Question by : How did Universities in the USSR operate?
How did you get into universities?
Was it hard to go into universities?
Did you have a choice to go?
Did the government pay for your education?
Were the universities good? Which were the best ones?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Ion
You got into universities by getting into universities. It was hard or easy to go depending on whether you were smart or dumb. Either you had a choice or you didn’t, either you paid or the government paid, and some of the universities were good, and of the good universities, the universities that were gooder than others were the best.
Read all the answers in the comments.
Add your own answer!
K2010 says
In Soviet Russia, Universities in the USSR operate you
Slava T says
There was fierce competition to enter universities in the USSR.
A candidate had to sit up to 5 exams.
You couldn't apply to more than 1 university because the examinations took place at the same time (August) all over the USSR. The only exceptions were the Moscow University and the Leningrad University which had their entry tests in July. So, a person who failed to enter these two universities had a chance to enter some other universities.
If a young male did not enter a higher education institution he was conscripted to serve at the Soviet army (for 2 years) or the Navy (for 3 years).
The higher education was free of charge. Moreover, a student was paid with a monthly basic stipend of 40 roubles (with an average salary of 120 roubles across the USSR) on condition that his/her results exceeded a "satisfactory" level every university term.
After graduation a graduate had to work for 3 years at a place designated by the government. Usually it was in the middle of nowhere kind of job.
P.S. The funniest university subject was "Theory of Marxism-Leninism" obligatory for all university students irrespective of their major.
NB. The ethnic Russians have the right to establish their own Russian Republic within the Russian Federation.
Wave2012 says
1. Pass entering exams. Usually there were 3 subjects to pass.
2. It depended how smart you were and profession. Some universities and specialties had VERY hard exams, some – pretty easy.
3. Of course, if people didn't want to study, they didn't study. In every country there are people who finish school with huge troubles or even just leave it. As you understand they will never try to enter university.
4. All the education was government payed.
5. Universities were very good and gave very deep knowledge. The best of them gave the best specialists in the world.
The best: Moscow State University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Engineering Physics Institute etc… It depends on specialization.