Murmansk Region ninth graders can enter colleges with two exams

This will allow students to start their path to a vocational career more quickly, as the region joins a federal experiment.

Apr 18, 2026

The Murmansk Region has joined a federal experiment: now, to receive their certificate, ninth-grade students only need to pass the OGE (State Final Examination) in Russian and mathematics.

— The Arctic needs qualified personnel, and we must make vocational education more accessible. This step will help the kids start their path to an in-demand profession more quickly, be it an IT specialist, nurse, oil and gas industry specialist, or teacher, — said Governor Andrey Chibis.

The experiment does not limit opportunities for entering universities, Chibis added. All graduates will receive standard certificates, regardless of the number of exams taken.

The admissions campaign for SPO (Secondary Professional Education) programs will start no later than June 20. In 2026, 23 educational organizations in the region are ready to accept over 8,000 students, including 4,500 state-funded spots.

Let us recall that in 2026, schools will start studying a new subject, and exams will undergo significant changes.