How Soviet students lived . Life of students in the USSR and in modern Russia

Most happy people in the USSR they are students. Everyone who lived at that time would certainly agree with this statement. And as proof, we will talk about the life of Soviet girls while studying at the university.

1. How did you do it?

For millions of boys and girls in the USSR, higher education was the main social elevator. A diploma from a prestigious university gave a start in life, participation in amateur performances opened the way to the stage, active work in Komsomol organization was considered almost the only option for those who decided to go into politics, that is, to make a career in the CPSU. But first you need to become a student, and it was not so easy to do this.

Of course, for most universities, it was enough to pass the exams more or less successfully. In some specialties, there was generally a severe shortage and they took almost everyone who did not receive a deuce. A striking example: "pedins" and "agricultural". For elite institutes and universities, not only a good certificate and excellent entrance exams were assumed - the passing score sometimes reached 4.7 and additional factors were required.

For example, at MGIMO good knowledge foreign language was not enough, a working background was required, or at least a year of experience in a working specialty, as well as a recommendation from the city party committee. For the law faculty, service in the army or work in the police was needed, for the "medina" - an entry in the labor profile and a characteristic from the head physician were welcome. In addition, there were quotas for small nations, referrals from enterprises, and so on.

All this refers to the second half of the existence of the USSR. Before the war, the overwhelming majority of educated people went through the system of educational programs and workers' schools created by the Soviet government, and they went to the institute not even after exams, but on Komsomol permits.

2. How not to act

In many universities it was necessary to pass an interview and it was not always formal. Sometimes even not very good grades on the exam faded into the background if the applicant knew the subject well or could demonstrate her passion for it. But in the same way, she could be overwhelmed. It was often more difficult for girls to get into a prestigious specialty because of gender stereotypes. For example, on a mekhmat, other things being equal, and even more low scores take a young man.

Another trouble that especially bothered girls from the provinces was the mismatch of programs. Often, at the entrance exams, they were faced with tasks and questions that simply did not pass at school. And if in the 1950s this lag was not yet clearly expressed, then with each decade the gap increased.

Separately, it is necessary to tell about the selection system for creative universities. Thousands of girls from all over the USSR came to the capital to enter the main specialized educational institutions of the country: VGIK, GITIS and so on. The competition reached hundreds of people for a place, and the dropout was really cruel.

First, I had to go through creative tasks, which in itself is difficult. Then the interview general knowledge about theater or cinema. At the same time, there were no tickets, and members of the examination committee sometimes asked questions about the history of Tajik cinema.

3. Where did you study

Despite the formal equality of opportunity, in the USSR there was always a clear division into male and female. women's institutes. It is no secret that mostly girls studied to become teachers and philologists. Another place where the concentration of the weaker sex was high is narxoses. These were not the most popular universities and it was easy to enter there, with the exception of some specialties.

But in polytechnics there were traditionally few girls. There were educational institutions where women were not accepted at all. For example, sailors and military schools. Of course, there were professions that almost all girls dreamed of. We have already talked about actresses, but journalists and foreigners were no less popular.

4. How they went for potatoes

Having received the coveted student card, on the first of September, the girls came to their universities to plunge into the world of knowledge, but immediately went "for potatoes." A trip to the collective farm "to fight the harvest" - mandatory step receiving higher education. It was very hard to "pull out". The only exception is sick leave. But it must be said that until the 1980s, this was not something extraordinary for most students.

Such trips were practiced not only for students, but also for schoolchildren, starting from the seventh grade. They were sent to the fields for several weeks in the midst of Indian summer, where future actors and physicists most often harvested vegetables that had survived until September. And although the work was quite hard, everyone had a rough idea of ​​what awaited them in advance, they were ready for this and knew how to cheat at the right time, to be honest.

But in the evenings it was possible to sit by the fire, listen to the guitar, meet fellow students who had only been seen at the entrance exams before, chat with potential gentlemen, and, in general, have fun. Often about the days spent on the collective farm in student years, remembered just with pleasure, without negativity.

5. Where did you live

It so happened that many girls preferred to get an education not in hometown. Villagers went to the nearest large locality or regional center. Applicants from there aspired to the universities of the republican capitals. The chain ended in Moscow and Leningrad. Despite many domestic inconveniences, the girls tried to be as far away from their home as possible. And most of these Soviet students settled in hostels.

The hostel was the easiest and most affordable option, but far from the only one. Quite often, the girls rented a room with the hostess. As a rule, they did not take a whole room, but only a bed, and three or four had to live. Such a service was relatively inexpensive in the 1970s: 5-20 rubles, depending on the city.

It was more difficult to rent an apartment without a hostess. Almost all real estate in the USSR belonged to the state. Rarely did anyone have a second apartment free for rent. But even this, with some luck, could be arranged, although it already cost from 20 to 100 rubles.

6. What were you addicted to

Of course, they went to universities to get a specialty. But the Soviet authorities not only ensured that the students acquired the necessary knowledge, but also diversified. In all institutes and universities, a lot of attention was paid to the most diverse amateur art activities and sports sections.

I must say that initially almost all sports in the USSR were emphatically amateur. In the biography of many famous athletes of the 1950s or 60s, one can often find lines that they took their first steps in big-time sports in sections at enterprises or universities. Later, athletes and volleyball players began to appear, who were only registered at the institutes, but did not really study. But all the same, girls, if they wished, could enroll in some section and go in for sports for free, which is called “for the soul”. Swimming, gymnastics and mountain climbing were especially popular. The latter, however, was far from being in all universities.

However, sport was not the most fashionable occupation among students. Most of their attention was attracted by amateur performances. Both completely official groups and various VIA and youth theaters worked at institutes and student recreation centers, for which the university served only as a convenient base. Edita Piekha and Maya Kristalinskaya became stars while still students.

KVN stood apart. The Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful was invented on television, but very quickly it turned into a real movement that penetrated almost all the universities of the country. Moreover, in many institutes there were also internal competitions between faculties. Even the closure of the program did not affect his popularity. In the student environment, KVN successfully survived until the restructuring and resumption of broadcasts. The only disappointment: it was difficult for girls to break even into the team of the faculty, the main part of the cheerful and resourceful was male.

7. How did you rest

It may seem that all of the above has already applied to entertainment and recreation. To some extent, this was true, but both sports and amateur art activities took a lot of time and were more like getting a second education without interrupting the first.

The girls who studied at the institutes had enough opportunities to have a good time. And it helped a large number of benefits. It was possible to visit cinemas, theaters and museums with a significant discount, transport tickets were also cheaper for students. But the most popular pastime was dancing.

AT major cities they were constantly organized: in the summer on outdoors, used any winter suitable premises, starting with the Houses of Culture and ending with railway stations. Entrance to such events was paid. However, semi-closed student evenings were organized especially for students, tickets for which were distributed through the trade union committee.

The trade union committees were in charge and summer vacation. There you could get vouchers to student camps for 10-20% of the cost, they also sent them on hikes and tourist trips throughout the USSR. The diversity of the program depended primarily on the wealth of the university itself, as a rule, the most "cool" in this regard were not only prestigious educational institutions, but those assigned to a heavyweight department, for example, the Ministry of the Oil Industry.

8. Where did you earn extra money

The scholarship in the USSR was relatively large. Until 1970 - from 30 rubles, then raised to 40 rubles, excellent students received 56 rubles. But not everyone and not always enough. Therefore, from time to time there was a desire to find a part-time job. It was easier for young men: loaders and laborers were constantly needed. Such work was well paid, about 10 rubles a day, and the wagons had to be unloaded at night. But the girls had to rack their brains to find additional income.

The easiest option is to get a job as a cleaner. There were always many such vacancies, they were easily taken on a part-time basis and it was possible to agree on working hours. That's just the money paid for it is very modest. The rate was only 70-80 rubles per month. Tutoring was another common part-time job. Usually schoolchildren were pulled up, they paid 3-5 rubles per lesson for this. But such work was not suitable for all students. Someone simply did not reach the knowledge for tutoring, and someone was simply embarrassed to take money.

Student brigades provided a good opportunity to earn money. The USSR had its own branched organization "All-Union Student Construction Teams", which operated under the Komsomol. Students were primarily sent to the construction of various facilities, but not only. There were detachments that were engaged in fishing, trade and even teaching children.

It was almost impossible to get rich in the student brigade, but you could get 400-600 rubles for the summer period. The work of a conductor was considered especially attractive financially. In addition to the actual salary, some still managed to hand over bottles for 5-10 rubles per shift.

The Soviet past is notable for the fact that most older people want to return it, and young people have heard so much about it that they regret not having been born earlier. The difference from today is that people had money, and you had to queue for hours for goods. But when there is an opportunity to buy something, it is not a sin to wait a little.

As practice shows, the ability to save and count money comes over the years, regardless of what century people live in, and during student time, a scholarship could go away in one day, but then what to do next, and how to earn extra money. Average scholarship in Soviet time for a student of the Faculty of Physics was 45 rubles, increased - 56. In principle, having distributed it correctly, it was quite enough. For example, lunch in a student canteen, consisting of the first, second and third, averaged 22 kopecks, that is, even eating three times a day, the waste did not reach the ruble, and there was still enough for shortbread and ice cream. There was also a small fee for the hostel, a maximum of 2 to 5 rubles, so 10 rubles a month still remained for theater and cinema.

It is important to note that all literature could be borrowed for free in the library, but even if you wanted to buy some book, they were inexpensive. But since most students ran out of money in the first week, they had to earn extra money. Girls, as a rule, found it more difficult to find temporary work, but boys could “sell” their physical strength well.

Practically in every city there were stations that received wagon trains with various raw materials, building materials, coal, metals and so on. Unloading a wagon at night for 4-5 hours, one could earn 15 rubles, that is, for three days of work one could earn the entire scholarship. Of course, this work It was not easy, but after a day of rest, the body returned to normal.

Summer was of particular interest to students, when they could go on business trips to Siberia to earn money. After 2-3 months, it was possible to bring home up to 2,000 rubles clean, and at that time it was a lot of money, when the average salary of a teacher was 120 rubles, and only miners could receive up to 500. It is important to note that in case of fraud with on the part of the employer, all problems were easily resolved through the courts, and the lack of payment was returned. It is important to note that throughout Russia there were many cities where one could go to work, if there was a desire. Most of the young people after such work, upon returning home, went to a store called "Ruby" or "Emerald", and bought beautiful jewelry for their loved ones.

Of course, despite the socialist system, some commercial and speculative notes made their way even at that time. For example, students whose parents lived near the borders with Poland, Latvia and Lithuania had the opportunity to bring a lot of quality and beautiful things. So some seasoned individuals managed to resell them several times more expensive, and make good money on the difference.

In Soviet times, everyone could earn money because there were opportunities, and there were no such tricks as refusing to pay for work on the basis that a person did not pass probation and didn't deserve the money. Therefore, in the sense of part-time work in Soviet times, it was definitely easier.

) - irregular financial aid in the form of payment of tuition fees, and sometimes the issuance of a monthly allowance to students, as a rule, secondary specialized and higher educational institutions, as well as graduate students and doctoral students.

Scholarship:

Types of scholarships in Russia

Scholarship in the USSR

The Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decide: Art. 6 Decrees of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated 16 of September o material support students of higher educational institutions, technical schools and workers' schools and on the procedure for sending to work persons who have graduated from higher educational institutions and technical schools (S.Z. USSR, 1931, No. 26, Art. 206) shall be stated as follows: "6. Students of working faculties receive scholarships in size 45 rubles per month. At daytime working faculties at pedagogical, medical and economic higher educational institutions, as well as at national working faculties scholarships students of all courses are provided. At daytime working faculties at all other educational institutions scholarships students of II and III courses are provided. In the first year of these daytime working faculties scholarships only certain groups of students are provided who, due to the lack of the necessary qualifications or for other reasons, cannot be expediently used at work. The number of first-year students who are provided scholarships, should not exceed 25% total 1st year students. At the evening working faculties scholarships last year students are provided.

Lenin scholarship

The Lenin Scholarship is the most prestigious and highest student scholarship in the Soviet Union.

Established to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin in 1960 Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 371 of March 31, 1960 and the order of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary special education No. 255 dated May 03, 1960. Appointed to students from the 2nd year for excellent study and active social activities. Paid monthly. It was established for a period of 1 year, but could be extended based on the results of the examination session. The scholarship ranged from 80 rubles in the 1960s to 120 rubles in the 1980s.

In the USSR, there also existed Stalin scholarship established in 1939 year together with the Stalin Prize in honor of the 60th anniversary of Stalin. There was a scholarship named after Karl Marx for students of higher educational institutions and graduate students of higher educational institutions and research institutions (in size it was equal to the scholarship named after V.I. Lenin), a scholarship named after the Lenin Komsomol, scholarships named after party, state and public figures (

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instructed Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets to check the information that students do not receive scholarships in a number of universities in the country. Medvedev stressed that he had already seen denials from major universities, however, "the signal itself is unpleasant." Question: "The scholarship is traditionally small?"

Oleg Smolin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Corresponding Member Russian Academy education:

"We've been suggesting changes for a long time"

If we want to improve the quality of student training, then we need to return to the experience of the Soviet era. We've been suggesting changes for a long time.

For example, at the faculties associated with the defense complex, in the days of the USSR, they paid a much larger scholarship than students of other specialties. The payments were four-fifths of the living wage, and graduate student scholarships were even higher than that minimum.

But there are only about three million of them, and thus the problem, of course, cannot be solved. It turns out that conditions will be created only for individual sprouts in a large field. If the increase does not affect other categories of students and graduate students, then the measure will be only indicative, but ineffective,

Nevertheless, the increase in scholarships, albeit for a limited circle of students and graduate students, is a step forward, though a very small one.

As for social stipends, we propose to set them at the subsistence level, while academic stipends are approximately at the levels that were also in the Soviet period.

Unfortunately today academic scholarship a student at a university is almost 5 times below the subsistence level, in graduate school - 6.5 times, in a technical school - 8 times, and in a vocational school - 11.5 times ...

Ivan Melnikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences:

“Student scholarships should be qualitatively improved”

I think that the student scholarship should be qualitatively improved. Today it is only 20% of the subsistence minimum, and should be at least 80%.

On the other hand, the state cannot and should not pay a stipend at the level wages. And yet, we must get out of the situation where students "work and study" instead of "study and earn money"!

The pursuit of the ruble in your student years will eventually turn into poor knowledge for many and, as a result, the inability to have a well-paid job for the rest of your life ...

Vitaly Korotich, writer, journalist, Chief Editor magazine "Spark" (1986-1991):

“Constant feeding of poorly thinking people does not lead to anything good”

There are scholarships as an allowance for low-income, but still, however, related to academic performance. While teaching at US universities, I have seen many students receive scholarships due to the fact that the guys came from low-income families.

And there are scholarships at the grant level, that is, depending on academic performance and talent. When I was studying, we had “Leninist” and “Stalinist” scholarships, which were given to especially talented excellent students.

As for those who are not doing well, the experience of other countries also shows that the constant feeding of poorly thinking people only on the basis of their proletarian origin does not lead to anything good.

What the Americans did to their African Americans made professors like, say, me afraid to touch them and give them F's. After all, they, who had been severely oppressed for several generations and very poor, could immediately run to the dean's office and say that the professor "does not like the poor and the racist." Therefore, they were given mediocre grades and tried not to touch them.

And there should be a system of support for talented people. I remember that at a US university, representatives of the most prestigious firms came to me and asked: “Do you have a good and smart student in your 2nd or 3rd year?” I spoke - and they began to pay them extra, and the students signed an obligation after studying to go to work there.

Sergey Borisov, Deputy Chairman of the Government Commission on Competition and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All-Russian public organization small and medium business "OPORA Russia":

« But the students themselves must earn extra money!

Business could give nominal scholarships to gifted students, which is being done, but probably not very widely. I know that a number of businessmen are doing this now ...

But the students themselves must earn extra money! For example, I worked as a janitor, and I'm not ashamed of it. You have to go through all universities...

Ruslan Khasbulatov, Head of the Department of World Economy of the Russian Academy of Economics named after G.V. Plekhanov, former chairman Supreme Council Russia (1991-1993), corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

« The material wealth of the student's family was also taken into account"

In my time, there were three levels of scholarships: firstly, the average for the university, secondly, for those who studied "good" and "excellent", and, thirdly, for excellent students.

The material wealth of the student's family was also taken into account, and this was not invented today. The scholarship fund was calculated for approximately 70% of the total number of students.

If a marital status the student was completely bad, but he did not receive twos, then the commission made a decision: “Yes, the guy (or girl) is not a fountain, but at least he studies for threes, so you have to pay a scholarship.” And this was decided not only by teachers, but also by representatives of the students.

I am already thirty professor, doctor and head of the department, and 25 years ago I received a salary more than today! And my student scholarship in the 60s. was more than today.

But today our wages are lower than in the last year of socialism, and the stipend is two to three times less, but should be at the subsistence level.

Vyacheslav Nikonov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Executive Director of the Board of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, President of the Politika Foundation, Doctor of Historical Sciences:

“We propose not to raise the cost of education at paid departments of universities”

Well, the issue of scholarships is especially acute in the field of secondary education. vocational education. We also propose not to raise the cost of education at paid departments of universities and other educational organizations. At the same time, they must introduce a regime of austerity and strengthen control over the targeted use of funds.

Of course, there is a problem of unsettled students, but nobody throws anyone anywhere. For recent years we are actively fighting all sorts of suspicious offices that issue diplomas, and this struggle must go on.

Elena Kondulainen, Honored Artist of Russia:

"It's the cat who cried!"

In my opinion, the scholarship is scanty at all times! What is there to talk about, this is a cat crying, especially for young people, when a girl needs to be taken somewhere ...

At one time I received 40 rubles. - at least you could buy tights! After all, they are very quickly and often torn, and students always walk in torn ones.

And now we need to throw a cry for the rich to help students. I think the state has the ability to force those who have seriously enriched themselves to share with the young.

We all understand that the presence of well-educated people in a country directly affects its economic potential. If there are many well-educated people, then the country will have an economic breakthrough, and if there are few, the country will face an economic recession. But many forget that the living conditions of students directly affect the quality of education. Therefore, you can make a logical chain: good conditions for the lives of students lead to a good education, which in turn leads to the economic recovery of the country.

In this article, I would like to compare the conditions for the life of students in the USSR and in modern Russia. Scholarships and prices for goods and services can tell us a lot.

Under the Union, even trochniks received scholarships. In modern Russia, three students do not receive scholarships. Those. approximately 70% of all students in our country do not receive any money to survive. Future specialists have to either sit on the neck of their parents, or go to work.

But let's think about how then students can get a good education if they work? No way. They spend all their free time from studying at work, they come home tired, and there is no time left for reading educational literature. As a result, almost all of these 70% of students receive diplomas, but not knowledge.

But there is another 30% who receive scholarships, you say. And it is they who will be able to give impetus to the economic growth of the country. But, let's now see what kind of scholarships we have. Under the Union, scholarships were on average from 35 to 50 rubles. For excellent students, even higher. In today's Russia, the average scholarship is 2000 rubles.

Now let's compare prices. You can take many indicators, but let's take just a few. Bread cost 12 kopecks, now 20 rubles. Under the Union, a scholarship could buy an average of 330 loaves of bread, but now only 100. A cup of coffee in a cafe cost 20 kopecks, now it costs 20 rubles. Those. that's 200 cups of coffee under the Union and 100 cups of coffee now.

But do not forget that the rooms in the dormitories were free, and now you have to pay an average of 500 rubles a month. Now there is no longer 2000, but 1500 rubles for life. This means that you can buy even less products. You can't live on 2,000 rubles now, so even students who receive a scholarship also go to work, which in turn reduces the quality of their knowledge.

Some might say that the scholarships were high, but the stalls were empty. Have you heard about the students who starved to death? I did not hear.

What can we say about the requirements at universities under the USSR and the current requirements. Now a student who answers that the Tatar-Mongol invasion took place in the 20th century gets a C on the exam. Previously, for this, a person would have flown out of the university with a bang. Although such a person could not even do it. And what do we end up with? In Soviet times, students lived like in paradise and received a quality education. Now the life of students is like hell. At the same time, it is quite difficult to get good knowledge while working. Draw conclusions...