A university instructor confirmed that the changes were indeed introduced last year.
According to the new rules, a grade of "5" is now awarded for 95 points, whereas previously it was required for 85 points. To receive a red diploma, students must have an average score of no less than 3.75, but many students who consistently achieve good results are now falling short of this mark. Moreover, they are not allowed to retake subjects," the instructor explained.
Students in their final years are particularly concerned about the current changes as they are nearing graduation and striving to obtain a red diploma.
"Students who studied under one set of requirements are now facing new conditions at the finish line. Universities refuse to allow retakes due to fears of attracting attention from the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), which deprives students of the chance to obtain a special diploma, despite their academic performance. Parents are also expressing their concerns," he added.
The instructor also noted that there is currently a ban on retakes in universities due to inspections by the GKNB.
"Many universities are wary of inspections from the GKNB and do not allow retakes as they did before, out of fear of being suspected of violating the law, even though retaking is a common practice in universities," the instructor clarified.
Students emphasize that a red diploma is not just a status for them, but also provides additional advantages when applying for master's programs, employment, and opportunities for grants and scholarships.
"We have put in effort, closed sessions with high scores, and participated in various projects. We were told that 85 is an excellent result. Now it turns out that this is not enough. We find ourselves in a difficult situation," one student shared.
The Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Innovations responded to the inquiry from Kaktus.media. The agency confirmed that on September 27, 2024, a resolution was adopted that approved new rules for organizing the educational process in universities using academic credits.
The document indeed introduces a unified grading scale that includes:
- a 100-point system;
- a letter grading system;
- a numerical equivalent for calculating GPA (Grade Point Average), with a maximum value of 4.0;
- the traditional grading system.
These changes apply only to first-year students of the 2025/26 academic year and to students admitted in subsequent years. Senior students are not subject to the new rules.Thus, the changes do not affect those studying at universities before 2025.
However, as instructors claim, in practice, there are no clear explanations in universities, and each student is forced to interpret these rules independently.
"Students have turned to the media to request that the ministry provide a unified and clear explanation that would be accessible in open sources, as not everyone has access to regulatory acts. Due to a lack of information, rumors and misunderstandings arise," the instructors noted.
