The State Duma proposed to analyze the outflow of students abroad

Oleg Smolin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, proposed analyzing the outflow of Russian students and graduates abroad in order to optimize the system of control over student enrollment and permits for paid enrollment. The deputy told TASS about this on February 10.

According to Smolin, a study conducted in 2021 by Yaroslav Kuzminov, the scientific director of the Higher School of Economics, showed that almost half of the successful students of the country's leading universities went abroad at the bachelor's degree stage.

The deputy suggested that when determining the control figures for admission to universities and granting permits for paid recruitment, data on how many students and graduates leave the country for permanent residence in the first two years after graduation should be taken into account.

Smolin stressed that modern digitalization allows migration services to track such data, which opens up opportunities for more accurate student recruitment planning. He noted that when forming control figures and deciding on paid enrollment, priority should be given to those students who plan to work and develop their country.

The MP also added that it is important to consider where university graduates work after graduation. He stressed that even if a student enters with lower USE scores, but stays in Russia and benefits the country, he will be a valuable asset, unlike those who go abroad with high scores and develop the economy and science of other countries.

Admission in 2026 at Gosuslugi: what will change for graduates

The changes will affect not only the ways of submitting documents, but also the admission rules themselves.

On January 14, the press service of the Ministry of Science of the Russian Federation announced changes to the university admission rules for 2026. It was noted that the procedure for submitting documents, enrolling college graduates and the conditions for targeted admission have changed. For example, starting this year, applicants will have three ways to submit documents: through the Gosuslugi portal, in person at the university or by mail, but submission through universities' own systems will no longer be possible.

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