Key Changes for University Admissions in 2026

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has approved adjusted rules for university admissions in 2026. Graduates and their parents should note a number of new provisions.

When to submit documents and enrollment consents?

The admission campaign for bachelor«s degree programs starts on 20 June. Applicants who need to take internal university entrance exams (IEE) should submit their applications by 15 July. The IEEs for creative majors will begin on 21 July. For those applying only based on Unified State Exam (USE) results, the deadline is extended to 25 July.

Ranking lists will appear on university websites and the Gosuslugi portal on 27 July. Consent to enrollment for privileged categories and those entering without exams must be submitted by 12:00 on 1 August. Enrollment orders for this stage will be published on 3 August.

For the general competition, consents are accepted until 12:00 on 5 August, and enrollment orders will be issued on 7 August.

Applications for fee-paying programs are accepted from 20 June to 18–21 August (for majors with IEEs – until 6 August). Ranking lists will appear on 24 August, contracts can be signed until 26 August, and enrollment orders – until 28 August.

Admission to state-funded master«s programs will last from 20 June to 20 August, and for fee-paying programs until 28 August. Consent to enrollment for state-funded master»s spots must be provided by 12:00 on 24 August.

How to submit a university application?

Starting in 2026, submitting applications through personal accounts on university websites is no longer an option. Three methods are available:

• online through the Gosuslugi portal;
• in person at the admissions office;
• by registered mail.

The required documents include the application, passport, diploma with appendix, photographs, and proof of privileges or individual achievements.

An applicant can choose up to 5 majors at 5 different universities, ranking them by priority. The system will automatically enroll the applicant in the highest-priority major where they have enough points. Priorities can be changed until the application deadline.

What exams to take?

From 2026, the list of majors where physics or history is mandatory has been expanded. The exact list of entrance tests for each program should be checked in the admission rules on university websites.

How to apply for targeted training and what about medical graduates?

Each targeted study place is now assigned to a specific employer. It can be found on the Work in Russia portal, where organizations post vacancies with contract terms. Targeted applicants participate in a separate competition and can receive up to 5 extra points for career guidance events.

The contract is signed with only one organization. Refusal to sign it after enrollment leads to expulsion or transfer to a fee-paying form.

For medical university graduates who studied on state-funded places, concluding a targeted contract for residency before final certification is now mandatory. Specialist degree graduates who do not complete the required mentorship period will have to undergo primary accreditation every five years.

Who is eligible for quotas?

Quotas typically comprise 10% of state-funded spots in a major. Special and separate quotas are allocated.

The special quota is for:

• children with disabilities;
• disabled persons of groups I and II;
• disabled since childhood;
• orphans;
• disabled due to military injury;
• combat veterans.

The separate quota is intended for:

• Heroes of Russia and citizens with three Orders of Courage;
• participants of the special military operation and their children;
• children of medical workers who died from COVID-19.

The new provision allows universities to reallocate unfilled targeted places first to the separate quota, and only then to the general competition. Also, during the priority enrollment stage, spots can be transferred between the special and separate quotas.

How to enter a university via academic Olympiads?

Winners and prize-winners of the All-Russian and international school Olympiads have the right to enrollment without exams. The diploma is valid for 4 years.

Winners and prize-winners of Olympiads from the list of the Russian Council of School Olympiads can apply for enrollment without entrance tests or 100 points in the relevant subject. However, they must confirm the result by scoring at least 75 points on the corresponding USE. University requirements may vary.

For individual achievements, such as a GTO badge or Olympiad diplomas, one can receive up to 10 extra points.

What will happen with fee-paying admission?

The number of fee-paying spots from 2026 will be regulated by the state. Forty-six majors fall under control, including social, economic, humanities, and a number of engineering specialties.

For each specialty, a limit will be set equal to the average number of students enrolled on a fee-paying basis in the previous year. If in 2025 the average USE score for one subject among fee-paying students was below 50, fee-paying spots for that program will not be allocated in 2026.

What has changed for vocational college graduates?

Entering a university without the USE via internal exams is now possible only for a program corresponding to the profile of the received secondary vocational education. For admission to non-core majors, taking the USE is required.