The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education has set the timeline for the transition of the country`s leading universities to a revised higher education system. This process is scheduled to commence in the 2026/2027 academic year.
A statement released by the ministry via its official Telegram channel confirmed, “Leading universities will begin the transition [to the new education system] in the 2026/27 academic year.”
The ministry also specified that the full-scale, nationwide implementation of the new higher education system is planned for the subsequent academic year, 2027/2028.
This move is in line with the ongoing efforts to enhance the national system of higher education, as mandated by a decree from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A “pilot” project testing elements of the new system was launched in May 2023. Six universities are participating: Moscow Aviation Institute, National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Saint Petersburg Mining University, and Tomsk State University. Students in this pilot are currently pursuing programs structured as basic and specialized higher education.
