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Master’s Degree and Programs in Russia

One of the most important indexes of either academic or scientific qualification is degree. A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successful completing a program of study.

After high school the first university degree you aimed for was a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). Typical Bachelor’s programs in Russia cover breadth of knowledge and take four years to complete. You’ve done it! You’ve finally finished your studies and earned your Bachelor’s Degree. What a long and difficult road it has been to get that coveted Bachelor’s Degree. The thought of one more class is the furthest thing from your mind right now, until somebody asks if you are moving forward and getting your Master’s Degree next.

So, the next-level university degree is a Master of Science (M.Sc.). Our congratulations and best wishes! You are a first-year master student! Master’s programs usually require two years of studies and some independent research, but those additional years can lead to many upper level career opportunities. M.Sc. programs focus on thorough studying of a certain area, in-depth research and assessment of still unexplored phenomena, and investigations in science.

The first year sets common grounds for the program and provides some introductory courses of the chosen specialization. The second year concentrates upon the specialization and aims students to gain highly specialized knowledge and skills in the chosen area culminating in a master’s thesis at the end of the program. Most master's degree programs require a master’s thesis or a significant project of some type. A successful defense of a written thesis is considered equivalent to the master’s degree. To present your master’s dissertation proudly you’ll certainly need thoughtful guidance of a scientific supervisor. Typically graduates are advised by highly experienced specialists, either Candidates or Doctors of Science in Russia who head R& D laboratories and departments, develop and control educational programs and courses of studies at the universities. Almost in every institute there is Students' Research and Master's Studies Department which coordinates research and studies.

Since graduates are required to possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of both theoretical and applied knowledge, high order skills in analysis as well as critical evaluation of data within the areas studied, master’s degree implies graduates should have broader analytical competencies and specific techniques necessary to solve any problems in their professional activities.

Notes to the text:

Students' Research and Master's Studies Department - отдел студенческой науки и магистратуры