Russia is set to completely abandon the Bologna system of higher education and transition to a new national model starting in 2026-2027, according to the Ministry of Education and Science.

The large-scale transition will require significant regulatory adjustments at the federal legislative level and the adoption of numerous new regulatory legal acts by both the ministry and the government.

The Bologna system, which includes bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, requires students to complete each level sequentially.

President Vladimir Putin has already signed a decree to improve the national higher education system, establishing a three-tier structure consisting of basic higher education, specialized higher education, and postgraduate studies. This new system will replace the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The initial phase of the new program will range from four to six years, while the second phase will last one to three years, depending on the field of study. However, medical students will maintain their current study durations.

A pilot project implementing this new educational structure began in May 2023 at several universities, including Moscow Aviation Institute, University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Baltic Federal University, St. Petersburg Mining University, and Tomsk State University.

Current bachelor’s degree diplomas will remain valid, and the transition to the new system will be gradual, allowing students already enrolled in existing programs to complete their studies without disruption.