This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 8/14/2019

Overview

Russian students are increasingly choosing to pursue university degrees abroad.  According to The Institute of International Education Open Doors Report, approximately 5,518 Russian students studied in the United States in 2018 (2% growth vs 2017).  Over the last five-year period (2013-2018), there has been an 18% increase in the number of Russian students studying in U.S. schools.

Education in Russia is predominantly state-run and is regulated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Education (which, until May 2018, were one Ministry).  Regional authorities regulate education in their jurisdictions within the prevailing framework of federal laws.  Russia's expenditure on education has grown from 2.7% of GDP in 2005 to 3.8% in 2015 but remains below the OECD average of 5.2%.

Private institutions account for just 1% of pre-school enrollment, 0.5% of elementary school enrollment, and 17% of university enrollment.  Education in state-owned secondary schools is free; first tertiary (university-level) education is free with certain caveats, and a substantial number of students are enrolled for full-tuition fees.  Male and female students are represented equally in all stages of education, except tertiary education, where women represent 57% of students.  The literacy rate in Russia, according to a 2017 estimate by the Central Intelligence Agency, is 99.7% (99.7% men, 99.6% women).  According to a 2017 OECD estimate, 54% of Russian adults aged 25 to 64 have attained a tertiary/university-level education, giving Russia the second highest level of college-level education in the world.  Nearly 88% have completed secondary education (a full 11-year course, equivalent to graduating high school in the US), 26.5% have completed middle school (9 years), and 8.1% have elementary education (at least 4 years).  Women aged 35-39 have the highest rate of tertiary education at 24.7% (compared to 19.5% for men of the same age bracket).

Leading Sub-Sectors

As Russia continues to emerge from its 2014-2015 economic downturn, the key subsectors attracting Russian students to U.S. schools are undergraduate (43% students), graduate (33.6%), non-degree (7.5%), and Optional Practical Training, “OPT” (15.7%).

2017/18UndergraduateGraduateNon-degreeOPTTotal
Russia2,3731,8574188705,518
 43%33.6%7.5%15.7% 

Other attractive U.S. educational institutions include boarding schools, high schools, and short-term English-language courses for both adults and children.

Opportunities

Among the many Russian students interested in pursuing their graduate studies in the United States, most choose to major in Business/Management, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Fine/Applied Arts, Math/Computer Science, and Engineering. Summer English language programs are very popular among Russian high school and undergraduate students.  There is also an increasing interest in elite U.S. boarding schools for pre-college age children (ages 12 and up) from wealthy Russian families.

Web Resources

Education USA  

U.S. Commercial Service Contact
Diana Ryan, Commercial Specialist
Tel: +7 (495) 728-5398


 

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