have submitted an application for admission to postgraduate studies can receive admission to entrance examinations for a budgetary form of education.
Copies and originals of the following documents are attached to the application:
- a diploma certifying the receipt of vocational education, plus annexes to it (copies);
- autobiography;
- recommendations (characteristics) from the place of work or an extract made from the minutes of the meeting of the academic council of the institution for those persons who will be recommended to graduate school immediately after graduation;
- work book and personal sheet (personnel records) issued at the place of employment (copies if documents are available);
- medical certificate;
- certificate confirming the passing of candidate examinations - if available;
- a list of scientific papers that were previously published in the specialty - if available;
- an abstract on a topic related to the proposed research, plus a review by the supervisor;
- two standard 3x4 photos.
Graduates of foreign universities, including citizens of the CIS member states, additionally provide a translation of the diploma and its notarized copy; a copy of the certificate of equivalence established in relation to the document of a foreign state on the formation of that of the Russian Federation.
Admission to the entrance exams is issued by the admissions committee after reviewing the submitted documents and studying the abstract (published works) by the department.
What entrance exams are taken on a budget
All applicants for free postgraduate studies must pass competitive entrance examinations to test knowledge in a special discipline; foreign language (required when performing a dissertation research); history of science/philosophy.
More information about the programs of entrance exams and exam tickets can be found on the official websites of selected universities. Upon successful completion of the candidate's examinations in foreign language and philosophy, applicants may be exempted from the relevant entrance examinations for postgraduate studies.
The decision related to admission to graduate school on a budget is made by the admissions committee, taking into account the number of places and, of course, the results of entrance exams.
Applicants who have been admitted to the postgraduate examinations are provided with vacations lasting one month. At the same time, the average wage at the main place of work is maintained.
Simplified requirements or application
Without exams, those applicants who are attached to any scientific institution (organization) can enter graduate school. In this case, the preparation of a dissertation does not require postgraduate studies. This form of learning is called job seeking.
Admission on a contractual basis
Paid postgraduate education involves passing an interview or passing entrance exams. Extended information on the contractual form of education, including its cost, you can find on the portals of universities. In Moscow, this amount today can reach 70 thousand rubles a year.
The question of how to enter graduate school is usually relevant for university graduates who have received a diploma of higher education (with an average score of at least 4.5) and a specialist or master's qualification. Those who enter graduate school are mainly those who aspire to scientific activity and teaching in higher education. Full-time education is designed for three years, part-time - for four.
Conditions for admission to graduate school
With a diploma of higher education, anyone has the right to enter graduate school. The easiest way to study will be given to those who have experience in student research work and the defense of a graduation project. When approbating a diploma (writing articles on the topic of research, speaking with scientific reports at conferences), the necessary skills are acquired for future postgraduate research activities.
The path of a graduate student is not easy! The most persistent and hardworking students succeed in defending their Ph.D. thesis immediately after graduating.
For many, admission to graduate school does not end with a successful defense after the end of the prescribed three years of study, but stretches out for almost five years. According to statistics, only one out of five graduate students defends within the time limits set by the plan. Therefore, along with the topical question of how to enter graduate school, it is necessary to ask the question of how to defend a dissertation in time.
Postgraduate Student Responsibilities
Attention!The defense of a dissertation is not the only task that a graduate student must complete.
Postgraduate responsibilities include:
- daily attendance;
- writing a certain number of scientific articles on the topic of their research;
- presentations at scientific conferences and seminars;
- consultations with the supervisor.
In the third year of study, an internship is provided, within which a third-year graduate student must conduct classes in student classrooms. At the end of each semester, at a meeting of the profiling department in the presence of all members of the department and the supervisor, a postgraduate student is assessed with the acceptance of his report on the work done.
With all this, one should not forget about the main goal - writing a dissertation work, because. it is she who is the result of three years of study.
After a successful defense, the dissertation student is awarded the degree of Candidate of Sciences. If you have not changed your mind about applying, then you can prepare a package of documents.
Documents for admission to graduate school
So, we have an applicant with good basic training, confident in his abilities and aimed at a scientific career.
It is important to know!What documents do you need to prepare for admission to graduate school.
The list of documents is as follows:
- application for admission to graduate school;
- autobiography;
- a certified copy of a higher education diploma;
- a certified copy of the diploma insert;
- a certified copy of the work book (if any);
- characteristics from the place of work (for employees);
- photo 3x4 (3 pcs.);
- medical certificate of the established form;
- substantiation of the relevance of the dissertation work;
- abstract within the specialty;
- a list of scientific papers signed by the supervisor;
Postgraduate entrance exams
After receiving the documents, the applicant must pass three exams: in the specialty, philosophy and a foreign language. A good command of English will help the future graduate student independently compile annotations to his scientific publications, will allow him to read new literature in the original language.
Questions for exams should be taken care of in advance in order to have enough time for quality preparation.
The examination program can be personally taken from the methodologist of the postgraduate department or downloaded from the website of the university where you are applying. The examination committee usually consists of three teachers and a secretary, two questions are asked on the ticket. After passing the entrance exams, you will have to patiently wait for the results. Enrollment is carried out on the condition that the applicant has completed everything that is necessary for admission to graduate school. Do not be upset if the competition is not passed: you can try again in a year or draw up a contract. Use all possibilities.
How to get into graduate school on a budget
Admission to the budgetary form of education is carried out on a competitive basis, according to the submitted documents and the rating of points scored in the entrance exams. The higher the rating, the more chances to pass on the budget.
Masters who have just graduated from a university and teachers with at least two to three years of experience in their specialty can apply for a budget form of education.
This is a full-time study with a separation from the place of work. Correspondence education most often involves a contract form of education without leaving the duty station.
Is it possible to apply for graduate school after a bachelor's degree?
You should not ask yourself how to enter a graduate school after a bachelor's degree and join the ranks of graduate students. According to the Law of the Russian Federation "On Education", paragraph 4, article 69, a bachelor today does not have such an opportunity.
After a bachelor's degree, you first need to sit down on the university bench again and finish your studies to a master's degree.
In the master's program, the basic skills of research work are acquired, which in the future will be a good help for writing a candidate's research.
How to get into graduate school without exams
No exams provided for the competition. The application is for three years. For the applicant, work on the dissertation is carried out in the mode of self-education and self-training, with periodic consultations with the supervisor. But at the same time, you will need to attach yourself separately for passing candidate exams as an external student.
Upon graduation from the university, graduates face an extremely important question of choosing a further path in life: whether to go to work in their specialty, choose another profession, go to get a second higher education, or realize themselves in science. The latter path is chosen, as a rule, by a few. Admission to graduate school is a responsible step, which means a readiness to give one's life to science. And, in our country, almost free of charge! Since a postgraduate scholarship without work experience is not much different from a student scholarship, and science requires sacrifice. Material. And sometimes very significant. Financing of almost all universities in our country leaves much to be desired. However, often this fact does not stop those wishing to create a career in science. What drives such people? Who needs to go to graduate school and why?
The conditions for admission to graduate school are less stringent than it seems to the bulk of graduates:
- You have the right to enter if you have a diploma in the chosen specialty and some success in it.
- You will need to contact your prospective supervisor and enlist his support.
- There are three of them: in the chosen specialty, philosophy and a foreign language.
- Have scientific publications within your subject (in their absence - an abstract).
- Carry copies of your documents and photographs with you. As well as a medical certificate of health.
In fact, if you have an agreement with a supervisor, everything else is just a formality.
Going to graduate school is an important decision in life, and therefore, before making it, think again about whether you are sure that you want to put your life on the altar of science.
