Geography in the Soviet Universities

Abstract

Thirty out OF the thirty-three universities in the Soviet Union* have faculties of geography, but the inclusion of polytechnical and other institu es (pedagogical) like our teachers' training colleges brings the total to about sixty-five. Whereas the departments of geography in the British universities are normally in the faculty of arts or of social science?though occasionally in both the arts and science faculties? those in the Soviet universities come within the faculty of natural sciences, and in Moscow and Leningrad, at least, have a Dean and Council to direct their activities. Geography, as a subject of study in the U.S.S.R., is an undoubted science, and one which, in recent years, has made considerable advances in geographical teaching, in research, and in applied geography. The breadth and vigour of discussions on the concepts and methodology of geography and of field researches as revealed by Soviet geographical publications, and the number of professors, lecturers, research workers, students and geographical institutions bear witness to these developments. After completing their period at the ten-year school at the age of about seventeen or eighteen years, students in the Soviet Union are eligible to attempt the entrance scholarship examination for the university. Older entries from factories are also encouraged, since, with the heavy demand for university places, some students complete factory apprenticeships first (during which time they may take correspondence courses). Persons over thirty-five years are not accepted as university students. The successful candidate enters the university for a period of five years and is exempted from military service. The university year is divided into two terms? September i-January 23 and February 7-June 1. This gives the student a total university career of some 45 months compared with the British average of 20 months. However, the first two years at the Soviet university, as in the United States, cover ground which in this country is covered during the final years at the grammar school. By passing the entrance examination a student automatically qualifies for a scholar? ship out of which he pays his fees, board and lodgings. So long as he is successful at his regular six-monthly examination the student receives the full scholarship; a particularly brilliant student may well receive a bonus. Students' grants are increased according to merit and performance in the Soviet Union in contrast to Britain where grants are based on minimum subsistence requirements. Students without accommodating relatives in the university town have to live in a student hostel (obshchezhitiye) where conditions tend to be somewhat crowded by Western standards. One room often provides living, sleeping and even cooking space for three or four students. In the new buildings of Moscow University, on the other hand, the residence block which provides accommodation for about 6000 out of the 18,000-20,000 students, compares very favourably with our provincial or nonresidential universities. The rooms are small but contain all the essentials for two