Structure of Education in Belarus
Education in Belarus is organized into school level and higher education level. The Ministry of Education manages the education at all levels- school or higher in Belarus.
School Education in Belarus
School education in Belarus is split up into 3 stages: primary, basic secondary and upper secondary levels. Primary lasts for 4 years, basic secondary/lower secondary education last for 5 years, and upper secondary/gymnasium last for 2 years. Primary and basic secondary education is compulsory to attend. Upon successful completion of the basic level, a certificate of basic education is awarded to the students. After completion of basic secondary level, students have three options: upper secondary/gymnasium, vocational and technical education, and specialized secondary education (Technicum). Gymnasiums offer general secondary education, and lyceums and colleges offers vocational education. General secondary education lasts for 2 years, specialised secondary education last for 4 years, and vocational education last for 3 years. Specialized secondary education depends on whether pupils have completed basic or general secondary education. Specialized secondary education is offered by technicums, technical colleges and schools.
Period of Compulsory Education
Preschool Education
- School type: Nurseries, Kindergartens, Kindergarten-nurseries
- Ages: 3 to 6 years
Primary Education
- School type: Primary School
- Duration: 4 years
- Grades: 1 to 4
- Ages: 6 to 10
Basic Secondary Education
- School type: Basic secondary school
- Duration: 5 years
- Grades: 5 to 10
- Ages: 10 to 15
- Credential: Certificate of Basic Education (Svidetel'stvo o Bazovom Obrazovanii)
Upper Secondary Education
- School type: Gymnasium, Lyceum, College
- Duration: 2 years
- Grades: 10 to 12
- Ages: 15 to17
- Credential awarded: Certificate of Secondary Education (Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii)
Specialized Secondary Education
- School type: Specialized secondary school (Technicum)
- Duration: 4 years
- Ages: 15 to 19
- Credential awarded: Diploma of Specialized Secondary Education (Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii)
Vocational Education
- School type: Vocational school
- Duration: 3 years
- Ages: 15 to 18
- Credential awarded: Diploma of Vocational Education
Higher Education in Belarus
The Ministry of Education administers the
higher education system in Belarus. Higher education in Belarus is offered by public as well private higher education institutions. Education in public higher education institutions is free of charge, while private higher education institutions do charge tuition fees. Higher education institutions in Belarus offer bachelor degree programmes of 4 years, masters or specialist diploma of 1-2 years, and doctoral studies.
First Stage: Bachelor’s Degree
Second Stage: Master’s Degree
Third Stage: Doctoral Studies
- Duration: 3 years
- Qualification awarded: Doctor of Sciences, Candidate of Sciences