Belarus is a beautiful, small country in Eastern Europe. It is a landlocked country bordered in the north by Latvia and Lithuania. Ukraine occupies the southern border while Russia is the neighbor to the east. And the western border is occupied by Poland. The country’s culture is heavily influenced by Russian culture. That is why the capital Minsk is dotted by several Russian styled-buildings. The country of about 10 million people speaks mostly Belarusian and Russian, the two official languages of the country.
Why study in Belarus
Cost of living in Belarus
Belarus is a very cost-effective study destination for students coming to the country. However the cost of living would depend greatly on location and lifestyle. Below is the cost of some common items in Belarus
Transportation – $0.26 (local transport)Taxi – $0.30/kmMonthly transport pass – $15Food in modest restaurant – $6.67Milk – $0.57/literRice – $0.89/kgEggs – $1.12/dozenMeat – $5.78/kgUtilities – $47/monthInternet – $8.98/monthRent – $222/month for one bedroom apartment outside the city center
Student’s accommodation
International students won’t have to worry much about where to stay as most universities provide on and off-campus. On-campus accommodation costs between $15 – $50 depending on whether it is a single room or shared with other students.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees in Belarus depend on the course of study, University, and duration of course. Generally, though, international students pay between $2,000 and $4,000. This makes it one of the cheapest destinations in Europe in terms of tuition fees.
Top 10 universities in Belarus
Foreign Students Language Requirements
International students coming to Belarus who cannot speak or understand the language must have to enroll for a one-year language study at some universities. In addition to studying Russian or Belarusian, they would also study maths and physics. Students who failed the language study preparatory program after one year would not be admitted to their primary choice of study. They would be required to leave the country.
Admission requirements
The following documents must be presented in Belarus All intending students should note that approval to study in Belarus are granted by the Foreign Registration and Immigration office only and not by the chosen university.
Study Visa
Study visas are given to international students coming to Belarus. There are two ways of getting a study visa.
At the airport
On arrival at the Minsk International Airport, students can show their invitation to study from the immigration and registration office to the airport immigration officer. The officials at the airport then stamp/attach the study visa to the international passport of the student. This option is only chosen by those who don’t have a Belarusian embassy in their country. The Visa fee is not more than $150
At home country
Students from countries with Belarusian embassies can obtain the visa from the embassy. They should present the required documents including the study invitation by the Immigration office. The time frame for getting the visa should be about two weeks all things being equal. The study visa is then presented on arrival at the Minsk airport to immigration officials.
