The plans will see the government funding 2,000 Russian students to enroll in overseas universities in 2012, which will rise up to 10,000 a year in 2015. They will have tuition fees and living expenses paid for. It’s estimated that the first year alone will cost the government US$60 million. However, the funding will only apply to postgraduate degrees – master’s, PhDs and MBAs.

The plans are designed to strengthen the labour market and bring more skilled workers into the Russian workforce – part of the funding agreement will involve the student signing a contract agreeing to return to Russia after their studies have finished and those that do not will face a penalty.

For the time being, students under the scheme will be able to choose their courses, but it is expected that in the future the funding will be for specific subjects in order to develop specialists in in-demand areas, such as engineers. There are also plans to prepare lists of employers who can offer the returning graduates attractive job offers.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said: “Thousands of our young scientists, engineers and public officials will receive master’s and doctoral degrees at the world’s leading universities during the next decade. Hopefully, studying abroad will allow them to take key positions in Russian business, government, science and education.”

It is expected that most students will go to the USA, but others will go to Australia, Europe and elsewhere. The funding is a big step up from previous years – up until now, the government has funded just 40 domestic undergraduate students and 60 postgraduates in overseas universities under a presidential scholarship programme that selected candidates based on a nationwide public competition.

Источник: http://www.i-studentadvisor.com/blog/education/international-education/russia-plans-to-fund-10000-students-studying-overseas/