Global Education programme - new opportunity for Russian students

Last week the Russian Agency for Strategic Initiatives – a government-funded institution set up back in 2011 – officially launched an ambitious programme called “Global Education”. “Global Education” is one of the Agency’s core projects and is an effort to stimulate the growth of scientific potential and boost economic and social development in Russia. The government has expressed willingness to generously pay for the studies of a number of chosen candidates who already hold a bachelor degree (or equivalent) and have been accepted into the world’s top universities.

“Global Education” in numbers

1,500 people

The programme will initially run for 3 years, starting in autumn 2014, but with a possible extension dependent upon the students’ academic performance during the course of their studies. The number of participants is estimated at no less than 1,500 people.

TOP 300 universities

As long as the candidate is offered a place on a full-time programme in one of the world’s top 300 universities (appearing in all three ranking systems: THE Rankings, QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities) he or she will have the opportunity to receive financial support from the federal budget of up to 1.38 million roubles (GBP 24,000) per year to cover tuition fees and living expenses.

Five main areas

The government has selected four main areas of studies eligible for funding:
1. Science
2. Engineering
3. Medicine
4. Education
5. Management in social sphere

Employability

The programme is also expected to provide job placement support for the sponsored nominees. Candidates will have to sign an agreement, obliging them to come back to Russia within 30 days after completing their studies, to secure professional employment for at least 3 years. In the case of a student deciding not to return to Russia after graduating, they would be liable to reimburse the grant in full. Depending on the candidate’s current employment status, it can be a two-party (between the candidate and the programme operator) or three-party (candidate, employer and programme operator) agreement. Programme participants will be able to change jobs no more than twice during the 3 year period. The list of employers is currently being finalised.

Listed below are 29 UK universities considered eligible for the programme:

University of Aberdeen
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
Durham University
University of York
University of Cambridge
Lancaster University
University of Leicester
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
London School of Economics and Political Science
King's College London - University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
University of Manchester
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
University of Sussex
University of St. Andrews
University of East Anglia
University of Glasgow
Cardiff University
Newcastle University
University of Reading
University of Southampton
University College London
University of Warwick
University of Sheffield
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter