Contractors are the persons who bring students or who are authorized to bring students to particular universities.
| Studying in Belarus – Tips for Students |  |
About 5000 International students are currently enrolled in various medical and technical institutions in Belarus. 99% of them are pursuing Medical studies in about 4 Academies spread over the country.
Seeking admission in foreign medical institutions
Indian and Srilankan students, who seek admission in foreign medical institutions, are required to take a `No Objection’ certificate from the Medical Council of India. It is mandatory for all their certificates and mark sheets (Class X onwards) to be Apostled. Apostle of certificates is done at Patiala House, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
Admission Process in belorussian medical institutions
While it is possible, in principle, for students to apply directly for admission, most belorussian medical institutions have appointed `contractors’ for recruiting students from different countries and insist on using this channel for admission. Most universities prefer to work through the `contractors’ for provision of hostel facilities, general welfare of the students, and even collecting fee. This is ostensibly for the convenience of students, who are new to the environment and do not speak the local language. These `contractors’ have their sub-agents in India. In many cases, senior Indian students themselves function as contractors and agents.
Reliability of `contractors’ as source of information and facilitation
The `contractors’ get large commissions for recruiting students. They can make false promises and give false/misleading information. There are also complaints from students/parents against them of cheating, high-handed behaviour, etc. It is, therefore, in the interest of prospective students to make enquiries from the medical institutions directly about the courses/facilities available. In one case, a student signed a contract to study a particular specialization in post-graduate course, but he found that such specialization is not offered by the concerned university after joining the institution.
English Medium
There is publicity in India about English medium courses in medical studies in the Belarus. This is not correct. Medium of education in is mostly in the Russian language. They need special license to teach in English. Many of the institutions have started so called English medium courses in medical education for foreign students, without any such license. In practice, they try to teach first three years in English medium, while simultaneously teaching the Russian language. From the fourth year, the students are expected to study in the Russian language. Students must be prepared for this dual medium of instruction. Some institutions, which have introduced such dual medium courses, are not fully equipped to teach in English even for the first three years. Students passed from recognized medical institutions, in either medium of instruction, are eligible for appearing in the Screening Test conducted by the Indian Board of Examinations.
Payment of Fee
While `contractors’ collect the fee from students for the first semester on their arrival in Belorussia, it is advisable to pay the fee directly to the University from subsequent semesters. Where the fee is paid through the `contractor’, students must insist on getting a proper receipt. There are a number of complaints of the contractors collecting the money, but not depositing with the university, which has led to termination of enrolment.
Belorussian universities do not accept cheques, drafts, etc. Money has to be deposited in cash in local currency in bank. If students bring cash in dollars or any other acceptable foreign currency, it is advisable to get it declared in the customs at the airport on arrival, which makes it easier for depositing the money into their accounts here. Banks will ask for the source of foreign currency for bigger amounts, and if it is brought from abroad, they need custom declaration form.
Hostel facilities
Students must check in advance of the hostel facilities available at the university that he seeks admission to. Hostels at many universities are inadequate and do not offer any boarding facilities. Students are generally expected to cook their own food.
Transfer from one institution to another
While transfer from one institution to another is possible, many students find it very difficult due to various legal procedures.
Post-Graduation studies
Medical graduates from India and Srilanka, who wish to study post-graduation in the Belarus, need to apply to the Belarus Ministry of Education for certification of equivalency of their degrees to pursue higher studies. Students themselves are responsible to submit their applications for equivalency certificates from the Ministry. Contractors promise to help out, but they rarely do. In recent cases, the Ministry ruled that the Indian bachelor medical/dental degrees do not qualify for post-graduate courses in the Belarus in view of lesser number of years of study. The issue has been taken up with the Ministry. Although universities might give admissions for post-graduate courses, this is subject to approval of the Ministry that foreign Bachelor degrees are equivalent to the Belarus ones. Students are, therefore, advised to wait for the ruling of the Ministry before they arrive to take admissions in post-graduate medical/dental courses.
Safe custody of Passports and original certificates
Passport and original certificates are the property of the concerned student and should not be given to either contractors or any other foreign authorities for safe custody. No one has any authority to take away passports. Students must always keep their passports with them. Police officials can demand to see the passport, visa and registration at any time.
Any foreigner coming into the Belarus needs to register within a period of three days. The University concerned or `contractor’ generally takes care of the registration process for foreign students.
Screening Test
Registration, for medical practice in India, of students graduated from foreign medical institutions is subject to clearing the Screening Test conducted by the Board of Examinations, New Delhi. Screening Test is held twice a year, in March and September. Dates are announced separately. Students, who have successfully graduated from belarussian medical academies, are to submit an application for appearing in the Test.
All diplomas/certificates obtained in belorussia have to be Apostled by “INTEROBRAZOVANIE” (Federal Agency on Education, Centre of International Education Activities). The Mission does not attest ‘Apostled’ documents.
No comments:
Post a Comment