Admission in 2026 at Gosuslugi: what will change for graduates

In 2026, the rules for admission to Russian universities are changing significantly. Applicants will receive new requirements for submitting documents, updated conditions for targeted admission and adjusted minimum USE scores, and the Gosuslugi portal will become the key admission tool. What will change for graduates and what you should pay attention to when preparing for the admission campaign is in the Izvestia article.

What will graduates do in 2026?

In 2026, the order of admission to higher education institutions in Russia will change. Applicants will no longer be able to apply through their own university websites, while several official application methods will remain.

The main channel will be the Gosuslugi portal within the framework of the Online University Admission superservice. In addition, applicants will still be able to submit documents in person through university admissions offices or send them by registered mail to Russia. The new rules are aimed at unifying and simplifying the admission procedure.

Other important changes in 2026

In 2026, the changes will affect not only the ways of submitting documents, but also the rules of admission to Russian universities. For college graduates, the procedure for enrolling without the Unified State Exam will be clarified: it will be possible to take the internal entrance tests of the university only upon admission to the areas corresponding to the profile of the secondary vocational education received. At the same time, the decision on the compliance of the specialty will remain with the specific university.

The rules for targeted admission will also be updated. Target places will be assigned to specific organizations, indicating the educational program and form of study. Unclaimed target places will be able to be transferred to the general competition. In addition, it introduces the possibility to take into account the results of exams passed in Belarus: Russian citizens will be able to use them when applying to domestic universities.

Admission to universities in 2026: how the system of ranking applicants will work

The basic admission process will remain the same, but with key innovations.

Special attention is paid to the minimum threshold points of the Unified State Exam. The Russian Ministry of Education and Science has approved new values for a number of subjects, including raising the minimum score in foreign languages to 40, which is aimed at tightening the requirements for the level of education of applicants.

"Public services" and admission

Alexey Nezhivoy, head of the operational headquarters of the Independent Trade Union Novy Trud, noted in an interview with Izvestia that certain risks remain when using the Gosuslugi portal during the admission campaign. The main one, according to him, is related to the unavailability of services in the absence of a stable Internet connection.

As an example, he cited his own trip to Vladimir, where the mobile Internet was completely turned off and only Wi-Fi and wired networks worked. At the same time, Nezhivoy pointed out that there is a so-called "white list" of sites that can be accessed even with mobile Internet restrictions, but the effectiveness of this system nationwide is still difficult to predict. According to him, the key risks are related to the technical provision of stable communications in the regions.

At the same time, the expert emphasized that the digital services of Gosuslug have a high degree of interactivity and in the long run are able to provide equal opportunities for applicants regardless of their place of residence. In his opinion, platformization and digitalization make it possible to reduce the influence of the geographical factor and make university admission more affordable.

Nezhivoy also noted that submitting documents in electronic format is usually cheaper, faster and more convenient than a personal trip to a major city. In addition, he drew attention to the development of distance learning, which, according to him, may become one of the key formats in the future.

The expert acknowledged that remote learning cannot completely replace face-to-face classes in a number of specialties, however, he admitted the possibility of a combined approach. In his opinion, it is advisable to take the theoretical part remotely, and practical classes — face-to-face, during certain periods. Such a format, according to Nezhivoy, is able to reduce the financial burden on families from the regions and on the state.

Final motivation: universities have approved the lists of the Unified State Exam according to the new rules

Changes in entrance exams are causing anxiety and discontent among students and their parents

The New Labor trade union considers the development of digital educational technologies as an element of the future scientific and technological order. According to the expert, the introduction of digital platforms into the education system over time can make it more accessible and effective throughout the country.

How to prepare a graduate for admission

The terms of the admission campaign for applicants to bachelor's degree programs in 2026 remain the same. Applicants who face additional entrance examinations (DVI) must apply to universities from June 20 to July 15. The exams themselves will begin on July 21, and schedules will be published on university websites.

Applicants based on the results of the Unified State Exam will be able to submit documents until July 25. Additional tests are provided, in particular, for creative areas — design, fine arts, acting, journalism and a number of other specialties.

The competitive lists of universities will appear on July 27. They can be tracked both on the official websites of educational institutions and through the Gosuslugi portal. By 12:00 on August 1, applicants without entrance tests and those who enroll within quotas must submit their consent for enrollment. Enrollment orders at the priority stage will be published on August 3.

The general competition stage will end on August 5 at 12:00 p.m. — by this time, you must provide consent for enrollment. The final orders will be published on August 7.

Acceptance of documents for paid tuition starts on June 20 and will last until August 18-21, and for destinations with DVI — until August 6. The competition lists will be published on August 24, contracts will be concluded on August 26, and enrollment orders will be issued by August 28.

The submission of documents for the Master's degree will also begin on June 20. Admission for budget applicants will end on August 20, and for contract applicants on August 28. Consent to transfer to budget places must be submitted before 12:00 on August 24.

Despite the fact that the electronic format through Gosuslugi will become the key way to submit documents, it remains possible to personally contact the admissions committee or send documents by Russian Post. Each of these options has its own characteristics, but in all cases, the crucial factor remains compliance with deadlines and care when processing documents.