A new higher education system will come into effect at Russian universities on September 1, 2026: the bachelor’s and master’s degrees will be abolished, replaced by basic and specialized higher education. Ksenia Goryacheva, First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, announced this.
According to the deputy, basic higher education will last from four to six years depending on the specialization, while specialized education will last from one to three years. Specialized education is an updated master’s program format with professional, managerial, and research tracks.
A significant change will be expanded access to state-funded places. While previously graduates of a specialist degree could not apply for state-funded places in a master’s program, graduates of any basic program will now be able to participate in the competition for state-funded places. Doctoral studies will be a separate level of professional education. The Changes will not affect current students—everyone already studying in a bachelor’s, specialists, or master’s program will complete their studies according to current standards. The new rules will only apply to applicants entering universities beginning in the 2026/2027 academic year.
The reform has been in development for several years and is based on the results of pilot projects. In 2023–2026, a pilot project was launched at six universities in Russia, where the new model was tested in real-world classrooms.
Discussions on abandoning the Bologna system began back in 2022.
The deputy noted that the transition is particularly important for engineering and science-intensive specialties. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the mass transition to the new system is planned for the 2027/2028 academic year and will affect all universities in the country, regardless of departmental affiliation or ownership.
