In Russian universities and colleges, some categories of students can receive a so-called social scholarship. This is a monthly cash benefit that is paid to those in particular need. In this article, we looked at who is entitled to such a scholarship, how to achieve it and in what amount it can be received.
In Russia, a full-time student is a certain status that allows in many cases to equate a student at a university until he reaches 23 years of age with minor citizens. This indicates the recognition of full-time students as more socially vulnerable sections of society. But there are special categories of students who need constant financial support measures due to extreme need; a state social scholarship is established for them.
This is a benefit provided for by the Federal Law “On Education” dated December 29, 2012 No. 273-FZ, paid to special categories of students receiving education on a budgetary basis. Students with benefits can study both at the highest level - a university, and at the secondary level - at a secondary school (college, vocational school, technical school).
The procedure for assigning and issuing social benefits to students is spelled out in detail in Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia No. 1000 dated August 28, 2013 ( Order of the Ministry of Education and Science).
A student applying for a scholarship and a college student who is entitled to financial assistance from the budget must be paid, as a rule, in the form of a monthly payment to a special bank account.
A scholarship in the nature of social support does not replace an academic scholarship; its payment does not in any way affect the remuneration due for good academic performance.
Who is eligible to receive
The list of persons entitled to receive social financial assistance is determined at the federal level. Despite the limited list, the normative act provides educational institutions with some freedom in this matter. Management has the right to decide on additional measures to support those in need using funds from off-budget fund establishments. These could be:
- Expanding the circle of scholarship recipients by including additional groups of people in need (for example, members of large families, young parents);
- Increase in the federally established monthly payment amount.
The following categories are established by law:
- Orphans, as well as children left without guardians, including those whose both parents or the only parent who raised them died during their education;
- Children who have been disabled since childhood, as well as those who have become disabled with the assignment of the first and second groups of disability, who also received disability due to illness or injury during military service;
- Combat veterans ( more details in the Law “On Veterans”);
- Contract servicemen who have served in the armed forces for at least 3 years are equated with the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian National Guard, civil defense, state security, and the FSB;
- Persons exposed to radiation or injured during man-made disasters;
- Low-income citizens.
A social scholarship provided for the poor is awarded only if the applicants document their need, namely, the level of income per family member must be less than the minimum subsistence level adopted in each specific region of the country.
- Children from a large family;
- Young parents;
- Children whose parents are recognized as disabled people of non-working groups (I and II).
To receive a monthly social benefit, a student must confirm his status. State social scholarships, in accordance with current legislation, are awarded to persons who have provided supporting documents to the educational institution; they are different for each category of beneficiaries.
The termination of the scholarship does not depend on the student’s academic performance, since the measure is not stimulating, but supporting in material terms. If a person has confirmed his right to receive this benefit, the educational institution cannot refuse him. Termination is only possible:
- upon completion of studies at an educational institution (including upon expulsion);
- in the case when the status that affects the receipt is lost (the student is no longer considered low-income, a decision is made to remove the disability).
For the reason specified in the second paragraph, the recipient of the benefit must notify the dean’s office about this, since if the student receives the benefit without justification, the student may be held accountable.
Is a social scholarship available to payers?
In addition to the established list of persons applying for a social scholarship, the legislation establishes two mandatory conditions. Firstly, training must be carried out on a budgetary basis. Secondly, the form of study chosen by the student is full-time only.
At the same time, if a student is on academic leave or parental leave until he turns 3 years old, this will not be a legal reason to interrupt the transfer of social scholarships. If a student is asked to write any kind of refusal for the period of absence, this will be illegal.
Students of evening and correspondence faculties are deprived of receiving benefits, because they master educational programs without interrupting their work.
Paying students are also not provided with this privilege. If a student’s education is paid for by himself or his parents, then if he becomes an orphan or recognized as disabled, some universities provide for a transfer to free education. But this becomes possible with high performance indicators. Also, taking into account the financial difficulties of students, the management of the educational institution is accommodating and provides a deferred payment.
Taking into account the direction of social policy in Russia, in 2019 it is planned to establish new benefits for families with children. It is possible that this will also affect student support measures.
Amount of financial assistance
The amount of financial assistance is established by government regulations. Minimum values have been established, which depend on the level of the educational institution:
- 730 rubles – for students in secondary schools;
- 2010 rubles – for students at state universities.
The amount of a social scholarship cannot be assigned below the given indicators. From educational program: bachelor's, specialist's or master's degree doesn't depend at all. The payment is transferred in one payment per month.
Regulatory acts provide that some students are guaranteed an increased social scholarship. Only students who meet the following conditions are eligible to receive it:
- Freshmen and sophomores;
- Training is carried out according to bachelor's and specialist's programs;
- Have good academic performance, there are no “satisfactory” points in the grade book;
- Belong to one of the categories of the legislative list of students on benefits, discussed earlier;
- Does not belong to the specified categories, but has not reached 20 years of age at the time the scholarship is awarded and the student’s only parent has group I disability.
According to Government Decree No. 679, the amount of the benefit is 6,307 rubles. The indicated value is an irreducible minimum; institutions have the right to increase it. The order of the Ministry of Education contains a rule according to which: the amount of scholarships, including increased social scholarships, must be greater than or equal to the cost of living per person in the country as a whole.
This indicator is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation for each quarter of the calendar year. To assign an increased scholarship, the educational institution forms its own scholarship fund, taking into account the 4th quarter of the previous year. The increased amount of cash payments is established based on the results of the session.
In case of termination of studies, a social scholarship, including an increased one, is paid in proportion to the time that the expelled student devoted to study from the first day of the calendar month to the day of expulsion.
Who is in charge of the appointment?
The state social scholarship is assigned by order of the head of the institution, the rector of the university or the director of a vocational school or college. The administrative act indicates the date from which payments begin. This is the date the student submits the necessary documents confirming his right to receive a social scholarship.
A document certifying that a student is classified in one of the preferential categories must contain the period for maintaining such status. If we are talking about a permanent certificate (for example, a veteran’s certificate, a certificate of disability, a certificate of absence of a guardian), then the appointment of a preferential scholarship occurs before graduation. From January 1, 2017, the procedure for awarding scholarships has changed for low-income citizens. They were required to not only confirm their insufficient income, but also their receipt of government assistance. For those students who are recipients of state social assistance ( for the poor), the scholarship is awarded for exactly 1 year, just like state social assistance.
You will need this information:
The procedure for assigning any payments is fixed in the relevant local act of the educational institution. The decision on the amount of social benefits from the budget for students is made by the Academic Council, taking into account student opinion and representatives of the students' trade union (when it is established in an educational institution). The accepted level of scholarship should not be less than the normatively established one.
How to apply for
In order to apply for a social scholarship, you must ensure in advance that you have all the necessary documents. The Department of Social Policy prepares certificates from 2 weeks to a month, and documents on the basis of which social payments are made must be submitted to the dean’s office until early October, while writing a statement.
The status of an orphan and a person left without care is confirmed by a certificate from the guardianship; veterans provide a certificate; for persons with disabilities, the certificate indicates the validity period of the restrictions.
To go to the district Department of Social Policy, a student needs 2 types of certificates from an institute or college: about receiving a scholarship and about studying at this institution. Based on these papers and a copy of the passport, the applicant will be issued a corresponding certificate for receiving a social scholarship.
The government agency will also additionally request the following documentation if the student is low-income:
- Certificate No. 40, which is taken at the place of residence and reflects the composition of the family living at a specific address;
- 2NDFL with data for the previous 3 months for all working family members, as well as other documents indicating the total family income (it also includes pensions, benefits, alimony payments). If a healthy, able-bodied family member has no income, he brings a certificate stating that he is registered with the labor exchange;
- Copies of passports, birth certificates of younger family members.
The status of a low-income citizen is confirmed annually. A social scholarship for other reasons is awarded until completion of studies.
For many years and even decades, the legislation of the Russian Federation has provided for a fairly extensive and varied program of support for the population in need of social protection and various financial assistance. The social scholarship for students of 2017-2018 is the very point that is included in this program.
Initially, the main and primary task and significance of scholarships issued to students was to stimulate students in some way, as well as to facilitate living conditions. Today, there are several types and categories of scholarships, each of which has its own characteristics and, of course, differs from each other in conditions and size.
Types of scholarships.
The list of the most basic scholarships that are provided in almost every educational institution in the country includes the following.
- 1. State academic scholarship, which is a basic type of monthly scholarship issued only to successful students throughout all years of study.
- 2. An increased academic scholarship is nothing more than a one-time payment to particularly distinguished students who have shown and demonstrated high results in educational, scientific, cultural and other activities.
- 3. Scholarships from the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, presidents of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and the governments of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
- 4. Personalized scholarships.
- 5. State social scholarship, which is intended and awarded to those students who experience special social and material needs. This payment is assigned regardless of how the student studies.
All about the social scholarship, size for low-income families.
If you study the issue related to social scholarships in more detail, then, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the complete list of all those who can count on it. According to the existing law of the Russian Federation, this list includes the following categories and groups of students.
- 1. Orphans.
- 2. Students with the “Disabled Child” category.
- 3.Victims of radiation accidents.
- 4. Contract servicemen who have served in the army or other military formations of the country for more than 3 years.
- 5. Students whose per capita income is below the subsistence level.
If everything is clear with the categories, then now you should carefully and in more detail understand the issue of size. To date, the state has also established the minimum amount of all types of state scholarships. Thus, the amount of social scholarships currently amounts to and consists of the following amounts.
- 1. For students of colleges, technical schools, schools or other institutions of a secondary professional nature - 730 rubles per month.
- 2.For university students – 2010 rubles.
It is worth noting that this is only the minimum acceptable payment threshold for socially vulnerable students. After all, each educational institution sets the amount of such a social scholarship individually.
As a rule, the Government of the Russian Federation together with the municipal self-government bodies of the constituent entities is responsible and fully responsible for the size of the general scholarship fund. As a result, the final decision on the amount of social scholarships is made by the management of each individual educational institution in the country.
But, if everything is relatively clear with the size, then another equally significant and important question arises, which is how to apply for the right to receive a social scholarship, what sequence of actions must be followed and at the same time try to save time as much as possible. It is these questions that we will now try to find the answer to.
Procedure for applying for a scholarship.
The procedure and stages that a student goes through in order to receive and provide additional social benefits include the following sequential actions.
Regarding the timing of document review, today it directly depends on each individual educational institution. But according to the rules, this is no more than 2 weeks.
As you can see, the process of receiving a social scholarship is not as simple as it seems at first glance, but the end justifies the means and such an additional source of funds is unlikely to hurt anyone and will be superfluous.
In Russia, the minimum established for state academic scholarships in higher education is equal to the amount of 1,340 rubles (training at the educational qualification levels of bachelor, specialist, master). In secondary vocational education - 487 rubles (skilled workers, office workers, as well as junior and mid-level specialists), maximum payments are possible in the amount of just over 6,000 rubles (payments to excellent and good students).
For students with good academic performance, there is an increased scholarship - from 5 to 7 thousand rubles; for graduate students it amounts to 11-14 thousand rubles. In order to receive such a scholarship, a student (graduate student) must not only be an excellent student, but also become an active social and organizational figure, participate in various events, competitions, promotions, and presentations of his educational institution.
Minimum monthly payments from the state to graduate students, doctoral students, postgraduate students or scientific and pedagogical personnel are determined differently and the amounts are higher. The amount of payments is regulated by the university and is determined by the direction of scientific work, the activity and workload of the student, and other conditions specified by the management of this educational institution.
In addition to the above academic ones, there are scholarships (presidential and Government of the Russian Federation), personal scholarships in scientific fields. These payments are intended for students who have achieved outstanding results and success in various areas of education, culture and sports.
Social scholarship: what documents are needed for it in 2018-2019
Almost one hundred percent of young people, in particular students, have heard of the concept of “social scholarship”. For first-year students, most often this term is completely shrouded in an aura of mystery. Before discussing the documents, you need to understand the concept.
What is actually meant by this term about social scholarship? Let's figure it out together. So, let's start with the meaning of the definition itself. In this context, social is aimed at supporting vulnerable segments of the population, which include a number of categories of citizens, and a scholarship is a regular (monthly) guaranteed payment to the person who requested it. We will reveal the intricacies of awarding a social scholarship in stages.
Question one: who gets it?
- Persons who were left without parental care and orphans.
- Disabled people of the first two groups (I and II).
- Persons who became ill during the liquidation of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (infected as a result of other radiation disasters).
- Veterans or disabled combat veterans.
- Those who have served under contract or in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for at least 3 years.
This is a legally fixed minimum list, which in practice is most often expanded by the internal regulations of the educational institution, primarily by the category of low-income and low-income people. In this case, most undergraduate and graduate students can count on such payments. You can hope to receive them if the total official income for each member of your family is no more than the established subsistence level.
Question two: how is the amount of a social scholarship determined?
This situation is also resolved locally, within the powers of the educational institution. Institutions also reserve the right to change the amount of the social scholarship. In any case, it cannot be lower than the minimum scholarship payments:
- 2,010 rubles – for university students;
- 730 rubles – for college students.
In addition, there are increased social scholarships for good and excellent students. Their amount is no less than 6,307 rubles for first- and second-year excellent students at universities.
A small note: payments may be suspended due to the student’s academic debts at the end of the session. Resumes immediately after repayment of the debt.
Please note that deprivation of scholarships/termination of payments due to non-attendance/lateness to classes with positive academic performance is illegal. The legal support in such a situation is Art. 145.1 and Art. 285.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
What documents are needed to process regular social payments?
So, what documents do you need to collect to receive a social scholarship? The first thing an applicant needs is to go to the regional social security authorities and find out the amount of the cost of living in your region (it may differ locally). Provided that the total official salary for each family member does not “reach” this amount, you can safely go and collect the necessary documents for a social scholarship.
The documents for receiving a social scholarship are as follows:
- your passport or a document that confirms citizenship (birth certificate);
- paper on family composition (available from your housing and communal services authority). If the student lives in the private sector, a house register indicating all residents under one roof is sufficient. A certificate confirming a student’s check-in into a dormitory is similar;
- paper on salaries for the past few months for each family member (the source of income is not only wages, but also pension payments and benefits). It will be provided upon request at the place of study/work/Pension Fund or other authorized institution. The most often requested period is six months (6 months) before the start of document collection;
- certificate of receipt (non-receipt) of scholarships or any other registered income of the student;
- additional documents upon request of the educational institution.
All this is needed for a certificate confirming the right to receive a social scholarship, which the student brings to the dean’s office and attaches to the written application. This scholarship is awarded for 1 year.
What are the options for terminating the payment of a social scholarship?
Payment of these scholarships stops in two cases:
- The student has been expelled from this institution.
- The grounds on which she was appointed are no longer valid.
Last year, deputies of the State Duma of Russia promised to consider a draft law that would initiate an increase in scholarships for students studying under state orders and full-time graduate students. The question of the level of this payment is quite acute - the realities of today indicate that the scholarship award does not at all correspond to the costs of providing at least a student. All this forces young Russians to look for opportunities for additional income, and often this happens to the detriment of gaining knowledge in the field.
The Russian government is moving into austerity mode, and it is not yet known how this will affect the amount of scholarship payments
News from the government
Not long ago it became known that the Ministry of Finance initiated a reduction in budget allocations for the implementation of state programs “Development of Education” and “Development of Science and Technology”. In late July 2016, Dmitry Medvedev, who holds the post of Prime Minister of the country, held a meeting to develop approaches to optimizing these programs and other expenditure items. The result was a decision to freeze general budget expenditures in the amount of 15.78 trillion rubles per year for the period from 2017 to 2019.
So far, the leadership of the Ministry of Education says that the scholarship fund will not be an item on which they will save money - we are talking about reducing investments in the construction and repair of educational buildings and dormitories of universities, colleges, technical schools and other educational institutions. But let's figure out what consequences Russian students and graduate students can expect from these measures.
Indexation of scholarships in 2017
Last year, Dmitry Livanov, head of the Ministry of Education and Science, announced that scholarships should be indexed according to current indicators. The debate on this issue went on for quite a long time and was accompanied by an intense struggle between departments. Thus, representatives from the Ministry of Education insisted that scholarship payments should be increased by as much as 20%.
The Ministry of Finance said that the state of the budget does not allow this step to be taken, and the government was considering issues of a general reduction in the budget burden, figuring out how to reduce its expenditure side. The entire debate ended with the adoption of standards defining the amount of academic and social benefits for university students, according to which in 2017 Russian students should not expect an increase in scholarships.
However, in 2016, scholarships were raised slightly. Let us recall that Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree according to which the cost of living was set at 9,662 rubles, which is significantly higher than the amount of payments due to students. The Ministry of Education spoke about the need to reconsider scholarships, emphasizing that higher payments will pay for themselves in the future.
Students will be able to devote more time to studying and acquiring professional skills, since financing their current needs for food and accommodation will allow them to abandon the search for additional income. Ultimately, the country will benefit from having competent specialists. Well, payments, of course, increased, but on average they never reached the minimum threshold required to live in Russia.
In 2017, scholarships will not reach the cost of living Amount of scholarships in 2017
It is expected that in 2017, undergraduate and graduate students will be able to count on the following amounts of remuneration for their studies:
- the maximum amount of a regular scholarship will be up to 10,000 rubles, however, not every student will be able to count on such a reward amount. The amount of scholarships varies depending on the region and city of Russia in which the educational institution is located. The minimum stipend has a clear link to the subsistence level of the region, and the size of this indicator in different parts of the country can vary by up to several thousand rubles. Only some categories of students from capital universities can count on the significant figure of 10,000;
- the initial level of scholarships for bachelors, master's and specialist students is a much more modest amount - 1,340 rubles per month;
- scholarships for college students are even more modest - payments start at 487 rubles;
- The situation looks somewhat better for those who pass the sessions with grades 4 and 5. Thus, for good students, based on the results of the session, a scholarship is provided in the amount of 1400-2200 to 6000 rubles, and for excellent students - from 5000 to 7000;
- the amount of scholarships awarded by the President of the country to citizens who carry out research of national importance will average up to 7,000 rubles for students and 11,000-14,000 for graduate students;
- A separate article includes presidential scholarships, which are awarded, including to undergraduate and full-time graduate students who carry out promising developments in the field of modernization and development. This payment can reach 22,800 rubles;
- Regular postgraduate payments are 2,637 rubles. If postgraduate study is in a technical specialty, this payment may increase to 6,350 rubles per month;
- for certain categories of students, social scholarships are provided, which reach 730-2010 rubles, depending on the region of residence or study.