Universities and schools

Journalism higher education programs in Russia are offered in 150 institutions at three qualification levels: undergraduate (bachelor’s), graduate (master’s), and doctoral (aspirantura). Journalism is included in Mass Media and Library Studies together with Television, Advertising and Public Relations,  

Main schools in Media and Journalism Studies with BA and mostly with MA level are:  

  • Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University
  • High School of Journalism and Media Communication, St. Petersburg State University
  • Faculty of Journalism, Ural Federal University
  • Faculty of Journalism, Voronezh State University
  • Faculty of Journalism, South Ural State University
  • Department of Journalism, Far Eastern Federal University
  • Department of Journalism, Baltic Federal University 

During the 2010s, a rough estimate for the total number of students who every year begin their university studies at the Bachelor’s level is about 4,000. The total number of students enrolled at this level of their journalism studies in the country must be multiplied by four (the length of the Bachelor’s program), making it about 16,000. In addition, there are the students enrolled in Master’s and doctoral programs – roughly 2,000. All and all, the total number of journalism students in Russia can be estimated to be roughly up to 20,000.  

The syllabus for all levels is designed to provide the main four components: 1) the basic studies obligatory to all schools, 2) the optional studies enriching the program with its own specifics, 3) internships, 4) final exam and the writing of a thesis. The basic part at bachelor’s level includes studies in the humanities and social sciences as well as a large component consisting of liberal arts, languages and literature.  

The basic studies cover media and journalism theory, professional ethics, media economics, media systems, etc The elective studies vary from school to school, but usually respond to the demands of the labor market, local culture, and are related to the schools’ human resources and technical facilities. Master’s programs include in their basic studies theories of communication, intercultural communication, philosophy, deontology, etc. For the optional part each school chooses what suits its profile and the labor market. A Master’s degree in journalism means training media managers, media analysts, and media researchers.