Russia is set to completely abandon the Bologna system of higher education by 2026-2027, marking a significant shift in its approach to university-level studies. Universities are expected to fully transition to a new model by this time.

The announcement was made by the head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov. According to Falkov, a large-scale transition is planned for the specified timeframe, and a comprehensive understanding of the new model has been established.

President Vladimir Putin has already signed a decree focused on improving the national higher education system. This decree introduces a three-tier structure consisting of basic higher education, specialized higher education, and postgraduate studies, effectively replacing the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree system.

The initial phase of the program will span four to six years, while the subsequent phase will range from one to three years, contingent on the specific field of study and specialization. Study durations for students in medical fields will remain unchanged.

A pilot project implementing this new educational framework commenced in May 2023 at select 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.

Importantly, diplomas earned by current undergraduate students will remain valid. The transition to the new education system will be implemented gradually, ensuring that students already enrolled in existing programs can complete their studies without disruption.