New university admission rules came into force in Russia on March 1.

"Improving the rules of admission to universities is an integral part of a comprehensive effort to improve the entire higher education system. More understandable and comfortable conditions have been created for applicants upon admission, and talented students have even more opportunities to apply for a budget. The entire higher school is being rebuilt in such a way as to train strong personnel for leading sectors of the economy," said RIA Novosti Valery Falkov, Head of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Now, uniform admission dates for higher education programs have been introduced for Russian applicants — from June 20, and graduation on September 1 for the budget, and on September 30 for admission to the contract and for additional enrollment. In addition, it will be possible to apply for admission to master's degree programs through the website of Public Services.

Enrollment in budgetary places will be carried out not according to the original document of education, but according to an application for consent to enrollment, which can be submitted to the "State Services" in one university for the chosen specialty.

­Applicants entering the target area now have the opportunity to receive 15 points instead of 10 for individual achievements. An additional five points will be awarded for participation in career guidance events. The rest of the applicants for the Unified State Exam and entrance tests will be able to receive a total of the traditional 10 points.

The order also establishes that if there is a shortage of places for admission under a separate quota, the university management can redistribute places between quotas and take the required number from a special quota, if there are places.

The Ministry of Education and Science has retained the mandatory Russian language exam for all specialties and areas of study at universities in the Russian Federation. Foreigners who enroll in Russian universities, including paid places, will be required to take an exam in the Russian language. The exception will be those educational programs that are taught in a foreign language from the first year.

The Ministry also ordered that the foreign language exam be reserved for such areas of study as economics, management and personnel management. Earlier, the draft order proposed to exclude it from the list of entrance tests for admission to these areas.

The new rules will be in effect until September 1, 2029. Only institutions with special licenses will be able to accept documents for educational programs.

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On December 29, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation established minimum points of the Unified State Exam for the 2025/26 academic year. The minimum score for the exam in mathematics will be 39, in Russian — 42, in physics — 39, in a foreign language — 30, in literature — 40, in biology — 39, in geography — 40, in chemistry — 39, in social studies — 45, in history — 35, in computer science — 44.