Russia Sets Variable University Program Lengths as Leading Schools Shift in 2026–2027

Overview

• Basic degrees will run four to six years, and master’s programs will last one to three years under the new model.
• Typical durations include five years for engineers, doctors and teachers, four for tourism and hospitality, and six for complex science‑intensive fields.
• Leading universities will begin adopting the framework in the 2026–2027 academic year following a pilot launched by a 2023 presidential decree.
• The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) said it is ready to admit students to new programs from 1 September 2026, pending a final ministry decision.
• The ministry is preparing systemic changes that will require amendments to the education law, and universities will revise curricula to implement the model.