Staff and Student Stipends in Soviet Universities

Abstract

ACCORDING to the Soviet Union Year Book Press Service, on November 12 the Soviet Government published a decree changing the regulations governing the payment of the academic staff at the higher educational institutions (universities) of the U.S.S.R. and increasing the stipends granted to students at these institutions. Under the new regulations, the academic staff will be paid on a staff salary basis, instead of on the old system of payment according to the number of hours worked. They will be able to hold a staff position at one higher educational institution only, though at liberty to engage in work at other higher educational or research institutions if they so desire. The salary rates for the upper staff are: directors of chairs at universities, 1,100-1,500 roubles per month (about £42-56), in accordance with length of service ; professors, 1,000-1,300 roubles per month ; senior lecturers, 700-900 roubles per month. Apart from their salaries, the members of staffs have the advantages of many social services, such as free medical treatment and free school and university education for their children. The new rates of State stipends granted to students at the universities are as follows: students taking a five-year course receive 130 roubles per month for the first year, 150 roubles per month for the second year, 175 roubles per month for the third and fourth years, and 200 roubles per month for the fifth year. Students taking a four-year course receive the same amounts for the first, second and third years, and 200 roubles per month for the fourth year. Students at the teachers' training colleges receive 130 roubles per month for the first year and 150 roubles per month for the second year. Stipends for postgraduate research students will be increased to 400 roubles per month. The number of higher educational institutions in the U.S.S.R. in 1936 was 700, and the number of students in them in the educational year 1936-37 was 542,000.