Study abroad: Presidential Scholarships

Announcement of the All-Russian open competition
for scholarships of the President of the Russian Federation
to study abroad for students and postgraduates of Russian universities in the 2013/2014 academic year

1. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation) announces an All–Russian open competition for scholarships of the President of the Russian Federation to study abroad for students and postgraduates of Russian universities (hereinafter referred to as universities) in the 2013/2014 academic year (hereinafter referred to as the All–Russian open competition, competition).

The All-Russian open competition is held pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of April 12, 1993 N 443
"On urgent measures of state support for students and postgraduates of educational institutions of higher professional education" and the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 6, 1993.
N 613-rp.

2. The All-Russian open competition is held by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

3. To conduct the All–Russian open competition, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation creates a selection committee of the All-Russian open competition (hereinafter referred to as the Selection Committee).

4. Students and postgraduates (citizens of the Russian Federation) who have proved themselves in the fields of science, culture and art, who have achieved significant success in fundamental and applied research, with the exception of persons completing their studies in the 1st half of 2013, can take part in the All-Russian open competition.

5. For the All-Russian open competition, its participants submit the following documents:

5.1. Letter of presentation of the university with a brief description of the scientific, creative (for creative specialties) activities of the applicant during his studies at the university, signed without fail by the rector or the person acting as rector.

5.2. Recommendation of the Academic Council of the university.

5.3. A personal statement of the applicant addressed to the rector about the desire to participate in the All-Russian open competition.

5.4. At least two recommendations of Russian and, if possible, foreign scientists in Russian and foreign languages.

5.5. Copies of documents confirming the scientific (creative – for creative universities) successes of the applicant, a list of scientific papers and publications certified by the university.

5.6. A full biographical certificate (objective certificate) with the indication of the surname, first name, patronymic, date of birth, place of birth, data of the Russian internal passport, home address and contact phone number (in duplicate) and 2 photos of 3x4 cm in size.

5.7. Justification (in Russian and in the language of the intended host country) on the expediency of studying (internship, scientific work) abroad on the declared subject, indicating the foreign state and the specific host organization.

5.8. An extract from the credit sheet for the entire period of study for students or a copy of the diploma of higher professional education for graduate students in Russian with translation into the language of the intended host country.

5.9. Certificate of the Department of Foreign Languages of the sending university on the degree of foreign language proficiency of the applicant for participation in the competition.

5.10. A medical certificate confirming the applicant's ability to study abroad, signed by the chief physician and certified by the seal of the medical organization.

5.11. Written consent of the host organization to accept a scholarship holder of the President of the Russian Federation for training or internship for up to 10 months.

5.12. Bank details of the receiving organization with mandatory indication of the full name and postal address of the bank for the transfer of funds.

5.13. The cost estimate for the stay of the scholarship holder of the President of the Russian Federation abroad.

The documents of the host organization must be certified by the management of the host organization (signed and stamped) and submitted with a translation into Russian. All documents submitted for consideration by the Selection Committee must be printed, signed and certified by the university.

6. The number of applicants for participation in the All-Russian open competition is not limited. The number of scholarships for study abroad is: 40 – for students and 60 – for graduate students.

7. The documents of applicants for participation in the competition are sent to the address: 125993, Moscow, M-93, GSP-3, Tverskaya str., 11, International Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

The deadline for submitting documents is April 30, 2013. Documents received by the International Department later than the deadline or not in a complete set are not considered.

8. The selection committee independently selects the participants of the competition on the basis of the submitted documents.

During the All - Russian open competition , preference is given to the following applicants:

• The Russian higher education institutions they represent have long-term partnerships and cooperation agreements with the host higher education institutions (research centers);
• Those who have agreed to study (internship) at foreign universities, which head the lists determined by the most famous rating companies in the world.

All other things being equal, the advantage is given to applicants who have publications in Russian or foreign peer-reviewed and refereed scientific journals, or who have applications for a patent for an invention, utility model or industrial design, or who are holders of diplomas of prize winners of international and All-Russian competitions.

Applicants intending to study in the USA must pass the English Language Proficiency Test (TOEFL) and submit the exam results. Those wishing to study in the UK, Canada, Australia must also pass the TOEFL or IELTS exam.

Information on passing the TOEFL exam can be obtained on the website of the American Council on International Education: www.toefl.org .

The issues of coordinating the terms and conditions of admission, determining the procedure for paying scholarships of the President of the Russian Federation, for training (scientific internship), with host foreign educational institutions (research centers) are within the competence of the sending Russian universities.

For its part, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation can offer a list of possible host organizations operating within the framework of

The International Center for Advanced Training for internships in foreign scientific centers under the guidance of fellow scientists (see appendix).

The recommended duration of training or internship is no more than one academic year. Funds for tuition (scientific internship) and the maintenance of the scholarship of the President of the Russian Federation abroad are transferred by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation directly to the account of the host organization. Foreign currency funds are not transferred to personal accounts and addresses of Russian foreign institutions. The average amount of the allocated scholarship is from 20 to 24 thousand US dollars for the entire period of study (scientific internship). The term of stay of the scholarship holder of the President of the Russian Federation abroad may be reduced, but not less than one semester.

The President's Scholarship to study abroad covers the following expenses:

• payment of transportation costs to the place of study (internship) and back;
• payment of visa processing costs;
• tuition fees;
• payment for accommodation;
• payment of medical insurance costs;
• payment for local transport.

9. The Selection Committee carries out its work in the period from April 30 to May 30, 2013. The Selection Committee makes a decision on each candidate by open voting by a simple majority of votes. If the votes of the members of the Selection Committee are equal, the vote of the chairman of the Selection Committee is decisive, and in the absence of the chairman – the vote of his deputy, who chaired the meeting.

The selection Committee is competent to make a decision if at least two-thirds of its members are present at the meeting.

The decision of the Selection Committee is formalized by the protocol.

10. Based on the minutes of the meeting of the Selection Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the list of winners of the All-Russian open competition is approved by order.

11. Information about the results of the All-Russian open competition is posted on the Internet on the websites of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation: www.mon.gov.ru and the International Department: www.dic.edu.ru no later than 5 days after the signing of the order approving the list of winners of the All-Russian open competition.

12. Applications submitted for the All-Russian open competition will not be returned.

13. Scholarship holders of the President of the Russian Federation studying abroad retain the right to return to their former place of study in the Russian Federation and complete their education. If necessary, the scholarship holder's studies at a Russian university can be extended for the duration of his stay abroad. The fellows of the President of the Russian Federation are obliged, after completing their studies (scientific internship), to submit to the International Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation a detailed report on the results achieved, approved by the rector of the sending university, and a certificate from the receiving organization on the expenditure of the allocated funds within a month.

In order to ensure timely processing of exit documents and transfer of necessary financial resources, the fellows of the President of the Russian Federation must submit to the International Department a confirmation of the host organization on its official letterhead of readiness to accept the scholarship of the President of the Russian Federation, indicating the approximate dates of arrival and departure, by September 15, 2013.

14. Phone for inquiries: (495) 629-69-62 (Bogomolov S.A.)

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru28.02.2013