What kind of education do bachelors have. Is a bachelor's degree a complete higher education or not? Levels of higher education

Back in 1997, Russia joined the single European educational space. This happened after the signing of the Bologna Convention, which involves the transition to the so-called two-level educational system. Starting this year, all universities in the country offer bachelor's and master's programs of study and training of specialists to future students. At the first level there is a bachelor's degree and its "basic" knowledge, at the second level a master's degree and a specialist. What is the difference between these levels of education?

Definition of degrees of education

Modern students after graduation from school (or technical school) have a very difficult time. Not only are they more often required to decide on their future profession “here and now” and pass the appropriate number of exams, there is also some kind of confusion with educational programs. Someone shouts that a bachelor's degree is an unfinished higher education and it is imperative to complete a master's degree, someone claims that a specialty as a training program has long been excluded, someone does not understand all these educational levels at all and carries his cherished documents with his eyes closed to the first university you come across.

In order to prevent this from happening to you, let's try to figure out what is the difference between these mysterious educational levels.

Undergraduate

Initially, the academic cap was intended for undergraduates, but then bachelors began to use it as well.

Let's start with the simplest (and for some the most difficult) - with a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degree is the initial stage of higher education. A bachelor's degree is a full-fledged higher education with all the ensuing consequences.

Bachelor degree:

the degree (qualification) of the bachelor confirms the receipt of higher professional education;
the program is designed for four years of study;
upon graduation, the student must pass the final certification (pass state exams) and / or defend a diploma;
after completing the undergraduate studies, the student has the right to enter the master's program.

Now let's look at all the provisions in more detail.

Graduates of schools, colleges, technical schools and colleges can apply for a bachelor's degree. Of course, for this you need to pass the appropriate USE exams (they will depend on the specialty that you would like to get).

A bachelor's degree means that a university graduate has completed four years of study and received a basic higher education. Employers around the world understand this statement because the undergraduate degree is part of a two-tier European education.

After graduation, a student applying for a bachelor's degree must pass a final certification and / or defend a final qualifying work (popularly a “diploma”). Having adopted European standards of education, Russia did not bother to rewrite educational programs and revise the certification of future university graduates. In fact, many students are now studying in the same programs that were successfully operating until 1997 and were designed for 5 years of study.

This system does not work in all specialties. Some still assume only examination certification without any written confirmation.

For those who do not want to be limited to basic knowledge, a master's degree is provided. After completing a bachelor's degree, a graduate can, with a clear conscience, apply to a master's program. Moreover, it is not necessary to choose a master's degree in your own specialty, you can choose something completely different and end up with two different specialties.

Let's highlight the advantages and disadvantages of a bachelor's degree.

short period of study;
the degree gives the right to employment both in Russia and abroad;
the degree gives the right to continue education;
after a bachelor's degree, it is possible to enter a master's program even in another university and in another specialty.

low demand for bachelors among leading employers in the Russian Federation (the whole point here is confusion due to the simultaneous existence of bachelor's and specialist's degrees in our country, because of this, many employers think that a bachelor has a more limited set of knowledge than a specialist, although this same curriculum)
a limited number of state-funded places in the master's program (due to the transition to a two-level education system, the number of free places in the master's program was significantly reduced, and the competition was tightened).

Many people also mistakenly think that the level of knowledge and the rigidity of the requirements at the bachelor's degree is much lower than at the specialist's and master's programs. Most often this is not the case. It depends on the university where you will study, on the specialty you have chosen, as well as on the teaching staff of the educational institution.

Master's degree

A master's degree is an obvious plus on a resume

People who have a bachelor's or specialist's degree can go to the magistracy.

Obtaining a master's degree involves six years of study at a university. These six years include undergraduate studies (four years) and directly the master's program of study (two years). It is assumed that this degree is chosen by those students who plan to continue their scientific activities.

Education in the magistracy involves a narrower educational focus. If the bachelor's degree is considered the basic level of education, studying at which students receive general (initial) knowledge about the specialty, then the master's degree is designed for a more conscious attitude to the subject of study (the student must clearly know what he is interested in and direct his efforts to a deeper study of the subject of scientific research).

During two years of study in the magistracy, the undergraduate student is obliged to work on a master's thesis. Upon graduation, he will have to defend his master's degree, which will allow him to receive a “crust” corresponding to his scientific degree.

Let's highlight the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a master's degree.

After graduating from a bachelor's degree, it is not necessary to immediately enter a master's program. You have time to relax a little and think about your future;
master's degree allows you to dramatically change your specialty. If, for example, you have a bachelor's degree in one specialty, but you have always dreamed of another, then a master's degree is a great tool to fulfill your dream;
A bachelor's degree and a master's degree can be obtained at different universities. And this applies not only to domestic educational institutions. You can enroll in a master's program abroad.

tougher competition for budget places. In connection with the transition to a two-level education system, the competition for state-funded places has become much tougher, students are selected according to certain criteria and merits;
employment problem. If you are a poor student who has financial problems, then know that you can only get a job that is combined with the study schedule. The modern dominance of students who want to study and work (read “enroll at the university, but not attend it”) is very large, therefore, for absenteeism, even because you are busy at work, you can easily be expelled and find a replacement for you on the same day;
short learning period. This is not about the fact that those who are thirsty for knowledge are given a small amount of time to obtain this knowledge, but about the fact that in two years you have to write a rather voluminous scientific work. If you have not encountered this at the undergraduate level (did not defend your diploma, but only passed state exams), then it will be very difficult for you to adapt to this certification format in such a short time. Especially if you work and study at the same time.

Specialty

In many CIS countries, the specialty has already been canceled

Let's move on to the most incomprehensible educational course - the specialty. This direction is a dying stage of higher education, because after the transition to the European system in our country (for some reason) they did not want to abandon this format of higher education.

These days it's hard enough to find an institution that allows students to choose a major as their program of study, but some universities (especially in the provinces) provide such an opportunity, which causes even more confusion among already frightened would-be students.

The qualification of a specialist is also a higher professional education. The confusion begins at the moment of the final certification. Here, many people begin to confuse undergraduate and specialist studies, and comparing them, they find that undergraduate studies take only four years, and five years for a specialist (provided that everything else for these qualifications is the same). Such a discovery makes many people think that a bachelor's degree is an incomplete higher education, while a specialist's degree is full and complete.

Let's dispel the myths: both the bachelor's degree and the qualification of a specialist are higher professional education. The only problem is that in Russia they did not bother to rework the curricula and the certification system for university graduates, so they left everything as it was and added a two-level education system to this.

Ideally, we should not have a specialty at all, students should immediately enroll in a bachelor's degree, and then, if they wish, continue their studies in a master's and graduate school. At the same time, future bachelors must pass only state exams at the end of their studies (without protection of scientific work).

In reality, we still have two almost identical stages of higher education, one of which was simply taken away from one year of study (which, by the way, is most often not “scattered” in terms of the curriculum for the remaining 4 years, but included in Last year). Therefore, bachelor students are required to master everything that specialist students master in four years and during this time manage to write a qualifying scientific work and prepare for state exams.

The only significant advantage and difference between a specialty and a bachelor's degree is the fact that after completing a specialist's degree, a student can immediately apply to graduate school. This is very convenient for those who intend to build a scientific career.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the specialty.

advantage when applying for a job within the Russian Federation. The new system of higher education has not yet been fully adopted in Russia, so many employers believe that a specialist degree is a full-fledged higher education, while a bachelor's degree is incomplete or insufficient;
opportunity to go directly to graduate school. The good news for those who are going to connect their lives with science is that obtaining a specialist qualification will allow you to immediately enter graduate school;
magistracy is considered the second higher education. For those who want to learn something new, the specialty will also be very convenient - after completing the specialty, you can enroll in a master's program in another specialty. Upon completion of the master's program, you will be considered the owner of two higher educations.

a specialist diploma is not quoted abroad. Foreign employers do not know who a specialist is and what he eats with. They are accustomed to a two-tier education system, and something similar to a bachelor's degree, but at the same time different from it in some criteria, does not suit them;
many universities have already practically got rid of the specialty. Although the phenomenon of a specialist qualification still exists in our country, it is difficult to quickly find a university that provides a five-year study opportunity;
a bachelor's degree and a specialist's degree are equated. This should have become clear even at the time of comparing bachelor's and specialist's degrees. These two levels provide one curriculum, the same certification, so that the diplomas here will be the same in terms of weight.

PhD

In some countries, graduate school is already considered a full-time job, not a study.

Postgraduate study is the first step on the way to a scientific career. It is not a mandatory element in obtaining higher education and is considered as a separate educational block.

PhD degree (postgraduate student):

the time of study in full-time postgraduate study is 3 years, in correspondence 4 years;
upon completion of postgraduate studies, a postgraduate student is obliged to defend a dissertation, which will allow him to receive a Ph.D. degree;
for the entire period of postgraduate studies, the future candidate of sciences must pass three candidate exams, as well as prepare several scientific publications;
graduate school gives the right to conduct classes at universities, as well as take exams;
After completing the postgraduate studies, you can enter the doctoral program.

Postgraduate study provides for the student's desire to engage in scientific activities, as well as to teach in higher educational institutions.

What is the difference between Bachelor's, Specialist's, Master's and PhD

The difference can be seen in the comparison table below.

Table: differences in educational levels

Comparison points	Undergraduate	Specialty	Master's degree
Applicant Selection Criteria		Applicants with secondary general education	Bachelor's Degree/Specialist Qualification
Studying time	4 years	5 years	2 years
Degree (qualification)	Scientific degree (bachelor)	Professional qualification (specialist)	Scientific degree (Master)
Educational base	Basic training (no narrowly focused research is provided)	General training, which is aimed at obtaining practical knowledge in the chosen specialty	Deep study of specialization, designed to continue scientific activity
Form of final certification		Passing the state exam and defending a diploma	Master's degree defense
The next level of learning	Master's degree	Master's or PhD	PhD
Professional perspectives	Opportunity to apply for any position requiring higher education

Summing up what has been said, I would like to note once again: despite the fact that the system of higher education in Russia is rather complicated, it is not so complicated. All three stages of the two-tier system of European education are full-fledged higher education. Bachelor's and specialist's degrees are almost identical levels, so they are very often confused or not distinguished. Both bachelor's and specialist's degrees are the first (basic) level of the higher education system. The specialty is almost completely excluded from the proposed options for higher education, its place is taken by the bachelor's degree.

Master's degree is the second optional stage of higher education and is designed for those students who want to study their specialty in more detail.

Postgraduate study, in turn, is the first stage of a research career. A student can enroll after completing the first two levels of higher education.

Since 1996, after the introduction of a two-stage system, many people are still wondering whether a bachelor's degree is a complete higher education or not. This worries not only future students, but also parents, since everyone needs a complete understanding of how much and how a young person will study.

The federal law of August 22, 1996 No. 125-FZ, supplemented in 2003 and 2012, clearly defines two educational stages, after which a person receives a diploma of higher education:

bachelor;
master or specialist.

These changes in the system of training specialists are connected with the need to bring higher education closer to the common European standard and to facilitate the integration of Russian students into it.

After graduation, an applicant can only enter the undergraduate program, and only after finishing, continue his studies in the magistracy. A bachelor's degree makes it possible not only to continue studying abroad, but also to get a job there.

Thus, a completed higher education is considered to be a diploma of completion of any of the two levels of education. At what stage to finish their studies, each student decides individually, depending on the goals, the chosen profession and the intended place of work.

Bachelor's degree is the first degree of the highest form of education, obtaining the basic professional knowledge necessary for practical work. As a rule, the level is reached after 4 years of study at the university. The diploma indicates the degree and specialty, for example, "bachelor-engineer".
Specialist - the level of higher education with the assignment of qualifications in the specialty. This is a classical training, in which, in addition to in-depth theoretical knowledge, narrow practical skills are given in the profession. Relevant for Russia. The usual form of Soviet education. It should be understood that this is not an intermediate level, but a full-fledged education in the traditional sense. Gradually, the specialty goes into oblivion, leaving only two levels of higher education.
Master's degree is an in-depth study of special subjects with a scientific bias. Master's degree can be a continuation of education if admission is carried out after the initial stage in the same specialty. It gives you the opportunity to get additional higher education if another direction is chosen or if you already have a specialist diploma. Admission to the magistracy is carried out on a competitive basis.

Bachelor's degree as an initial degree of higher education has a number of advantages:

a shortened period of study (in most cases 4 years) allows you to start working earlier or radically change your profession without losing time;
the opportunity to continue the educational process abroad;
the general orientation of the educational process without deepening into narrow disciplines gives a wide choice when choosing a job or specialty. In this case, it is often enough just to complete advanced training courses.

Main cons:

it is impossible to engage in scientific research or continue studies in graduate school;
restrictions in the choice of work or low competitiveness compared to masters;
the inability to gain access to a number of government positions, as well as in the field of education;
the deferment from the army ends immediately after the end of the level.

The diploma of the first academic degree is issued only after the defense of the final work, confirms the development of fundamental knowledge and general scientific foundations. This degree is present in all areas except medical.

Bachelors are primarily practitioners who can successfully engage in self-education or improvement within the profession on the job.

Bachelor in Labor Market

Personnel officers still mistakenly believe that a bachelor's degree is what used to be called an incomplete higher education. Many employers do not know whether a bachelor's degree is a complete higher education or not, because of this, they often set restrictions for candidates for vacancies. In fact, this is a complete education, requiring continuation only in individual cases, depending on the aspirations of the student.

Some sociologists are afraid of a significant decline in the quality of higher education in Russia due to the reduction of training time, and hence, the acquisition of less knowledge. In addition, many institutions are in no hurry to switch to a new system, adhering to the traditional training of specialists. But the number of years of study does not at all indicate that a graduate will become a good specialist. Rather, it depends on the personality characteristics of a person, as well as his ability and desire to learn and do his job well.

Large factories and enterprises do not prioritize the presence of a master's degree in a young specialist. Most of them value the ability to learn, prefer to accept an employee with the basic necessary knowledge and instill in him practical knowledge directly at the workplace.

At the same time, building a career only with a first degree diploma is quite difficult. The deputies are considering a bill that will not allow bachelors to hold leadership positions.

The question of admission to a vacant position of a bachelor or master is decided only by the employer, as well as the possibility of further professional growth of his employee. Some places require deep knowledge, require scientific skills, so only masters can occupy them.

Students who have graduated from an undergraduate institution should have a good idea of their future in order to decide whether they need to continue their studies.

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Despite the fact that the transition from education according to Soviet standards, that is, the training of specialists at universities to European standards, which implies the education of bachelors and masters, began a long time ago, many are still concerned about the question of whether a bachelor's degree is a higher education or not. At least search engines are asked about it quite often.

Let's try to figure it out and look at this issue from the point of view of the law, employers and the very idea, according to which 2 options for studying at universities were invented. Let's start with her

Bachelor and Master difference

The difference is surprisingly significant. Initially, the Bachelor's program assumed the acquisition of basic knowledge, which would be enough to work in the received specialty. The term of study, which in Russian universities is usually 4 years, is shorter compared to master's and specialist's programs, but the knowledge gained should be enough to work in the specialty.

Master's degree involves a longer and deeper study of subjects in the specialty. As a result, after 6 years of study, a student who has received a master's degree can not only work in his specialty, but also continue to engage in scientific activities.

The specialty is currently being eliminated from universities, if I remember correctly, in 2011 there was only one specialty left at my university, after studying in which it was possible to get a specialist diploma. The specialty is the most prestigious. By the way, a specialist and a master are people with the same level of education and, accordingly, opportunities, for example, they can go to graduate school and do science, but about the levels of higher education a little lower.

But it should have been so, and so it is in European universities. With ours, as always, "options are possible."

Is a bachelor's degree a higher education or not? From an employer's point of view

Even from the point of view of the idea, it is easier to understand than from the point of view of the employer. But in the last 5-7 years, employers have begun to treat people with a bachelor's degree better.

Bachelor's diploma

And anyway, when applying for a job, a bachelor's degree will be rather a minus, although it is also important here how well you show yourself at the interview. About 7 years ago, for sure, many could hear something like “Who is a bachelor anyway?”, And even after explaining that this is also a higher education, the answer could be a nod and a promise to call back.

Is a bachelor's degree a higher education or not? From a legal point of view.

Finally, it is possible to give an answer, supported not by views on the life of individuals or an ideal idea, but by the law of the Russian Federation. To do this, we turn to the document called Federal Law of December 29, 2012 N 273-FZ (as amended on July 3, 2016) “On Education in the Russian Federation” (as amended and supplemented, entered into force on July 15, 2016), the answer to the question to which the article is devoted is contained in Article 10 of this Federal Law:

The following levels of vocational education are established in the Russian Federation:

1) secondary vocational education;
2) higher education - bachelor's degree;
3) higher education - specialty, magistracy;
4) higher education - training of highly qualified personnel.

And, as it becomes clear, a bachelor's degree is higher education. However, higher education has 3 levels, bachelor's degree is the first level.

So, we figured out the structure of higher education in Russia, the Federal Law helped in this, by the way, it is very new and has fresh changes and additions.

The conclusion to the entire article will be this - yes, a bachelor's degree confirms higher education, but it is a first-level education, so it will not be superfluous to get an education in the profile of a specialist or a master's degree. Read more about the magistracy in the article. See you on the blog pages site

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If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to answer as detailed and clear as possible.

In more than 50 countries of the world, and especially in Europe, there is a two-level system of higher education. Universities annually release bachelors and masters from their walls into the "professional" life. The question is legitimate - where, in this case, do specialists come from? Also from universities and can even then become masters, like bachelors. In order not to get completely confused about the difference between a bachelor and a specialist, let's look at history.

The origin of the concepts "specialist" and "bachelor"

Bachelors appeared in the Middle Ages in Eastern Europe, even then this concept referred to university students who had reached a certain level of mastery, degree. One of the versions of the origin of the word “bachelor” boils down to the fact that those who reached this degree were awarded the fruit of the laurel, and it sounded like “bacca lauri”. The term "specialist" in turn refers exclusively to the Soviet space. He called himself a certified specialist, and even now a person who has received a diploma of higher education in a particular specialty is called. In most countries of the post-Soviet space, including Russia and Ukraine, the degree of "specialist" has already been canceled. Thus, we can say that the main difference between a bachelor and a specialist lies in terms: a bachelor is an academic degree, a specialist is a qualification.

Differences in the preparation of bachelors and specialists

What distinguishes a bachelor's degree from a specialist's degree is the terms of study. A bachelor will have to sit at a desk for only 4 years, while a specialist will spend 5-6 years, depending on the specialty.
For the first two years, future bachelors and future specialists study in one program, the separation begins in the third year. While bachelors continue to study broad-profile subjects, the specialist moves on to narrow-profile disciplines.
The difference between a bachelor and a specialist upon graduation is that a specialist receives a diploma in his specialty, and a bachelor about general higher education.
Bachelor and specialist can continue their education in the magistracy. But for a bachelor-master and a specialist-master, the difference is that the former formally continues to receive higher education and can do it, while for a specialist it is a second education, in any case paid.

Pros and cons

It turns out that it is almost impossible to answer the question of whether a bachelor or a specialist is higher. Both have received higher education, and both can work in their profession. The advantages of choosing a bachelor's degree include the opportunity to consider the choice of specialization. For example, after graduating from a university, you can start working and, depending on the field of activity, make a choice in the magistracy. A specialist risks, having received a specialty, and not to find its application in practice.

An obvious advantage of a bachelor's degree will be for a student who is going to go abroad, since a bachelor's degree is a unified standard. At the same time, when applying for a job in Russia or Ukraine, a bachelor's degree is evaluated ambiguously - this is a minus. Many employers perceive such education as incomplete, like about everything and nothing at the same time. In turn, European and American employers enthusiastically accept bachelors as employees with the prospect of learning “for themselves”.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that when choosing a higher education - a specialist or a bachelor, you must first of all focus on your personal plans. Dreaming of or about the fastest economic independence, then a bachelor's degree, while still in high school, decided on a specialty - obviously, a specialty.

Undergraduate
Specialty
Master's degree
PhD

(Chapter 8, Article 69 of the Law "On Education")

1. Higher education aims to ensure the training of highly qualified personnel in all major areas of socially useful activities in accordance with the needs of society and the state, meeting the needs of the individual in intellectual, cultural and moral development, deepening and expanding education, scientific and pedagogical qualifications.

Persons with a secondary general education are allowed to study undergraduate or specialist programs.

3. Persons with higher education of any level are allowed to master the master's programs.

What is a "bachelor", "master", "specialist"?

Bachelor(English) bachelor‘ sdegree) is an academic degree or qualification awarded to persons who have mastered the relevant educational programs of higher education. Completed higher education in countries that participate in the Bologna process (incl.

Undergraduate- higher education, confirmed by a bachelor's degree with the award of an academic bachelor's degree or a bachelor's qualification.

Bachelor's diploma when applying for a job, it gives the right to occupy a position for which the qualification requirements provide for higher education.

A bachelor's degree also gives the right to continue studying at a master's program in the field, funded from the federal budget.

A bachelor's degree is a document that confirms the completion of higher education.

In Russia, this level of training was introduced in 1996. The normative period of study for obtaining the qualification (degree) "Bachelor" is not less than 4 years. The qualification is awarded based on the results of the defense of the final work at a meeting of the State Attestation Commission. A bachelor's degree in Russia is higher education. Persons with a bachelor's degree may also be admitted to the defense of a dissertation for the degree of candidate of science.

After December 31, 2010, bachelor's and master's qualifications (degrees) became the main ones for graduates of Russian higher educational institutions.

Master(from lat. master- mentor, teacher) - an academic degree, qualification (in some countries - an academic degree) acquired by a student after graduating from a master's program.

Master's degree(called in some countries masterate) - the level of higher education, following the bachelor's degree, allowing you to deepen your specialization in a particular area.

The "master's" degree provides for a deeper mastery of the theory in the chosen field and preparation of the student for research activities in the chosen direction.

In North America and the European Union, the majority of university graduates do not go on to graduate studies after bachelor's because the bachelor's degree is proof of a full higher education.

More often, students who plan to engage in scientific research or teaching activities at the university continue their studies in the magistracy.

Specialist(certified specialist) - a qualification acquired by a student after mastering a special training program.

The normative term of the training program for obtaining the degree of "specialist" in Russia is at least five years. The qualification is awarded based on the results of defending a graduation project or a thesis at a meeting of the State Attestation Commission and gives the right to enter the magistracy and postgraduate studies.

Levelshigher education: where did they come from?

The introduction of new educational standards is connected with Russia's international obligations to participate in the Bologna process.

In 2003, Russia ratified the Bologna Convention, an agreement that higher education diplomas obtained in a member country of the convention will be recognized in all other member countries. Such standards in education have been adopted in more than 50 states, primarily in Europe. For Europe, the two-stage system of higher education is traditional, the undergraduate program there lasts 3-4 years, the master's program - 1-3 years. Both are considered high-grade higher education. If desired, bachelor students can continue their studies in the magistracy, or they may not continue, but immediately go to get a job.

In Russia, there are the following levels of higher education:

higher education, confirmed by the award of degrees " bachelor" and " master»
qualification " certified specialist».

We can say that the new system is conditionally called two-level, since the “old” one-level system of training specialists also fits into it. The latter has not been abolished, as it is necessary in medical, military and technical universities. The following terms of education are provided:

at least 4 years for a bachelor,
at least 5 years for a graduate,
at least 6 years for a master's degree.

enroll to study on the specialist and bachelor's degree can be based on the results of the Unified State Examination or Olympiads included in the official list of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Degree bachelor's degree the student acquires after mastering the basic educational program. He is issued full diploma general higher education. After five years of study, a specialist is also issued a diploma, but not about general higher education, but on chosen specialty. Master - expert in certain scientific area. A master's degree can be obtained by both a bachelor and a specialist. In order to continue studying at the magistracy, a bachelor must enter there by passing exams in specialized subjects. At the same time, a bachelor can go to a master's program both at his own university and at any other. Both the specialist and the master can go on to graduate school. Difference between specialist and master lies in the fact that the first is prepared for practical work in industries by chosen direction, and the second for scientific work. The master's program includes a bachelor's program plus two years of specialized training, including practice that involves research or teaching activities.

NovoTsNIT, 2017

Bachelor

Summer's soon. And the graduates of the school will have to pass the entrance tests to the chosen university and get a profession that will accompany them on their life path. If before 2011 everything was clear with this in principle, now higher education is divided into “bachelor's” and “master's”.

Who are bachelors? Is a bachelor's degree a completed higher education? What are the benefits of this degree when applying for a job? These moments are confusing for parents and applicants, and coupled with pre-exam jitters, they can lead to a slight panic. The reader can find answers to these and some other questions in this article.

Bologna system

First, you need to figure out where the idea of a two-level education came from.

This model was approved at a conference in Bologna in 1999. Russia signed the Bologna Declaration on Education in 2003, becoming the fortieth country in a row.

The Bologna two-tier system has been successfully operating in Canada, the United States and a number of other countries, providing not only a high level of education, but also helping young professionals to more easily adapt to market mobility and uncertainty.

The meaning of the word "bachelor"

The very word "bachelor" can be translated as a young legionary knight, a bachelor. In fact, this quite accurately describes young boys and girls who are at the beginning of their professional path and the search for their place in the sun.

System and conditions

A student receives a bachelor's degree after four years of successful study at a higher educational institution. The focus can be very different: bachelor of architecture, bachelor of economics. Not all universities have switched to a two-tier system. The exceptions are medical universities and art institutes.

While studying in the bachelor's degree, the student receives fundamental knowledge in the main general educational disciplines and special subjects.

There are advantages to this. The narrow specialization, which is now being studied in the magistracy, was previously sewn into the general program. This made it difficult for university graduates to get another profession and retrain.

Path choice

After graduating from a bachelor's degree, a newly-minted bachelor has a choice.

He can get a job, and a bachelor's degree is equivalent to obtaining a complete higher education. Therefore, in the competition for a position of interest, a bachelor can participate on an equal basis with masters.
The second option: admission to the magistracy.
Master's degree, in fact, is an intermediate link between a university graduate and a scientific degree.

Exams are required for the Master's degree. The term of study will be 2 years. A master's degree can hypothetically be completed at any university in the country or abroad. The difficulty here arises when taking into account the quality of knowledge gained during undergraduate studies. The fact is that a bachelor's degree can be completed at a non-state university, the quality of education in which, in some cases, leaves much to be desired. At what the magistracy at these educational institutions is not present. This can become an obstacle in passing exams for continuing education and obtaining the second stage of higher education.
The third option: a bachelor can get a job in his specialty, gain experience, establish himself in the correct choice of profession, and only after that enter the master's program and graduate from it already consciously.

At the end of the bachelor's degree, he issues a diploma of higher education, at the end of the master's degree - another diploma, but already about the completion of the master's degree.

Those who wish can continue their career by enrolling in graduate school and defending candidate and doctoral dissertations.

A bit of local history

Everything new is well forgotten old.

Few people know that a two-tier education system existed in Russia as early as the 18th century. There was a division into candidates and masters of science. Candidates are graduates who graduated with honors from a higher educational institution. If desired and striving for science, they had the right to enter the magistracy. Preparation for the exam took quite a serious period of time - about four years. The level of students who passed the exam for a master's degree was equal in qualification to the level of European doctors of philosophy. In fact, the master of that time was a candidate of sciences of the present time. The system did not last long and was abolished at the beginning of the 20th century, like all scientific degrees. The hierarchy among pundits was restored only in 1934.

Controversy around bachelors

A bachelor's degree generates controversy among employers, parents and applicants.

Incomplete higher education is two years of study at a higher educational institution, four successfully passed sessions in a row and a certificate from the dean's office confirming the terms of study and the disciplines studied by the student. Certificate of incomplete higher education - a document that can be presented to a potential employer. In addition, if a student, after two years of study, came to the conclusion that the chosen university or profession has lost all charm and charm for him, they do not motivate and burden him with exploits, then with this certificate you can apply to another university. Thus, significantly reducing the training time and avoiding re-study of the disciplines passed.

In the case of a bachelor's degree, the learning process at this stage is considered completed, the diploma is valid.

Differences between masters and bachelors

Bachelors differ from masters in the level of theoretical and narrowly focused knowledge. The bachelor's degree is primarily focused on skills that have practical application in the chosen profession. The master's program immerses students deeper into theoretical aspects and scientific hypotheses.

It should be remembered that a person receives basic professional knowledge and skills with experience in a particular field. Theoretical dogmas are good in sterile conditions, subject to all parameters. In practice, everything is different. Therefore, being face to face with a specific practical problem at work, you will have to not only rely on the knowledge gained at the institute, but also rely on your inner personal qualities. This is taken into account by employers when selecting candidates. Since such traits as sociability, responsibility, empathy, stress resistance depend only indirectly on the degree of education, and are character traits of the candidate, instilled by parents, developed in the process of self-improvement or received at birth.

Two-stage education system: pros and cons

A bachelor's degree is convenient. Reducing the time spent on obtaining higher education, the possibility of choosing a further path, mobility. These are additional opportunities for successful self-realization and a conscious path not imposed by society or internal authorities. Streams of information fall on the world, new technologies appear, professions arise, the existence of which people did not even know. And here the bachelor's degree gives odds to the specialist, which today is becoming a fragment of the past.

Today, when the system is still in its infancy, there are doubts and hesitations.

Parents who want their children to have a successful career and the very best still call a bachelor's degree a technical school.

Employers whose HR department employs HR directors who remember Lenin are wary of accepting bachelors for leading positions. But this is the stage of implementation of changes, the uncertainty of which will come to naught in the near future. As well as the disadvantages of a bachelor's degree in general. Although it is worth noting that it will not be easy for a bachelor to apply for leadership positions related to highly specialized moments. Most likely, in this case, during the competitive selection, this position will be given to the master.

The education system, standardized according to the Western model, opens up the opportunity for graduates to continue their studies in the magistracy outside their homeland.

It should also be remembered that a bachelor who has not completed a master's degree cannot enter graduate school.

A bachelor is a young specialist with an open road to self-realization and building an excellent career. To enroll in a magistracy or not is the choice of everyone. The main thing is to be and feel like a competent specialist in the chosen field. Confidence and openness to new knowledge, the desire for success and readiness for change are the qualities of people who achieve success not only in their careers, but in life in general.

How to write a bachelor's degree

Many students entering a university do not think about who they are going to study, who they will be in the end: bachelors or masters. Most are likely to stop at the undergraduate level, completing a Bachelor of Science degree and graduating. The bachelor's final thesis (VRB) can be considered as the first part of a specialist's thesis (master's thesis) for those students who plan to continue their studies after completing the bachelor's degree.

The final work of the bachelor is defended by students at the end of the fourth year. An applicant for a bachelor's degree must demonstrate the ability to analyze current scientific problems, solve the tasks assigned to him and master the basics of the disciplines studied during the training.

A bachelor's degree should have internal unity and completeness, it should reflect all stages of research activities, the topic of the work must necessarily be relevant at the present stage of development of science and technology.

For research VRB it is necessary:

Formulate a statement of the problem;
Gather the necessary theoretical base (often students are allowed to submit the collected material in the form of an abstract);
Analyze existing analogues and solution methods;
Bring the mathematical apparatus (models, algorithms, techniques, formulas, calculations);
Conduct a detailed analysis of the results of the first phase of the study;
Decompose the main goal into several subgoals.

The result of the research is algorithms, models, research methods, analysis results developed by the student.

Based on the analysis of systematized information, a certificate of analysis of patent literature is compiled. If a student proposes a solution that differs significantly from the analogues found, then he files an application for the proposed invention to register his intellectual property.

Bachelor's thesis must contain:

Rationale for relevance;
Elements of analysis (is an integral part, lack of analysis is unacceptable);
Justification of the choice of design solutions;

A bachelor's thesis does not have to be of scientific and technical novelty.

In other words, the work may contain the study of ways to solve a problem for which there is at least one ready-made solution.

Persons who have fully and successfully completed their studies at the university are issued a diploma of the appropriate level of professional education: a bachelor's, specialist's or master's degree.

The fact of non-completion of education at the university is confirmed by other documents, depending on the year of completion of studies.

1. Documents issued for incomplete and incomplete higher education until 24.10.2007

According to the previous legislation on higher and postgraduate professional education, persons who did not complete their education in the main educational program of higher professional education before October 24, 2007 could receive one of the following documents:

diploma of incomplete higher education. It was issued to persons who successfully passed the intermediate certification (for at least two years of study);
academic certificate of incomplete higher professional education. It was issued to persons who did not complete the development of the main educational program of higher professional education.

The academic certificate indicated: the period of study, information about the passed tests, intermediate and final exams, about the practice passed (Appendix N 6 to the Decree of the State Committee for Higher Education of Russia dated November 30, 1994 N 9).

To obtain these documents, it was necessary to apply to the educational institution in which the training was conducted.

Note: Incomplete higher education is not considered as a level of higher professional education (Determination of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of July 26, 2012 N APL12-398).

When an employee presented a diploma of incomplete higher education, the employer entered in the information about the employee indicated on the first page of the work book an entry about incomplete higher education, since the training did not continue, but was interrupted (clause 2.1 of the Instructions for filling out work books, approved by the Decree Ministry of Labor of Russia dated 10.10.2003 N 69).

For an employee with an academic certificate, the employer made a note in the work book about incomplete higher education, since the citizen had the right to continue his studies at an educational institution (clause 2.1 of the Instructions for filling out work books).

2. Documents issued for incomplete higher education from 27.10.2007 to 01.09.2013

In October 2007, the concepts of incomplete and incomplete higher education were abolished.

All persons, regardless of the period of study and the number of intermediate certifications passed, who did not complete the development of the main educational program of higher professional education, from 10/27/2007 to 09/01/2013 could only receive an academic certificate.

In the period from 10/27/2007 to 09/01/2013, before receiving a diploma of higher education, when applying for a job, an entry was made in the work book of the employee about incomplete higher professional education (clause 2.1 of the Instructions for filling out work books).

Documents issued for incomplete higher education from 09/01/2013

From 09/01/2013, instead of academic certificates, higher educational institutions issue certificates of study or of the period of study to the following persons (part 12 of article 60 of the Law of 12/29/2012 N 273-FZ):

did not pass the final certification;
who received unsatisfactory results at the final certification;
who have mastered part of the educational program;
expelled from the organization carrying out educational activities.

These certificates are issued according to the model established by the organization conducting educational activities (part 12 of article 60 of Law N 273-FZ).

Directions for the preparation of masters of RosNOU

What is a master's degree?

Master's degree is a part of higher education, its second level. Previously, higher education was "continuous": 5 years - and you are a graduate.

Since 2011, Russia has switched to the Bologna system: 4 years of bachelor's degree plus 2 years of master's degree.

In a nutshell, a master's degree is:

opportunity to extend studentship for two more years;
the opportunity to get another profession / qualification, or to deepen knowledge and improve training in an already acquired profession.

And if you pass through the competition, you will be able to study at the expense of the state budget, since the master's program is not considered the second higher education, it is a continuation of the first higher education.

Important! Only 1) bachelors and 2) graduates who entered the specialty before the start of the two-level system "bachelor's degree - master's degree" can apply for budgetary places in the magistracy.

What is the difference between bachelors and masters?

A bachelor's degree is the first, basic level of higher education, a master's degree is the second (a special case is a modern specialist, which starts as the first level, while a specialist graduate is quoted as a master graduate). In addition to the fact that the master's degree is a more systematic approach to the chosen field of activity, there are also other career prospects. There are already positions for which a bachelor's degree is enough, and positions for which only a specialist or master will be appointed.

As an example, let's take the minimum level of vocational education required by a candidate applying for a civil service position.

	Level of professional education
Category "heads" of the highest, main and leading groups of civil service positions Category "assistants (advisors)" of the highest, main and leading groups of civil service positions Category "specialists" of the highest, main and leading groups of positions	Higher education - specialty, magistracy
Category "specialists" of the senior groups of positions	Higher education - bachelor's degree
Category "providing specialists" of the senior and junior groups of positions	Secondary vocational education