[91291] Opening of the university admission season in Russia against the backdrop of a comprehensive reform in the higher education system

Opening of the academic year and structural reform in Russia

Today, June 20, 2026, the registration season for higher education institutions officially opened across Russia. According to reports from Readovka and Москва 24, this year there are approximately 620,000 budget-funded places available to students and about 83,000 places within the framework of "Targeted enrollment." Registration for these tracks will continue until July 25, while registration for paid tracks is open until September 20.

Changes in the education system

This year, the admission process is accompanied by a large-scale reform. As the Readovka channel notes, the government has approved a pilot project to change the structure of higher education that will continue until 2030. The new model abandons the European "Bologna Process" and divides studies into levels: basic, specialized, and professional (aspirantura). RusNews adds that the move is a response to the severance of academic ties with the West after 2022.

Criticism and different perspectives

The registration process has sparked an active debate regarding the country's educational goals. While official media outlets emphasize the importance of training engineers, doctors, and agronomists, critical channels present a different picture:

• Рамзай sharply criticizes the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov, who was quoted as saying that "there is no need for universal higher education." According to the channel, the minister's rhetoric is reminiscent of foreign influence and ignores the public's desire to acquire an education.


• Темы. Главное, which presents a sharply critical stance, argues that the state is "aware of the decline in human capital quality" in order to produce cheap technical labor for factories and defense industries, while creating a "class society."

Security and religion

On another front, Colonelcassad, a channel identified with pro-establishment and security positions, reported on the activity of the "Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church" in Russia, which it claims serves as a center for foreign influence and anti-Russian activity, while linking members of these religious communities to cases of sabotage and espionage.