Instead of bachelor's and master's programs: a new structure of higher education will be tested in Russia

Vladimir Putin signed decree about changes in the system of higher education. The pilot project proposes to introduce basic and specialized higher education instead of undergraduate and graduate programs.

The term of study under the programs of basic higher education will be 4-6 years, specialized - 1-3 years, depending on the specialty. Postgraduate studies are not affected by the changes.

Specialized higher education programs will correspond to master's, residency and assistant-internship programs. Only students who already have a higher education will be able to receive it, and the specialty will not be considered a second or subsequent higher education.

In test mode, new levels of higher education will be introduced at MAI, MISiS, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Tomsk State University and St. Petersburg State University from the new academic year. Educational programs according to the new standards will be approved by June 30.

The new model was developed in response to the exclusion of all universities in Russia and Belarus from the Bologna system of higher education in April 2022.