The innovation involves the implementation of a new educational model that offers basic higher education for a period of four to six years, as well as specialized education lasting from one to three years. Postgraduate studies will become a separate level of higher education.
It is important to note that students who are already enrolled in existing bachelor's and master's programs will be able to complete their education according to the previous curricula — they will not be affected by the changes.
Among the universities that will switch to the new system in 2026 are institutions such as the Far Eastern Federal University, Moscow City University of Pedagogy, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, and the Russian University of Transport (MIIT), among others.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, this reform is an expansion of a pilot project, not a universal cancellation of bachelor's and master's degrees. It is expected that the mass transition to the new higher education system will occur in the academic year 2027–2028 and will affect all universities in the country, regardless of their ownership structure and departmental affiliation.
Recall that in May 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to launch a pilot project for the reform of higher education, which was initially tested in six Russian universities.
According to the latest data, more than 11,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are studying at Russian universities. About half of them are receiving education on a budget basis, while the others are studying under contracts.
The education of citizens of Kyrgyzstan in Russia is organized, among other things, within the framework of intergovernmental agreements and through quotas provided by the Russian side.
