One involves a ten-year track leading to an attestat zrelosti , or certificate of maturity. The other involves eight years of primary education, followed by four years of specialized secondary education. The graduate level in higher education involves two to three years of study after the diploma, during which one is an aspirant. The acknowledgement of completion of graduate-level work, similar to the master's level in the United States, is the certificate of Kandidat nauk , by which one is named a candidate to become a Doktor Nauk , the rough equivalent to a Ph.D. in the United States. Fields of study are generally strictly standardized and a group of students in the same field follow the same courses.
Oral examinations are frequent and written examinations rare.
The academic year runs from September to June. Adult education and night schools have traditionally been an important component of the Soviet educational system. Hence, many people earn degrees while working and often work for an interim period during the course of earning successive degrees. Practicums and practical training have also been important components of the educational process. Program is currently under review.