March 15, 2017 at 10:40Big interview: how to enter ITMO University
At the ITMO University , preparations are continuing to receive future bachelors, masters and graduate students - open door days, Olympiads for schoolchildren and the Congress of Young Scientists are held.
Anna Veklich, First Deputy Chairman of the Admissions Committee, Head of the Strategic Communications Department of ITMO University, will talk about how the 2017 Admission Campaign is organized.
In this material, we tried to collect everything that an applicant needs: from statistics of past years to the arrangement of megafaculties of the University and bonuses for admission. / Anna Veklich, First Deputy Chairman of the Admissions Committee, Head of the Strategic Communications Department of ITMO University
Every year, ITMO University accepts about 1,200 undergraduate students in a budgetary form of study in 30-35 areas of training and 70 educational programs (OP). In the magistracy, these figures are even greater - annually for future masters more than 2,400 budget places are available as part of 35-37 areas of training and more than 180 EPs.
At the same time, most of the freshman students who arrived were not from St. Petersburg. So, for example, for the third year in a row, 70% of nonresident residents in the bachelor's program, 51% in the magistracy. The percentage of foreign students is growing year by year, from 12% in 2015 to 17.2% in 2016.
The number of applicants who applied to ITMO University in 2016 is 25% more than in 2015. Although in the last three years (2013-2015), there has been a decline in those who wish to participate in the competition. This decrease was primarily due to the fact that in 2013 the University for the first time set the same and fairly high minimum scores for the budget and contract forms - 55-60 points for each subject of the exam.
Many people think that the higher the competition, the more prestigious the university. But this is far from the case. The number of applications submitted to a university does not always indicate the quality of applicants. It all depends on the minimum points.
The university can establish ministerial minimums for each discipline (an average of 30 points for each subject of the exam) and thus create an artificial large competition for up to 50-100 people per seat. At the same time, it is important to understand that such statements are “garbage”, since then they will all be eliminated as part of the competition.
The average competition at the university in 2016 is 5.0 people per place (in some competition groups it even reaches 30.0).
The most popular undergraduate courses:
About new directions for future bachelors. In 2017, a new faculty was opened at ITMO University - physical and technical, under the guidance of the famous scientist Pavel Belov ( Pavel Belov is engaged in research in the field of metamaterial physics, in 2009 he won the Presidential Prize in science and innovation for young scientists). It is this faculty that will train elite physicists at ITMO.
The minimum USE scores will remain the same and high enough for the budgetary and contractual forms of training - 60. And in mathematics and computer science, the Department of Computer Technologies will have a minimum of 75 points.
Due to the fact that there are more than 2400 budget places in the ITMO magistracy, there are a fairly large number of educational programs that are highly specialized: from Industrial Robotics to Scientific Communication .
ITMO University annually opens directions that are already popular now, and specialties that are not yet widespread, but in the future will become quite popular in the market, for example, educational programs “ Computational Biomedicine ”, “ Lighting Design ”, “ Technological Innovation and Technology Transfer” ".
The competition for the master's program is always lower than for the undergraduate. University graduates, unlike school graduates, know in advance exactly which educational program to choose, which is why they submit a maximum of 1-2 applications to 1-2 universities.
The average competition at the university is 1.8-2 people per place.
The most popular areas of training in the magistracy:
Every year, the university plans its development strategy in such a way as to attract the most talented, talented and motivated applicants. High minimum scores for those entering the budget and contract are retained in the baccalaureate, the role of individual achievements, for which you can get up to 10 points for the USE, is also being revised: only the highest-quality contests, competitions and projects are selected (more on this below).
In recent years, ITMO University has been admitting to more than 300 educational programs of undergraduate and graduate programs, the university has more than 100 departments, more than 10 faculties. It was rather difficult for applicants to understand all this variety of names.
Therefore, since 2016, as part of the Admission Driving , Mega -directions were introduced - five key profile areas of the university, in each of which educational programs are thematically presented:
Applicants are invited to first choose a mega-direction, and then decide on an educational program (OP). This is the shortest path, just 2 steps. Further, the entrant will find out which department is implementing this OP and at what faculty.
During 2016, the structure of the university has changed dramatically at the administrative level: megafaculties were created, which were officially fixed in the structure of the university. Today, ITMO University officially has four megafaculties, administratively combining faculties, departments, and educational programs:
In 2017, it is planned to complete the creation of the fifth megafaculty in profile - Economics, Management, Innovation.
Such multidisciplinarity at megafaculties in science and education is welcomed and supported by the university. It is such educational programs that attract modern applicants, as they combine different competencies and reveal the student's talent from all sides.
Robotics . In 2016, a school robotics team was created at ITMO University, which last spring won 2nd place at WRO (World Robot Olympiad, world championship in school robotics). Now we are developing our robotics direction and aim to make ITMO the world champion in robotics - just as it happened with IT.
Physics. Less than a year ago, a physics and technology faculty was opened, focused on training elite physicists. The faculty is created in the structure of the megafaculty of photonics, which is our scientific base. It is on this MF that there are most of all scientific laboratories, well-known scientists, the staff of this MF write articles in the most highly rated scientific journals. And now, physics students have the opportunity to enter here, study with the best teachers and win their awards not in IT, but in physics, in science.
Biotechnology. At the beginning of 2017, a megafaculty “Biotechnologies and low-temperature systems” was created at the university, focused on the following “fashionable” areas: healthy nutrition, functional foods, modern ways to preserve them. Now in the country there are literally 1-2 universities that train specialists in this field and conduct scientific activities. The development of this MF at the very beginning of its path. But we have every reason to expect that very soon this direction will “shoot”.
Innovation . At the same time, ITMO University also trains technology managers, entrepreneurs, innovators - the established Faculty of Technology Management and Innovation has been responsible for this for 2 years now.
Yugank Singhal / Flickr / CC
Now there are many areas for children where they could prove themselves and gain knowledge: from Preparatory courses to seminars on sports hacking SPbCTF . At ITMO University, a large number of Open Doors Days are held - in online and offline versions, as well as separately for mega-directions. There are individual career guidance tests, excursions and just personal meetings with students and their parents.
Very soon we will launch a single portal for students who are interested in ITMO University - ITMO.START. This is a project that will combine all the possibilities for students from grades 4 to 11. As for the direct admission (to undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate courses), then all the information can be found on ourwebsite for applicants , where as much as possible is told about all educational programs.
In the description of each educational program on the website, we placed the curriculum, which allows the applicant to see all the disciplines studied and what forms of control they will have, and in what semester the student will have to take something. There you can see a brief description of specialized disciplines. In addition, the applicant has the opportunity to see the leading teachers, which is sometimes decisive when choosing a future specialty.
Another opportunity to get acquainted with the study at ITMO University and decide on a future profession or field of study is massive online courses from the University. For example, the online course " Scientific Communication”, Which ITMO University launched in 2016, can be easily used in preparation for entering a master's degree of the same name. This was one of the goals of the preparation of the course, since there is very little new direction and literature on it in Russia.
For undergraduate students, olympiads play a huge role. All-Russian Olympiads for schoolchildren and Olympiads from the list of the Russian Council of School Olympiads (ROSH) allow applicants to use the right to enter the ITMO University "Without entrance examinations" (BVI), confirming the diploma of such an Olympiad with 75 USE points in a specialized subject (this is required).
At the same time, the winners of such olympiads receive a scholarship to ITMO during the first year from 7 to 15,000 rubles per month - this is called the “Golden”, “Silver” and “Bronze” student card .
Last year, the University received more than 200 winners and prize-winners of subject Olympiads for schoolchildren (20% of the total number of budget places), which is the 4th result in Russia. The University itself is also the organizer of 6 olympiads from the list of secondary schools.
ITMO University accepts classical Olympiads in such subjects as:
As well as diplomas of complex olympiads, such as the NTI Olympiad.
All these olympiads set themselves the task of unleashing the creative potential of the entrant, and seeing a non-standard approach to solving problems among schoolchildren.
In February 2017, we combined all of the University’s own subject Olympiads and launched the first ITMO VKontakte online Olympiad on the social network itself, increasing the number of participants by 10 times. For her, for example, we give 10 points to the exam in the subject.
At the end of March, we will also launch the online game Physics: A Game of Light, aimed at attracting physicists to ITMO. The game will go on for 5 weeks on the educational portal newtonew.com , the winners will also be guaranteed 10 points for the exam.
In magistracywinners or prize - winners of the Olympiad, which is taken into account by the university upon admission, receive 100 points for the exam (according to the profile of the Olympiad). But the applicant should still take part in the general competition for admission, where, with equal points for the exam, the average mark of the diploma will be taken into account.
Often, winners and prize-winners of student olympiads are given a monetary incentive, as well as various bonuses from the organizing universities and partners of the olympiad. Also, diplomas of such olympiads can be presented in your "Portfolio" for admission to the university.
In undergraduate applicants can receive up to 10 additional points to the exam for individual achievements (ID) . Among them are scientific and creative competitions, sports achievements, volunteer activities, etc. Each university has the right to determine for what and how many points it accrues to the applicant.
Our University identified the most significant criteria and assigned appropriate points for them. So, we highly appreciate the victory in engineering contests, scientific competitions and other projects that allow us to determine the motivation and abilities of the guys.
In addition, we give extra points for language certificates. Applicants who graduated with honors from a school or STR, also receive up to 5 points to the exam results. In general, last year, about 50% of applicants took the opportunity to indicate their individual achievements in order to obtain additional points.
Many graduate students are preparing for admission in advance and can take part in special competitions and projects of ITMO University, which give the right to enter without exams. In April, you can speak at the All-Russian Congress of Young Scientists , whose winners are eligible to enter ITMO University without a competition.
Those who have already written scientific articles and participated in student olympiads who have significant victories and awards can take part in the Portfolio contest, but it is worth noting that only those undergraduate graduates whose average GPA was not lower than 4.5.
Since 2016, ITMO University Master's program can also be entered remotely using online exams, which is a very convenient way for nonresident applicants. As mentioned above - 51% of those received not from St. Petersburg. The largest number of students comes to ITMO from: St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, TUSUR, UrFU. By the way, the share of foreigners in the master's program in 2016 doubled: from 8% in 2015 to 16.2% in 2016.
A large number of children who entered ITMO University previously studied in any career guidance structures or participated in scientific or engineering competitions. The participation of schoolchildren in such projects allows them to feel in advance why they have a soul and come to a university with a more informed choice. Such students in the future achieve markedly greater successes, including also because they do not waste time adapting to the university world.
We entrust the work with schoolchildren and parents to young employees of departments and faculties of the university - it is they who talk about the intricacies of future professions, about the features of instruction and independent living, which makes them closer to schoolchildren and allows them to communicate in one language.
Anna Veklich, First Deputy Chairman of the Admissions Committee, Head of the Strategic Communications Department of ITMO University, will talk about how the 2017 Admission Campaign is organized.
In this material, we tried to collect everything that an applicant needs: from statistics of past years to the arrangement of megafaculties of the University and bonuses for admission. / Anna Veklich, First Deputy Chairman of the Admissions Committee, Head of the Strategic Communications Department of ITMO University
About admission
Every year, ITMO University accepts about 1,200 undergraduate students in a budgetary form of study in 30-35 areas of training and 70 educational programs (OP). In the magistracy, these figures are even greater - annually for future masters more than 2,400 budget places are available as part of 35-37 areas of training and more than 180 EPs.
At the same time, most of the freshman students who arrived were not from St. Petersburg. So, for example, for the third year in a row, 70% of nonresident residents in the bachelor's program, 51% in the magistracy. The percentage of foreign students is growing year by year, from 12% in 2015 to 17.2% in 2016.
Undergraduate
The number of applicants who applied to ITMO University in 2016 is 25% more than in 2015. Although in the last three years (2013-2015), there has been a decline in those who wish to participate in the competition. This decrease was primarily due to the fact that in 2013 the University for the first time set the same and fairly high minimum scores for the budget and contract forms - 55-60 points for each subject of the exam.
Many people think that the higher the competition, the more prestigious the university. But this is far from the case. The number of applications submitted to a university does not always indicate the quality of applicants. It all depends on the minimum points.
The university can establish ministerial minimums for each discipline (an average of 30 points for each subject of the exam) and thus create an artificial large competition for up to 50-100 people per seat. At the same time, it is important to understand that such statements are “garbage”, since then they will all be eliminated as part of the competition.
As an example, in 2016 the minimum score in computer science and mathematics in the field of training “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” was 75, the competition was less than 5 people per place, but the passing score was the highest in the university - 294 out of 300 USE points in three subjects (budget form).
The average competition at the university in 2016 is 5.0 people per place (in some competition groups it even reaches 30.0).
The most popular undergraduate courses:
- 03/01/02 "Applied Mathematics and Computer Science"
- 03/09/02 "Information systems and technologies"
- 03.03.03 “Applied Informatics”
About new directions for future bachelors. In 2017, a new faculty was opened at ITMO University - physical and technical, under the guidance of the famous scientist Pavel Belov ( Pavel Belov is engaged in research in the field of metamaterial physics, in 2009 he won the Presidential Prize in science and innovation for young scientists). It is this faculty that will train elite physicists at ITMO.
To begin with, a small set is planned - about 25 students, then we want to increase this number to 70-80 people. Therefore, in the framework of the 2017 admission campaign, the stake was made not only on IT, but also on the training areas where the guys go from the Unified State Exam in Physics: 03/12/03 "Photonics and Optoinformatics", 03/16/01 "Technical Physics" and others.
The minimum USE scores will remain the same and high enough for the budgetary and contractual forms of training - 60. And in mathematics and computer science, the Department of Computer Technologies will have a minimum of 75 points.
Master
Due to the fact that there are more than 2400 budget places in the ITMO magistracy, there are a fairly large number of educational programs that are highly specialized: from Industrial Robotics to Scientific Communication .
ITMO University annually opens directions that are already popular now, and specialties that are not yet widespread, but in the future will become quite popular in the market, for example, educational programs “ Computational Biomedicine ”, “ Lighting Design ”, “ Technological Innovation and Technology Transfer” ".
The competition for the master's program is always lower than for the undergraduate. University graduates, unlike school graduates, know in advance exactly which educational program to choose, which is why they submit a maximum of 1-2 applications to 1-2 universities.
The average competition at the university is 1.8-2 people per place.
The most popular areas of training in the magistracy:
- IT (04/01/02 "Applied Mathematics and Computer Science" or 04/10/01 "Information Security")
- Innovation, marketing, management 04/27/05 "Innovation"
- Robotics 04.15.06 "Mechatronics and Robotics"
What to prepare for entering in 2017
Every year, the university plans its development strategy in such a way as to attract the most talented, talented and motivated applicants. High minimum scores for those entering the budget and contract are retained in the baccalaureate, the role of individual achievements, for which you can get up to 10 points for the USE, is also being revised: only the highest-quality contests, competitions and projects are selected (more on this below).
It will be especially rigorous in 2017 with the target admission (special target places within the framework of the general budget by order of companies): if earlier the guys who overcame the university minimum could have arrived there, now we will focus on at least 240 points in three subjects USE.
In magistracy, the requirements for applicants also remain very high. So, for example, if you want to do without a competition, then the average mark of your diploma should be at least 4.5.
About University
In recent years, ITMO University has been admitting to more than 300 educational programs of undergraduate and graduate programs, the university has more than 100 departments, more than 10 faculties. It was rather difficult for applicants to understand all this variety of names.
Therefore, since 2016, as part of the Admission Driving , Mega -directions were introduced - five key profile areas of the university, in each of which educational programs are thematically presented:
- Internet technologies and programming
- Photonics
- Computer technology and management
- Biotechnology and low temperature systems
- Economics, Management, Innovation
Applicants are invited to first choose a mega-direction, and then decide on an educational program (OP). This is the shortest path, just 2 steps. Further, the entrant will find out which department is implementing this OP and at what faculty.
During 2016, the structure of the university has changed dramatically at the administrative level: megafaculties were created, which were officially fixed in the structure of the university. Today, ITMO University officially has four megafaculties, administratively combining faculties, departments, and educational programs:
- MF Translation Information Technologies (Mega-direction of Internet technology and programming);
- MF Photonics;
- MF Computer Technology and Management;
- MF Biotechnologies and low-temperature systems.
In 2017, it is planned to complete the creation of the fifth megafaculty in profile - Economics, Management, Innovation.
Not only IT: what disciplines are developing at megafaculties
We have our own clear scientific and educational profile: IT and photonics. But then we translate our competencies into new areas, thereby developing ourselves and strengthening those areas where our knowledge is lacking. So there are: bioinformatics, quantum communications, IT-urban studies, Art & Science, Internet of things, fintech, scientific communication, biotechnology, neurotechnology.
Such multidisciplinarity at megafaculties in science and education is welcomed and supported by the university. It is such educational programs that attract modern applicants, as they combine different competencies and reveal the student's talent from all sides.
Robotics . In 2016, a school robotics team was created at ITMO University, which last spring won 2nd place at WRO (World Robot Olympiad, world championship in school robotics). Now we are developing our robotics direction and aim to make ITMO the world champion in robotics - just as it happened with IT.
Physics. Less than a year ago, a physics and technology faculty was opened, focused on training elite physicists. The faculty is created in the structure of the megafaculty of photonics, which is our scientific base. It is on this MF that there are most of all scientific laboratories, well-known scientists, the staff of this MF write articles in the most highly rated scientific journals. And now, physics students have the opportunity to enter here, study with the best teachers and win their awards not in IT, but in physics, in science.
Biotechnology. At the beginning of 2017, a megafaculty “Biotechnologies and low-temperature systems” was created at the university, focused on the following “fashionable” areas: healthy nutrition, functional foods, modern ways to preserve them. Now in the country there are literally 1-2 universities that train specialists in this field and conduct scientific activities. The development of this MF at the very beginning of its path. But we have every reason to expect that very soon this direction will “shoot”.
Innovation . At the same time, ITMO University also trains technology managers, entrepreneurs, innovators - the established Faculty of Technology Management and Innovation has been responsible for this for 2 years now.
Entering ITMO University for a specific educational program, you do not bind yourself only to it and will be able to transfer to another within the same training direction. Then you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the university, study in laboratories, FabLab, create your own project in the Business Incubator - and here nobody restricts you with anything [including the chosen specialty]. The main thing is your desire.
Yugank Singhal / Flickr / CCHow to figure it out and make a choice
Now there are many areas for children where they could prove themselves and gain knowledge: from Preparatory courses to seminars on sports hacking SPbCTF . At ITMO University, a large number of Open Doors Days are held - in online and offline versions, as well as separately for mega-directions. There are individual career guidance tests, excursions and just personal meetings with students and their parents.
Very soon we will launch a single portal for students who are interested in ITMO University - ITMO.START. This is a project that will combine all the possibilities for students from grades 4 to 11. As for the direct admission (to undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate courses), then all the information can be found on ourwebsite for applicants , where as much as possible is told about all educational programs.
In the description of each educational program on the website, we placed the curriculum, which allows the applicant to see all the disciplines studied and what forms of control they will have, and in what semester the student will have to take something. There you can see a brief description of specialized disciplines. In addition, the applicant has the opportunity to see the leading teachers, which is sometimes decisive when choosing a future specialty.
Another opportunity to get acquainted with the study at ITMO University and decide on a future profession or field of study is massive online courses from the University. For example, the online course " Scientific Communication”, Which ITMO University launched in 2016, can be easily used in preparation for entering a master's degree of the same name. This was one of the goals of the preparation of the course, since there is very little new direction and literature on it in Russia.
About applicants and "Olympiads"
For undergraduate students, olympiads play a huge role. All-Russian Olympiads for schoolchildren and Olympiads from the list of the Russian Council of School Olympiads (ROSH) allow applicants to use the right to enter the ITMO University "Without entrance examinations" (BVI), confirming the diploma of such an Olympiad with 75 USE points in a specialized subject (this is required).
At the same time, the winners of such olympiads receive a scholarship to ITMO during the first year from 7 to 15,000 rubles per month - this is called the “Golden”, “Silver” and “Bronze” student card .
We consider these guys to be the most oriented towards further education and development. These words are confirmed by the further performance of the winners and prize-winners of the Olympiads - it is always higher by 50% of the performance of applicants who have received according to the exam results.
Last year, the University received more than 200 winners and prize-winners of subject Olympiads for schoolchildren (20% of the total number of budget places), which is the 4th result in Russia. The University itself is also the organizer of 6 olympiads from the list of secondary schools.
ITMO University accepts classical Olympiads in such subjects as:
- Informatics and ICT
- Maths
- Physics
- Chemistry
As well as diplomas of complex olympiads, such as the NTI Olympiad.
All these olympiads set themselves the task of unleashing the creative potential of the entrant, and seeing a non-standard approach to solving problems among schoolchildren.
In February 2017, we combined all of the University’s own subject Olympiads and launched the first ITMO VKontakte online Olympiad on the social network itself, increasing the number of participants by 10 times. For her, for example, we give 10 points to the exam in the subject.
At the end of March, we will also launch the online game Physics: A Game of Light, aimed at attracting physicists to ITMO. The game will go on for 5 weeks on the educational portal newtonew.com , the winners will also be guaranteed 10 points for the exam.
In magistracywinners or prize - winners of the Olympiad, which is taken into account by the university upon admission, receive 100 points for the exam (according to the profile of the Olympiad). But the applicant should still take part in the general competition for admission, where, with equal points for the exam, the average mark of the diploma will be taken into account.
Often, winners and prize-winners of student olympiads are given a monetary incentive, as well as various bonuses from the organizing universities and partners of the olympiad. Also, diplomas of such olympiads can be presented in your "Portfolio" for admission to the university.
Scientific projects and personal achievements: how else can an applicant differ
In undergraduate applicants can receive up to 10 additional points to the exam for individual achievements (ID) . Among them are scientific and creative competitions, sports achievements, volunteer activities, etc. Each university has the right to determine for what and how many points it accrues to the applicant.
Our University identified the most significant criteria and assigned appropriate points for them. So, we highly appreciate the victory in engineering contests, scientific competitions and other projects that allow us to determine the motivation and abilities of the guys.
In addition, we give extra points for language certificates. Applicants who graduated with honors from a school or STR, also receive up to 5 points to the exam results. In general, last year, about 50% of applicants took the opportunity to indicate their individual achievements in order to obtain additional points.
Many graduate students are preparing for admission in advance and can take part in special competitions and projects of ITMO University, which give the right to enter without exams. In April, you can speak at the All-Russian Congress of Young Scientists , whose winners are eligible to enter ITMO University without a competition.
Those who have already written scientific articles and participated in student olympiads who have significant victories and awards can take part in the Portfolio contest, but it is worth noting that only those undergraduate graduates whose average GPA was not lower than 4.5.
Since 2016, ITMO University Master's program can also be entered remotely using online exams, which is a very convenient way for nonresident applicants. As mentioned above - 51% of those received not from St. Petersburg. The largest number of students comes to ITMO from: St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, TUSUR, UrFU. By the way, the share of foreigners in the master's program in 2016 doubled: from 8% in 2015 to 16.2% in 2016.
How to "get ready for ITMO students"
A large number of children who entered ITMO University previously studied in any career guidance structures or participated in scientific or engineering competitions. The participation of schoolchildren in such projects allows them to feel in advance why they have a soul and come to a university with a more informed choice. Such students in the future achieve markedly greater successes, including also because they do not waste time adapting to the university world.
It is very important for us that students be satisfied with both the education and the atmosphere of the university. Therefore, we rely on our career guidance structures, which, with the help of modern technologies and methods, can bring information about the university, specialty, and interesting projects to future students who are now 16-17 years old much faster.
Now they [applicants] must choose what will be relevant and popular after 6 years, when they graduate from the university. But today it is very difficult to make this choice - professions disappear or become completely unnecessary, but at the same time new markets and new opportunities appear, for those who are now 16-17, or maybe only 12 years old, should be ready.
We entrust the work with schoolchildren and parents to young employees of departments and faculties of the university - it is they who talk about the intricacies of future professions, about the features of instruction and independent living, which makes them closer to schoolchildren and allows them to communicate in one language.