Higher educational institutions train students in two types of programs

The first way is as follows. After four years of study a university graduate will get the Bachelor`s Degree. He can continue his study for two years to take his Master's Degree. The other program provides for a diploma of the specialist after completing five years of study. In either program a student is trained in one specialization. In order to receive a university degree a student writes a graduate paper. The graduates can also continue their education and write dissertations for advanced degrees. After three years of post-graduate research work and the presentation of the dissertation it is possible to obtain the candidate degree. The next stage is the Doctor's Degree which requires much more research work and defending the Doctor`s dissertation.
In Russia the process of the integration and reformation of higher education, based on principles of the Bologna Declaration, is under way. For the past several years Russian education has gained high dynamics of development in the course of global and European trends.

Vocabulary:

to go on to further education – продолжить образование;

to pass the unified state exams – сдать Единые государственные экзамены;

an applicant for entry – абитуриент;

to take competitive examinations – сдавать конкурсные экзамены;

an objective – цель;

a ratio – пропорция, соотношение;

to rank – занимать место, располагаться по рангу;

a subject area – предметная область;

to be in charge of – руководить, отвечать за;

to be headed by – возглавляться;

a subdivision – подразделение;