State-Supported Student

(Russian, kazennokoshtnyistudent, from the Polish koszt, “maintenance” or “cost”), a university student in Russia who was fully maintained at the state’s expense, as distinct from one who paid his own way. State-supported students lived in dormitories under the supervision of inspectors. Upon graduating from the university they were obliged to serve for at least six years in the Ministry of Education; medical doctors served in the military. The institution of state-supported students endured until the 1860’s. It was abolished at the University of St. Petersburg in 1850, and direct state maintenance was replaced by stipends at all other universi-ties in 1859.