There is higher education and how to get a second higher education. How to get two higher educations at the same time? Nuances, important points

Obtaining a second higher education in last years became very popular in Russia. The main reason for this lies not only in the natural desire of a person to expand the boundaries of his knowledge, but also in significant changes in the structure of the economy of our country, the growing need for specialists with a diverse set of professional competencies, as well as labor market mobility.

According to statistics, large companies give preference to those applicants who have not only work experience, but also two higher education. And the salaries of such specialists are higher than those of their colleagues with only a higher education.

Today the procedure for admission to state higher educational institutions Russian Federation provides the possibility of receiving parallel second higher education. Parallel education is training simultaneously in two specialties in one or different universities, as a result of which the graduate receives two diplomas of higher education. By simultaneously obtaining two specialties you save main resource– time, and this is the main advantage of parallel learning.

Parallel education gives a large number of opportunities, because upon graduation you receive two diplomas at once. The parallel education program offers students a variety of forms, terms and learning technologies. This education can be obtained full-time or part-time. Some higher education institutions offer tuition payment in installments.

With parallel training, students who have work experience in different fields, having received a second higher education, can expand the range of their capabilities and powers, climb the career ladder, and even if they change their field of activity, have good competitiveness in the labor market.

Students who wish to obtain two specialties at the same time are enrolled in the department of second higher education on a contract basis. In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 18 of the Federal Law “On Higher and Postgraduate Professional Education”, persons simultaneously receiving a second higher education professional education, have the status of “listeners”, which in terms of receiving educational services is equal to the status of a student of a higher educational institution of the corresponding form of study. Thus, a student who successfully graduates from the university as a student will receive a diploma identical to the student's diploma.

Senior students entering a direction related to the first direction of study can enter directly into the second or third year. Due to this, the actual training period is reduced. First-year students can also receive parallel education, however, it is recommended to wait until they enter at least the third year before starting to master the second higher education program. This way, the student will not have to take exams twice in disciplines common to both programs.

Students are admitted to the faculty of second higher education for parallel training on the basis of certification tests (written testing of a profile focus).

Before deciding to receive parallel education, you need to understand that simultaneous training in two areas of training is a large physical and mental load. But still, many students choose parallel education for the following reasons:

1. Saving time when obtaining two specialties.

2. Financial savings (when receiving a second higher education after the first, you will have to pay much more).

3. Acquiring a useful skill to properly manage your time.

4. Acquiring a double baggage of knowledge, and knowledge acquired at one faculty will most likely be useful at another.

5. Obtaining two diplomas at the same time.

Thus, a student receiving a parallel second higher education is in a more advantageous position compared to students of single-disciplinary higher education educational institutions.

Having weighed all the pros and cons and having decided to receive parallel education, you must contact the admissions committee and, instead of the original education document, provide a certified photocopy of a state-issued document and academic certificate from the department or faculty of which you are a student. The student also needs an application, 3*4 cm photographs and a copy of the receipt or payment order.

Obtaining a parallel second higher education is the key to successful employment, mobility in the labor market, and career advancement. Also, obtaining two specialties simultaneously, rather than sequentially, will save you time and money.

It is believed that today, in order to be competitive in the labor market, it is necessary to constantly supplement your education. This is certainly true: change occurs every day - and this applies to almost any activity, from office cleaning to senior management. And if you fall behind the trends outlined by your industry, you will likely be left behind.

But, if you are just starting your career, having a second higher education can be a good bonus. Another advantage of having an additional diploma is that you can choose from two specialties (and at the beginning of your journey, as practice shows, it is very important to have an alternative). Or you can work at the intersection of the disciplines you have learned - then you will be a truly indispensable specialist and will certainly occupy your niche.

And one more thing: obtaining a second higher education is an excellent way out for those who, for some reason, were unable to study what they had dreamed of all their lives. This is how it was for me: Unified State Exam results in social studies, which I took as a reserve, turned out to be impressive, and therefore paid training I preferred free stuff to journalism sociological education. The desire to be a journalist did not disappear anywhere, but sociology became more and more exciting as I studied. Therefore, I began to look for opportunities to master both professions - and soon found them.

An important fact is that a second higher education cannot be obtained on a budgetary basis. Therefore, if you are studying in a higher education program or already have a diploma, the government will not fund your studies, no matter how well you do in the exams.

The Federal Law on Education (Article No. 34) states that any student has the right to simultaneously master several professional educational programs. But how can this be done technically?..

Listener

Few people know that, in addition to students, so-called listeners- people who, for one reason or another, cannot provide original educational documents and are enrolled in the course as if “in advance.” An important feature of this status is that it is provided only in correspondence or distance learning (perhaps in some places you can become a student on a full-time basis - but this is rather an exception to the rule). At the same time, students go to classes in the same way, write tests and take exams.

Therefore it is best do not start getting a second degree in the same year First of all, there is a high probability that problems will arise with obtaining a diploma. And from a psychological point of view, this can be very difficult: after all, at school there is a different format of education, and, having become a student, you need to get used to the new rules and join the team. It is also important to establish interaction with teachers, because it depends on them what consequences your absenteeism will have. And absenteeism, alas, will definitely happen, because even while receiving education by correspondence, sometimes it is necessary to be present at the educational institution - and this time may coincide with the time of main classes.

I entered the second institute, having barely completed the first year, and soon realized that I had made a mistake: my studies could have lasted one or two years less if I had more disciplines already mastered (they can be re-credited - this is done by the scientific part of the new university) . In general, it is best to finish your studies at least until the third year in your first specialty in order to begin mastering the second.

By the way, about admission. Each university has its own rules for admitting students to a second degree. However, usually for those who wish to receive parallel education, before reaching the third year at the main institute, most often they arrange the most ordinary selection - with results Unified State Exam And entrance exam(it’s not a fact that it is necessary - it depends on the specialty). Let us remind you that the results of the Unified State Exam in Russia are valid 4 years. The only consolation in this situation is that the competition for the correspondence course is usually several times less than for the full-time course.

Those who decide to enroll in a second higher education after the start of the third year of the main institute are usually enrolled only based on the results entrance examinations .

By the way, in some universities (including the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Moscow State University) there are parallel education programs within the same university, as a result of which a graduate can receive two diplomas. However, the range of specialties is usually limited.

Parallel distance learning At first, it can also be difficult and unusual. Especially during exam sessions. Of course, face-to-face and correspondence departments usually do not coincide in time: this is done for the convenience of teachers. But sometimes exams at two institutes can still overlap - in this case you will have to stock up on strong coffee and Novopassit. But this period, as practice shows, is quickly ending. And there is nothing better than celebrating the end of two sessions at once!

In general, in order to study at two universities at the same time, you need to have a stable psyche, an incredible ability to work, and an incredible desire to know everything at once. But employers usually value graduates with two higher educations and willingly hire them for internships and open vacancies. And, besides, such students save the main resource modern man - time, which in the future can be spent not on sitting at a desk, but on travel, family or something else.

And parallel higher education is very interesting. It's great when you can go beyond the boundaries of your profession, offer something new, experiment, applying the methods of one profession to another. Often, work done for one university was useful for me to complete assignments at another. By the way, it will be very useful to calculate the zone of your scientific interests: then all the developments over the years of study will be useful to you in writing theses at both universities. And then, perhaps, when writing master's thesis- if you are going to write it at all.

Many citizens who want to improve their competence are wondering whether it is possible to get a second higher education for free.

In this article we will look at the circumstances in which this is permissible.

Is it possible to get a second higher education for free according to the law?

From the standpoint of state guarantees, authorities are not obliged to provide citizens with the opportunity for free higher education.

Along with this, upon receipt of the first one, it is permissible to go to the budget.

As for the second, in most cases we're talking about about paid knowledge.

The following categories of citizens are exceptions:

• military personnel who have received the appropriate first education;
• graduates of creative universities, for example, GITIS or GNESINK.

The above groups may qualify for free admission. There are also beneficiaries who receive special discounts. These include combatants, as well as, in some specialties, holders of honors diplomas.

How to get a second higher education for free without benefits

Not everyone who wants to study for free has the corresponding privileges. Despite this, it is also possible for them to save money and still achieve their goal. Let's look at several ways.

Obtaining a second higher education at the expense of an employer or receiving a grant

In some cases, employers are interested in their employees receiving additional education.

For example, if a person has performed well and can be promoted, but for this it is necessary that he have certain qualifications.

The peculiarity of this format is that a special agreement is concluded, within which the number of years to be worked after completion of studies is stipulated.

If a student is expelled or leaves the university due to at will, then the employee is obliged to fully reimburse the money spent by management.

This option is more common in a corporate environment.

Getting a grant is another option, but to take advantage of it, you need to prove to sponsors that a particular person is worth a chance. Funds prefer to invest in promising young people with unique knowledge or skills.

The second education is free on the basis of the first higher education

Conventionally, the second education is called a master's degree. This formulation is not entirely correct, since it is simply more high level

first higher. For most programs in state universities

Admission to a master's program on a budget is acceptable.

How to enroll in a master's program is described on the website of each specific institution.

The second higher education is free if the first one is paid

A citizen of Russia has the right to win a competition for state-funded education once. That is, if a person studied for a fee for the first time, then he can apply for a new budget place

at another university.

However, he will be admitted under general conditions, that is, along with other applicants.

The same rule applies to those who study part-time.

Distance free higher education For some life circumstances girls and boys are thinking about the possibility. distance learning Modern technologies

provide such an opportunity.

This is not yet possible for all specialties, but many professions can be learned via the Internet. Get a higher education free education

and a university diploma is not yet possible. Universities are ready to provide online courses

, but not free. This form is paid for via bank transfer.

Free military education as a second higher education

To receive military education as a higher education, you must be a contract soldier and submit an application to study at the chosen university. At the same time, such the person must already have a civil education at the bachelor's or specialist level.

In order to determine where to get a military education, it is worth purchasing a directory of educational institutions.

If none of the options work, then you can try to cheat a little.

Two methods are common:

• concealing information about the availability of first studies and submitting a standard package of applicant documents;
• simultaneous study at several universities, for example, full-time and evening.

If the second scheme is widespread, then the first one may reveal itself, and the consequences will not be the most favorable. For example, in Moscow and other major cities a common database already exists.

It is acceptable to receive a second education for free, that is, on a budget basis. On the one hand, this is easier to do for those who have a number of privileges. On the other hand, if the student himself wishes, one can always find a way to do this. It is up to the individual to choose whether to receive an education, paid or not.

Russian laws on education do not prohibit the parallel development of educational programs. It could be like different directions training at the same university, as well as training at two universities that are in no way connected with each other. In addition, if there is a desire to receive secondary education in parallel with the “tower” special education, upon entering college, the student also has every right to do this.

You can enroll in two universities either in one year or with a shift. Often students who realize that they want to expand their educational trajectory, apply for a second higher education in the 3rd or 4th year. In this case, getting another education is somewhat easier - many general subjects(e.g. history, concepts modern natural science, computer science, etc.) at “University No. 2” can be re-credited.

What forms of training can be combined

There are no legal restrictions on the form of education during parallel studies at two universities. However, in practice, simultaneously receiving two full-time education almost unrealistic - classes are held at the same time, attendance is controlled, workload is designed so that students devote most of their time to studying.

Therefore, the combination “face-to-face + face-to-face” is quite rare, usually in one of the following cases:

• we are talking about studying in two areas of training at one university and the programs partially overlap;


• a student enters a second higher education course in his final years, when quite a lot of time is already allocated in the schedule for independent work and preparation of a diploma, and at the new university you can re-credit some of the subjects.

As a rule, when studying at two universities one combines:

• full-time study in one place with correspondence or evening study in another,


• evening (full-time-correspondence) form with correspondence,


• two correspondence courses.

Studying at two universities at the same time can be difficult if their session dates coincide. The load that falls on a part-time student during the session is very high, tests and exams can take place almost every day and “maneuvering” between two educational institutions can be difficult.

Distance learning, which implies a flexible schedule for mastering the program, can usually “adjust” to the pace set by the student himself, and therefore can be combined with study of any form.

Is it possible to study at two universities on a budget?

In accordance with Russian laws on education, a person can receive an unlimited number of higher educations, but on a budgetary basis this can only be done once.

Therefore, it is impossible to obtain two higher educations at public expense. Regardless of whether you study at the same time or enter a second university after graduating from the first, you will receive a second education at your own expense.

In this case, only a technical school can be free (having a university diploma does not cancel the right to free secondary vocational education).

What to do with documents when studying simultaneously at two universities

When accepting documents to a university, you can submit to the admissions committee both the original certificate of secondary education and its copy. However, in order to be accepted as a student, you usually need to submit your original certificate to the university.

There are two ways to solve this problem. One can be called “unofficial”: in some universities, when applying for commercial studies (usually evening), they may be content with a notarized copy of the certificate. Whether this is possible is best to find out from the admissions office of the educational institution.

If we adhere to the “letter of the law”, then in accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation “On Higher and Postgraduate Education”, with parallel studies at two universities (or in two specialties at the same university), a person studies in one of the programs “on a general basis”, and according to the second - in the status not of a student, but of a “listener”. To enroll, students provide the university with a certified copy of their certificate, accompanied by a certificate stating that they are studying at another university - and sign an agreement with the educational institution to pay for tuition.

The university cannot refuse admission under these conditions - the right to receive a second higher education simultaneously with the first and the status of a student are secured by Article 18 of the Law “On Higher and Postgraduate Education”. And all accredited higher education institutions are required to adhere to it.

What is the difference between a listener and a student?

The differences in status between a student and a trainee are more of a legal nature; this does not affect educational issues. Students master the course to the same extent, undergo practical training, defend coursework and theses, on a “general basis” receives a diploma (by the way, it will also not contain any indication of a “special” status).

In this case, the student has the right to independently choose in which of the two universities he will be registered as a student, and in which as a student with tuition fees.

Status may change during the course of your studies. For example, if a person has already “passed” a budget competition at another university while studying at a commercial university, he has the right to write at his first place of study an application for transfer to the status of a student and become a budget student. And if he has completed his studies at the university where the original certificate is located, but continues to master the program in another, “university No. 2” becomes his only place of study, and nothing prevents him from being transferred to the status of a student studying on a contract basis.

Thus, you can study at two universities at the same time completely legally, having the status of a student in one of them, and a student in the other.

It is believed that a second higher education in our country can only be obtained for money. But some savvy students manage to get several real, not fake, diplomas - and completely free of charge.

ANNA VASILYEVA

Master of Other Sciences

You can get a state diploma of higher education for free, already having one in your pocket, in several legal ways (many, sadly, take the illegal route, but more on that later).

The most obvious way is a master's degree. Students who have received a specialist or bachelor's degree can go to any other university for a master's degree. On the websites of absolutely all universities and institutes that have a master’s department, it is emphasized that a master’s degree is an opportunity to obtain a second higher education for free. “Applicants who have received higher education and have a bachelor’s or specialist’s degree can apply for places financed from the federal budget,” says, for example, on the website of the Russian University of Economics them. G. V. Plekhanov. At the same time, it is clarified that when entering a master’s program, you can choose any direction of training, regardless of the profile of your first higher education. “The opportunity to change the direction of study and master a new specialty is one of the key advantages of the “4+2” system (bachelor’s degree + master’s degree),” the Higher School of Economics emphasizes.

This path is good from all points of view, including the fact that enrolling in a master's program at some universities is easier than enrolling in the same university as a first-year student.

"I dreamed of entering High school economics since school,” says 24-year-old Ruslan Pekhov. “But I knew for sure that free branch I can’t get in, the requirements are too high and the competition is big. And then I went to MIIT, received a bachelor’s degree there, and with it I already entered the master’s program at the Higher School of Economics. Entrance exams much simpler, and the competition is minimal."

Despite the fact that you only need to study for a master's degree for two years, students who decide to radically change direction during their studies actually receive two full-fledged professions. “I studied for four years at the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University,” says 25-year-old Nastya Mironova. “I learned Japanese well, received a bachelor’s degree. However, then I realized that knowing the language is not yet a profession, it will be difficult to find a job. So I decided that I will receive a master’s degree at the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. I passed the documents, passed the competition, received a budget place, and two years later I received a second diploma of higher education. Now I am working as a special correspondent in Japan and am quite pleased with the start of my career.”

But what should those who have already become a master do, but still want to study?

At someone else's expense

Then there is only one legal way left - grants. Compared to the West, in Russia the topic of grants does not seem very relevant, however, if you have the desire and ability, education with their help can be obtained not only in Russia, but also abroad. Public organizations There are actually quite a lot of people who provide such grants; you just have to set out to find them. There is, for example, the Ford Foundation, which annually announces a competition for a grant for master’s or postgraduate studies at any university in the world, including Russian ones. There is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), thanks to which grants for a second higher education can be obtained in more than 2 thousand specialties, and the training will not necessarily take place in German.

This year, the British Council in Russia revived the well-known scholarship program Chevening program, providing young professionals not only with free education at any selected UK university for 12 months, but also with residence in this country. In addition to the opportunity to take a training course, the program provides sponsorship of specialists working on short-term research projects. Applicants are required to have a high level of proficiency English language, higher education diploma with excellent and good grades, as well as at least two years of work experience in the chosen specialty. Particular emphasis is placed on the intention of the scholarship applicant to continue labor activity in Russia.

The foreign ministries of all countries with which Russia has established diplomatic relations are trying to allocate similar grants. Therefore, in essence, you should choose a country, go to the website of its embassy and carefully study the section describing cooperation in the field of education. Thus, the website of the French Embassy published a list of programs for which grants are issued, and it seems that they reflect the entire spectrum of human activity. There is a Copernicus program, which is designed for young economists, lawyers and engineers, scholarships intended for Russian students who wish to continue their studies within the second cycle (master), grants for university graduates who would like to enroll in public service, and much more.

Most of these grants assume that upon completion of training, specialists will be issued diplomas that are equivalent to official documents confirming higher education.

Without a diploma, but with knowledge of the matter

It has long been clear to everyone that having a diploma does not always indicate knowledge. Therefore, it often occurs to those who want to improve their level of education that it is much more logical to choose some advanced training courses or acquire new skills not related to your profession. The number of paid offers in this area generally breaks all records, but it’s worth working hard to find free options.

The Strelka Institute of Media, Architecture and Design, founded in 2009, looks unique here. The institute's goal is to "educate a new generation of architects, designers and media specialists who will shape the shape of the world in the 21st century."

The creators of the project call the institute a postgraduate program, which is intended for graduates of higher educational institutions - young professionals. "The program provides the opportunity to work with the authors of brilliant projects in the field of urbanism, architecture and communications from different countries world - an experience that is invaluable for any young specialist,” says Alexander Ostrogorsky, director of communications at the Strelka Institute.

“It is still impossible to perceive studying at our institute as an ordinary second higher education. Educational program is designed for a year, during which students work on projects whose ideas are related to some global and Russian issues, such as the future of energy or conservation historical heritage. After training, students receive certificates, but we do not issue state diplomas either according to the Russian or Western systems,” Ostrogorsky noted.

At the same time, getting into Strelka is no easier than getting into any Western university. Upon admission, students must submit a portfolio, explain why this education is important to them, and undergo a serious competitive selection: 12 candidates applied for a place last year. Upon admission, all students are provided with a scholarship and, if necessary, accommodation.

The training is absolutely free. “Yes, we have summer schools for everyone, where some workshops are paid. But for our students, the entire course of study is absolutely free,” Ostrogorsky clarifies.

According to him, not only those children who have already received an architectural or design education can enter the institute. “Our main task is to find ways to solve problems that are important for Russia and the whole world. Therefore, if not an architect, but, for example, a physicist comes to us and says that he dreams of applying innovative approaches in the field of energy in Russia, we will only be happy,” - Ostrogorsky emphasized.

However, in his opinion, for those who want to combine study with work, this is not the best option. “The training schedule is very tight. During the year, students will have to master an extensive program, which consists of lectures, events and educational trips. Therefore, we are against combining training with serious work, and this is unlikely to happen,” says Ostrogorsky.

If the task is to combine education with a work schedule, you can try to force your employer to pay for your education. Some companies provide on-the-job training to their employees. This is called a corporate university. For example, Beeline, Severstal, Ingosstrakh, Rostelecom, Wimm-Bill-Dann, McDonald's, Coca-Cola and many others have these. These institutions are good because they give students practical knowledge in a narrow specialty without interruption from production. As a rule, teachers are invited from leading business schools and large companies, and the learning process is based on completing business tasks.

hope for the best

It is possible that in the future it will be easier to study for free at a university a second time. In any case, discussions on this topic are ongoing among legislators. In 2008 in State Duma A bill was introduced in which deputies propose to allow free second higher education in some specialties in the field of culture and art. In particular, it was intended to give the opportunity to study for free once again for those people who wanted to choose as a second profession such areas as theater directing, film and television directing, composition, conducting and some others. However, the number did not go through.

“Then the Ministry of Finance simply felt sorry for the money,” believes one of the authors of the bill, deputy from the A Just Russia party Elena Drapeko. “Of course, they explained this to us with a more noble reason: if we were to allow free second higher education, then it would be for everyone.” However, she is confident that all is not lost and intends to reintroduce the bill in the near future. “Many years of experience objectively show that in some professions, for example in the profession of a director or conductor, success was achieved only by those who entered these professions at the age of 23-25. A conductor is a second education by definition, since a person must at least get a musical education and become, for example, an excellent violinist,” the deputy noted.

She tells a revealing story about a young man who, while studying at the theater department, discovered a rare talent as an animated film director. “Tell me, how many animated film directors do we have? Yes, almost none! But the guy is really talented. And everyone admits it. The teachers are happy to teach him again for free new specialty, but not required by law. So we have to raise money from sponsors,” says Drapeko. “We are trying to find money for talented guys. But such grants are few and far from everyone who wants and deserves it manages to receive them.”

“And besides, there is no system in this,” the deputy continues. “This is some kind of manual control. We must finally admit that there are specialties that only adults need to learn.”

Bypassing the law

In the meantime, the bill is waiting in the wings, cunning students are solving the problem of the second higher education in their own way. According to federal law"On higher and postgraduate professional education" every citizen of Russia has the right to receive free professional education on a competitive basis and only if he receives education at this level for the first time. However, the law does not provide for liability for obtaining a second higher education free of charge. There is also no provision for checking data on whether an applicant has completed professional education. And some people take advantage of it. An applicant, as you know, is required to provide the admissions committee with an identification document, citizenship, a state-issued education document and photographs. That is, in theory, you need to present a diploma of higher professional education, if you have one. Moreover, each applicant signs that he is receiving higher professional education for the first time.

“The legislation does not provide for liability for providing false information or failure to provide certain documents when entering a university,” says a specialist from the Federal Center educational legislation Maria Smirnova.— And the judicial practice on the application of Part 3 of Art. 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the provision of knowingly forged documents has not yet been formed." In theory, liability in the form of expulsion from a university can be enshrined in the university's charter, but this also practically does not happen.