Students throng Russian education counselling

[sajiv]

Students throng Russian education counselling

CHENNAI: Students seeking admission to Russian institutions for courses in medicine and aviation studies attended a counselling and spot admission session organised at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture here on Saturday.

Alexey N.Sergeyev, deputy dean for foreign students at the Tver State Medical Academy, counselled students on the facilities available for foreign students in Russia.

"Our Academy gets nearly 100 students from India every year," he said. "There are other students coming from Sri Lanka, Middle East and African countries."

He said that every foreign student studying medicine in Russia had to work in the local hospitals and clinics there as part of their internship. "They can continue to work in Russia or even explore job opportunities in Europe and North America, if they wish."

The state medical institutions of Russia are recognised by the World Health Organisation and the Medical Council of India, making it possible for graduates from these institutions to explore opportunities both in India and abroad, a release from the Russian Centre for Science and Culture stated. The Moscow Aviation Institute was another coveted institution for aspiring cosmonauts.

Russian institutions are an ideal option for Indian students who do not have sufficient scores to compete for a merit seat in medicine or engineering colleges here. "Most Russian institutions accept Indian students with a minimum of 50 per cent marks in high school. Also, there is no entrance exams for admissions," Study Abroad Educational Consultants Managing Director C.Ravi Chandran said.

Safety
With regards to the safety of foreign students in Russia, he said Russians were warm and receptive when it came to Indians and there was not much safety-related concern there. "There have been some instances of Indian senior students teasing Indian junior students, but most institutions are very strict when it comes to safety," he said. "Even the hostels and other facilities are safe and secure and most students who went in previous years have had a fruitful experience," he said.

He added that more than 100 students from the city had registered for the counselling session after the exhibition on higher education in Russia recently.