Higher education

Higher education is a level of basic education aimed at developing the personality of a student, cadet, or listener, their intellectual and creative abilities, acquiring special theoretical and practical training, culminating in the award of a qualification as a specialist with higher education, or a master's degree.

Higher education includes two levels:

• The first level of higher education provides training for a specialist with fundamental and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities, and culminates in the award of a qualification and the issuance of a higher education diploma, granting the right to employment in accordance with the awarded qualification and to study in a master's program;
• The second level of higher education (master's program) provides in-depth training for a specialist, developing knowledge, skills, and abilities in scientific-pedagogical and research work, culminating in the award of the degree of "Master" and the issuance of a master's diploma, granting the right to study in a doctoral program (adjunct program) and to employment in the acquired specialty and awarded qualification.

For reference:

Currently, there are 45 state and 10 private higher education institutions in the Republic of Belarus. Training is organized in full-time and part-time (including distance learning) forms.

The procedure for admitting individuals to obtain higher education of the first level (including foreigners) is regulated by the Rules for admitting individuals to obtain higher education of the first level, approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 07.02.2006 No. 80.

Foreigners permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus, foreigners granted refugee status in the Republic of Belarus, have the right to participate in the competition for higher education in state higher education institutions of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as HEIs) at the expense of the republican budget (hereinafter referred to as the budget), if they receive this level of education at the expense of budget funds for the first time, or in state or private HEIs on a paid basis at the expense of legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, individuals, or the citizen's own funds.

Citizens of the Republic of Belarus permanently residing in the territory of foreign states, citizens of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan have the right to participate in the competition for higher education in state and private HEIs on the same terms, or to enter state and private HEIs on terms provided for temporarily staying or temporarily residing foreigners in the Republic of Belarus.

Foreigners temporarily staying or temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus can enter HEIs to obtain higher education:

• at the expense of the budget or on a paid basis - in accordance with international treaties of the Republic of Belarus;
• on a paid basis - based on the results of the final attestation upon mastering the content of the educational program for admission to higher education institutions;
• on a paid basis - based on the results of an interview establishing their level of language proficiency in the language in which the educational process is conducted, in the amount sufficient to master the content of the higher education program.

Admission of foreigners temporarily staying or temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus for higher education is carried out on the basis of an agreement on training a specialist with higher education at the expense of budget funds, an agreement on training a specialist with higher education on a paid basis, concluded by higher education institutions with foreign citizens and stateless persons (legal representatives of minor foreigners (upon presentation of documents confirming the status of the legal representative of a minor foreigner) or with representatives of foreigners acting on the basis of a power of attorney certified by a notary or an authorized official, as well as a legal entity (individual entrepreneur, individual) that pays for the cost of training (if available), which, in addition to the conditions established by law, provide for the responsibility of the parties for payment of expenses in case of need to deport a foreigner outside the Republic of Belarus.

Documents executed in a foreign language must be accompanied by their translation into Belarusian or Russian, certified by a notary.

Foreigners arriving for full-time (day) higher education, temporarily staying or temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus, are enrolled in higher education institutions after undergoing mandatory medical examination in territorial healthcare organizations determined by higher education institutions in agreement with the health committee of the Minsk City Executive Committee and health departments of regional executive committees, confirming the absence of medical contraindications to study in the Republic of Belarus. The list of medical contraindications for the study of foreigners arriving for study in the Republic of Belarus is established by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

A prerequisite for enrolling foreigners temporarily staying or temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus in higher education institutions is the presence of an identity document, a visa (if necessary) and a compulsory health insurance policy issued in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Foreign citizens who do not have certificates of completion of the pre-university faculty, preparatory department, or preparatory courses, but who are fluent in the language of instruction, undergo an interview to determine admission. The procedure for conducting the interview is established by the Ministry of Education.

Foreign citizens applying in accordance with international treaties of the Republic of Belarus, including interdepartmental treaties, are admitted without entrance examinations.

Information about the number of places provided in public higher education institutions for obtaining higher education at the expense of budget funds and on a paid basis, as well as in private higher education institutions, is made available to the public annually no later than April 1 by the respective higher education institutions.

Foreign citizens wishing to obtain education in agricultural higher education institutions at the expense of budget funds have the right to participate in the competition, provided that:

• they work in agricultural, processing, and service organizations;
• they engage in entrepreneurial activities related to the production of agricultural products, as well as in peasant (farmer) households;
• they apply for higher education in specialties of the corresponding profile (direction) of education, having vocational and technical education with general secondary education or secondary specialized education;
• children with disabilities under the age of 18;
• persons with disabilities of group I or II, in the absence of medical contraindications for studying in the chosen specialty.

Foreign citizens (their representatives) submit the following documents to higher education institutions:

• an application addressed to the head of the higher education institution in the form established by the Ministry of Education;
• a certificate (document) of education (a copy for applicants applying for distance learning) indicating the subjects studied and the grades (scores) received – provided that these documents are recognized in the established order in the Republic of Belarus;
• a conclusion of the medical advisory commission issued by the territorial health organization of the Republic of Belarus (after passing a mandatory medical examination upon referral from the higher education institution) – for those applying for full-time (day) education;
• a medical report on the state of health and a certificate of absence of HIV infection issued by the official health authority of the country from which the applicant comes (with the exception of applicants applying for distance learning);
• the original (copy) of the birth certificate;
• 6 photographs measuring 3 x 4 cm;
• a certificate of completion of the pre-university faculty, preparatory department, or preparatory courses of a higher education institution (upon completion of pre-university faculties, preparatory departments, or preparatory courses of a higher education institution).

For documents listed that are executed in a foreign language, their translation into Belarusian or Russian, notarized, must be submitted simultaneously.

Foreign applicants may send an application and a copy of their identity document by mail. The document confirming the payment for the acceptance and processing of documents for participation in the Centralized Testing is submitted upon arrival in the Republic of Belarus.