Russia is set to completely abandon the Bologna education system in universities, transitioning to a new model of higher education, beginning in 2026–2027, according to the Head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov.

The transition will involve significant regulatory work, including changes at the federal legislative level and the adoption of new regulatory legal acts by the ministry and the government.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to improve the national higher education system, introducing a three-level structure: basic higher education, specialized higher education, and postgraduate studies. This new system will replace the bachelor’s and master’s degrees currently in place.

The first stage of education under the new system will last from four to six years, while the second stage will range from one to three years, depending on the field of training and specialty. Study periods for medical students will remain unchanged.

A pilot project for this new form of education began in May 2023 at several universities, including: Moscow Aviation Institute, University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Baltic Federal University, Saint Petersburg Mining University, and Tomsk State University.

Current bachelor’s students will not be affected by the changes, and their diplomas will remain valid. The transition to the new education system will be gradual, allowing those already studying under the old program to complete their studies without disruption.