Starting from September 1, 2026, bachelor's and master's degrees will be abolished in Russia, and a system of basic and specialized higher education will be established instead.
AzEdu.az reports that the information was disseminated by the Russian media.
Ksenia Goryacheva, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, stated that the change will apply to applicants starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, while current students will complete their education under existing programs.
According to K. Goryacheva, basic higher education will require 4-6 years depending on the specialization, while specialized higher education will require 1-3 years:
"This is essentially an updated master's program format with professional, management, and research specializations. An important addition is that previously, after completing a specialized program, it was not possible to apply for state-funded places in a master's program. This prohibition is no longer in effect. Graduates of any basic program will be able to compete for state-funded places.
Discussions regarding the modification of the Bologna system began in 2022. Subsequently, a transition program was developed, and a pilot project for the implementation of the model was launched in six universities. Now, this experience is being expanded".
According to him, the new model gives universities more flexibility to adapt their programs to real needs without losing their fundamental character.
