Chernyshenko spoke about the terms of study in the new higher education system

According to the new higher education system in Russia, education at the basic level will take from four to six years, and specialized education programs are designed for a period of one to two years. This was announced on June 8 by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko during the St. Petersburg International Forum (SPIEF-2026).

"The usual division into bachelor's and master's degrees is giving way to a more flexible system of three levels: basic higher education — bachelor's degree, specialty — study period from four to six years. Specialized higher education — master's degree, residency, internship - the duration of study is from one to two years. Postgraduate studies — adjunct studies — the duration of study is from three to four years," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Chernyshenko stressed that Russia has used the most successful elements of the Bologna system, but now it is time to form its own independent education model. At the same time, the transition to the new system, according to him, will take place gradually and without drastic changes.

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Russian Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said on June 2 that Russia should have a planned capitalist model of university education. If an enterprise pays for tuition, it should become the graduate's future employer, and if the student pays for it himself, then he is a subject of market risk. Medinsky also noted that the higher education system is an extremely conservative system, suspended between socialism and capitalism.