Starting September 1, 2026, a new higher education system will come into effect at Russian universities: the bachelor's and master's degree formats will be abolished, replaced by basic and specialized higher education. This was announced by Ksenia Goryacheva, First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education.
According to the deputy, basic higher education will last from four to six years depending on the specialty, while specialized education will last from one to three years. Specialized education is a modernized master's degree program with professional, managerial, and research tracks.
An important change will expand access to state-funded places. Previously, graduates of a specialist's degree were not eligible for state-funded places in a master's program, but now graduates of any basic program will be able to participate in the competition for state-funded places. Doctoral studies will be designated as a separate level of professional education.
The changes will not affect current students—everyone already enrolled in undergraduate, specialist, or master's degree programs 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. Between 2023 and 2026, a pilot project was launched in Russia at six universities, where the new model was tested in real-life 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.