Moscow universities are offering a unique path to admission for high school students: success in academic Olympiads. Winning these competitions can bypass the standard Unified State Exam (USE), opening doors to prestigious institutions like Moscow State University and the Higher School of Economics.

The All-Russian Olympiad for Schoolchildren, a massive intellectual competition held annually, provides winners and prize-winners with significant advantages, including admission without exams, 100 points on the USE in a specialized subject, or additional points for individual achievements. These benefits also apply to diplomas from list Olympiads recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The Moscow team recently achieved record-breaking results in the All-Russian Olympiad, securing 332 diplomas for winners and 1531 for prize-winners, surpassing the previous year’s total by 532 diplomas.

For those seeking admission based on Olympiad results, enrollment without exams is possible if the chosen field aligns with the Olympiad’s subject. If the field is non-core, the diploma holder may receive 100 points on the USE in the corresponding subject. All-Russian Olympiad diplomas are valid for four years, allowing applicants to apply to one university per year.

The All-Russian Olympiad consists of four stages and covers 24 subjects, ranging from languages and sciences to arts and social studies. The Center for Pedagogical Excellence of the Moscow Department of Education and Science prepares students for these competitions through multi-stage selection processes, including diagnostics, training camps, and mentorship.

Ivan Pruglo, a 10th-grade student and physics Olympiad winner, emphasizes the importance of passion, hard work, and the ability to set achievable goals for success in Olympiads. He highlights the broader benefits of Olympiads, including life experience, satisfaction from achieving goals, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.