Admission

Admission to this University is open to all young people, men and women, who have a high school diploma, by competitive examinations and selection interviews. Applicants for admission to courses in engineering disciplines take entrance exams in three areas: Physics, Maths and Russian (or Belarusian). Those seeking admission to courses in Economics have to take exams in Maths, Russian and some foreign language: English, German, French or Spanish. The total intake of students is about 900 per annum, but the number of applications for admission is constantly growing. Each year most faculties receive two-to-four times as many applications as the number of places available. Only those applicants who have been most successful in the entrance exams are accepted. The minimum requirement for entry to the University is a combined total of about 23-24 pass marks out of 30 marks obtainable in the three subjects.

Applicants who are successful in passing the entrance exams with a total of 24 marks or better are exempt from paying tuition fees and get maintenance grants from the State. Whereas applicants whose qualifications have proved to be below that standard are obliged to pay tuition fees which are payable in advance at the time of enrolment.

Class Attendance, Course Offerings

Applicants admitted to the University are registered in classes before the 1^st of September, i.e. before the opening of the academic year. Each class or group is limited to 25 students and normally this class limit is never exceeded. The majority of students are enrolled for full-time study, but there are also some 1200 students who follow courses by extra-mural study.

Students following the latter option attend the University from time to time for consultations or practical classes and lectures. To those students who are concurrently in full-time employment the State grants certain privileges, which enable them to successfully combine work and studies.

In the case of day school students’ attendance is compulsory. That is every student is responsible for attending classes in which he is registered.

A student who cannot attend a class should arrange with his instructor - in advance if possible - to make up the work.

At present, due to the limited accommodation the classes are scheduled to be held in two "shifts", from 8.30 a.m. to 12.50 p.m. and from 1.20 p.m. to 7.10 p.m., six days a week starting from Monday through Saturday. Sunday is a day off and all the offices on the University campus are closed.

Our day-school students follow five-year courses of study leading to a University Diploma in one of the above listed general fields of science and engineering.

The academic year is divided into two semesters, lasting for about 5 months each. The examinations and credit tests are normally held during the last three weeks of each term. Attendance at these is obligatory.

Regular lectures are given in all the subjects included in the examinations and a large portion of the time is spent on tutorial work to assist students with varying education and experience in their courses of study.

Entry for the exams is conditional on satisfactory completion of all the courses taught during the semester and on obtaining pass marks in all the credit tests scheduled for the semester.

During the first 2.5 years our students study basic sciences required for professional engineers, such as Maths, Physics, Chemistry, strength of materials, descriptive geometry, and others. At this period of their study they are also taught Philosophy, Social Sciences and foreign languages. The last 2.5 years are devoted to theoretical and practical studies of the relevant specialist disciplines. During the concluding semester the students concentrate on the preparation of a diploma design project.

The University has close links with the major local enterprises and organizations where students undertake training placements to gain work experience, and study the newest technological developments in the relevant industries. This also makes it possible to arrange off-campus, on-the-job training sessions and practical classes, to prepare realistic, professionally sound course papers and diploma design projects.