Universities will switch to a new model of higher education. What you need to know

Starting from the beginning of the next academic year, the duration of studies in higher education institutions will depend on the chosen specialty. This is due to the abandonment of the Bologna system and the transition to a domestic three-tier model of higher education. What changes are expected by applicants and students can be found in the Izvestia article.

New levels of education

• The new model, which will be introduced in the 2026/2027 academic year, implies several levels of higher education: basic, specialized and professional. The period of obtaining the basic level depends on the chosen industry and specialty and will range from four to six years. Thus, four-year programs are available for tourism and the hotel industry, and students will be trained in engineering, medical and pedagogical specialties for at least five years.

• Studying at the level of specialized higher education can last from one to three years. The forms of such training will be a master's degree, a residency for medical specialties and an internship for creative professions.

• The highest level of the new education model is postgraduate studies, where candidates of sciences are trained. Previously, graduates of the specialty or bachelors who completed their master's degree could enroll in postgraduate studies. Now, you can become a postgraduate student after receiving a basic education in a program designed for at least five years.

Reasons for switching to a new model

• The Bologna two-level training system, including bachelor's and master's degrees, was adopted in the Russian Federation, as it provided Russian students with additional internship opportunities abroad and allowed Russian and international students to exchange experiences. Russia became a participant in the Bologna process in 2003, but even then the rectors of leading universities began to talk about the fact that Western standards contribute to reducing the quality of education in the country.

• The need for a new model of education is conditioned by the situation on the labor market. Under the conditions of sanctions from the West, cooperation between Russian and foreign universities, which was the main advantage of the Bologna system, stopped, and it turned out to be ineffective inside the country. In addition, four years of undergraduate studies did not provide students with the necessary depth of knowledge and practical training to interest employers, and production suffered from a shortage of qualified personnel.

• The new model should ensure a higher quality of education and the subsequent employment of graduates. The basic level will be enough to start a professional career, and the difference in the duration of study programs will help to find a balance between the demands of the market and the interests of the students themselves. Moreover, now having a higher education diploma is no longer sufficient — many professions involve regular specialized training and advanced training.

Who will be affected by the changes

• In the test mode, the new model of higher education has already been tested on the basis of six universities. Since 2023, the capital's MAI, MISIS, and Moscow State University, as well as St. Petersburg Mining University, Tomsk State University, and I. Kant Baltic Federal University, have participated in the pilot project. Starting from the new academic year, leading universities will switch to this model, and starting in 2027, the system will start operating across the country.

• For those students who are already studying undergraduate programs at the time of the introduction of the new model, the authors of the reform promised to make the transition smooth. The curricula will be adjusted to meet the new levels of higher education. After completing their studies, baklavs will be able to receive specialized higher education in a master's degree.