The Government has reported on measures to implement Presidential Instruction No Pr-3410 of December 22, 2012 (Clause 3, Subclause 22, Paragraph 8) on submitting proposals to create a system of international Russian-language Olympiads whose winners will be able to enrol at leading Russian universities.
In particular, the Government notes that the system of international Russian language Olympiads for school students includes Olympiads in sciences and humanities being organised by the Ministry of Education and Science and the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) in the following subjects:
· Physics and mathematics: – the Time to Study in Russia Olympiad cycle;
· Social sciences and humanities: the Russia and Belarus: Historical and Spiritual Similarity Olympiad for School Students;
· Linguistics: the International Russian Language Olympiad organised as part of the Targeted Federal Programme the Russian Language for 2011-2015.
An international Russian language Olympiad for students at Russian language schools in CIS countries, the Baltic states, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia is also organised.
Furthermore, foreign citizens studying at secondary schools in other countries can take part in Russian language Olympiads for school students in sciences and humanities, which are held under the auspices of the Russian Council of School Student Olympiads.
In 2012, about 13,000 foreign citizens, including compatriots living abroad, took part in the final stage of Olympiads for school students at 60 venues around the world.
Federal Law On Education in the Russian Federation, due to enter into force on September 1, 2013, states expressly that foreign citizens have the right to higher education with their tuition fees paid out of the Russian budget under international treaties and agreements of the Russian Federation, federal laws or the Government quota for 10,000 foreign students and 300 compatriots living abroad in the Russian Federation. The tuition fees can also be sponsored by private individuals and legal entities that have signed contracts for the provision of paid educational services.
At the same time, foreign citizens enrolling at universities under the 47 current international treaties and agreements of the Russian Federation with former Soviet republics and other countries or under Federal Law On the State Policy of the Russian Federation with Regard to Compatriots Living Abroad (as compatriots) are eligible for admission to state-subsidised courses of study at Russian universities on a par with Russian citizens, including with the help of special admission rights for the champions and prize-winners of Olympiads.
It is also planned for the results of specialised international Olympiads to be taken into account during the enrolment of foreign citizens at Russian universities within the limits of the Government’s foreign student quota.
