7 Key Trends for the 2025 University Admissions Campaign

Discussion of the demand for teaching and engineering professions: are they justified?
Significant difference in passing scores between elite and regional universities
Universities strive to attract talented young people by offering unique benefits to applicants with high scores and Olympiad winners
Leading universities are striving for additional selection criteria, abandoning the traditional scheme of three Unified State Exams.
The number of applicants admitted to universities on preferential terms continues to grow
The new stage of recruitment turned out to be very limited
Paid education is becoming less and less accessible: current trends and forecasts.

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Each year, the admissions process to higher education institutions has its own unique characteristics. This is not only because the Ministry of Education and Science regularly updates admissions rules. Admissions patterns also reflect current trends in higher education, shaped by both government policy and changes in the interests of applicants. Some of these trends remain relevant for several years. In this article, we will analyze the specifics of the 2025 admissions campaign, and trends observed in previous years can be found here and here.

Discussion of the demand for teaching and engineering professions: is there a basis for it?

As is well known, the largest number of budget places in higher education institutions are allocated for engineering, technical, and teaching specialties. However, these fields are often not fully filled. According to unofficial data, this year there is again a surplus of places in fields such as agriculture and pedagogy, as well as in some natural science and engineering specialties.

As representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Education, and the rectors of major universities have repeatedly emphasized at press conferences, there is an increase in interest from applicants in educational programs in these fields.

The Ministry of Education released information that higher education institutions under its jurisdiction received 100,000 more applications than in 2024, reaching a total of 479,000. In the field of "Education and Pedagogical Sciences," the number of applications reached 538,000. The competition for state-funded places in pedagogical fields was 12 people per place. Minister Sergei Kravtsov emphasized that such a level of interest in the teaching profession was not observed even during the Soviet period.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko reported that three of the five most in-demand specialties among prospective students are in engineering and technology, but he did not name the specific specialties. Meanwhile, the number of applicants who have submitted applications is 1.363 million, and they are vying for more than 11.7 million competitive spots.

Interest in higher education among prospective students is also observed in other areas. For example, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko reported that by the end of July, over 275,000 applications had been submitted to medical universities. Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) noted that the number of applications from applicants was 188,000, which is 65% higher than the 2024 figures. Other Moscow universities have also seen increases in applications ranging from 30% to 70%.

Recently, there have been increasing doubts about the genuineness of the excitement surrounding certain universities and popular programs. The fact is that each applicant has the right to apply to five educational institutions and choose up to five majors at each. This leads many young people to be proactive and reserve as many options as possible at as many universities as possible.

Not everyone does this—according to surveys conducted in previous years, approximately a third of new students applied to only one institution. However, it is worth noting that the majority of applications for admission submitted by applicants are a kind of insurance options.

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Thus Thus, the number of applications submitted does not always reflect applicants' true interest in specific educational institutions and specialties. For example, applicants may actively apply to programs in pedagogy and engineering because they offer many state-funded places, making it possible to gain admission even with low Unified State Exam (USE) scores. As blogger and computer science teacher Mikhail Bogdanov notes, "the principle 'if you didn't get into medical school, go to pedagogy' remains relevant." For prospective students, this implies that a high level of competition in the number of applications submitted does not always indicate a difficult admission to a program. What matters is the competition for acceptances—that is, applications submitted by those genuinely interested in a given program, not considering it as an alternative. Until acceptances are submitted, the only guide is the passing scores from previous years. Since these indicators are not repeated exactly, this method of forecasting also has its limitations.

Significant difference in passing scores between elite and regional universities

Every year, some regional universities admit applicants with Unified State Exam results that barely reach a C to state-funded places. At the same time, leading universities, including not only those in the capital, often experience a shortage of state-funded places, even for those who have high scores and are Olympiad winners.

At the moment, there is no final data on passing scores for 2025, and the information is limited to individual examples. In particular, the "Ivory Zoo" Telegram channel collected information on the passing scores for state-funded places at regional universities. However, it's worth noting that this data does not include students admitted through quotas. The data presented includes the Unified State Exam (USE) scores for three exams for the last applicant admitted on a general basis through the main competition. According to the data presented, first-year students in various universities and cities enrolled in programs related to agriculture, natural sciences, engineering, and, in some cases, IT, scored between 119 and 133 points in their three USE exams. If these indicators are averaged, the result is between 39.6 and 44.3 points.

This indicates that applicants have just reached the required threshold, which allows the Ministry of Education and Science to accept documents for admission to higher education institutions. In particular, the case of the 119 points, which corresponds to the results of a specific applicant to the agricultural engineering program, clearly illustrates this. This amount is made up of the minimum scores for three exams: 40 points for the Unified State Exam in Russian, 40 for mathematics, and 39 for physics.

Mikhail Bogdanov, in his Telegram channel, pointed out several similar situations observed at pedagogical universities. He characterized applicants to the "Pedagogical Education" program with majors in "Physics and Mathematics" as C-students, as their combined scores on three Unified State Exams ranged from 146 to 169. The author of the post expressed doubt that society would want to see those admitted to universities with such low levels of preparation as teachers. In fact, it is likely that these students will not work in schools after graduation.

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Most likely, many of these graduates choose Students attend pedagogical universities not out of a true calling, but rather with the goal of securing a state-funded place—no matter which institution. Simply put, their primary goal is to obtain a higher education diploma, regardless of their chosen profession. This assumption is supported by data presented by the Higher School of Economics, according to which more than 40% of graduates from pedagogical universities and colleges do not begin working in their field, and instead find employment in retail, for example.

On the other hand, there are prestigious and well-known universities, primarily located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Admission to such institutions with only 40 points per subject is unthinkable. Mikhail Gordin, Rector of Bauman University, emphasized that even 60 points on the Unified State Exam (USE) per subject is insufficient for studying at a quality technical university; successful students are those who score 80 or more points. This criterion does carry weight at leading universities.

At a press conference dedicated to the results of the admissions campaign, held at TASS, data on the average scores of applicants to leading technical universities was announced. At MIPT, this figure was 97.6, while at Bauman Moscow State Technical University it was 85.7. Although these values are slightly lower than in the previous year, they still represent impressive results for most schoolchildren. For reference, in 2024, the average score of those admitted to state-funded places nationwide was 70.2. The decrease in average scores at these universities is likely related to the overall decline in Unified State Exam (USE) scores in mathematics and physics in 2025.

Typically, students with the highest scores, like Olympiad participants, strive to enroll in the most prestigious universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. This is why these educational institutions are considered highly selective, as they attract the best graduates from across the country. For example, Nadezhda Yashmolkina, the only graduate this year to score the maximum 400 points in four Unified State Exam subjects, was admitted to the HSE Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Informatics. Statistics from various years demonstrate the continued popularity of Moscow universities among applicants, including not only the most renowned institutions. Over the past five years, the number of students admitted on a fee-paying basis in Moscow has increased by almost 80%, while in other regions this figure increased by only 18%. From 2017 to 2024, the total number of students entering universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg increased by 52%. This is happening against the backdrop of the fact that in recent years, state-funded places have been primarily allocated to regional educational institutions in an effort to divert the flow of applicants.

Universities are seeking to attract talented young people by offering unique benefits to applicants with high scores and Olympiad winners.

As in previous years, universities are actively competing for applicants with high scores and Olympiad winners. These categories of students play a significant role in determining the quality of admission indicator, which is assessed by the average grade point average of first-year students. In this regard, universities are implementing programs that guarantee admission.

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According to information published in the telegram channel "Boiling MEPhI, similar initiatives are already being implemented at twelve leading universities located not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in Novosibirsk and Tomsk. The essence of these projects is that applicants who achieve a certain minimum score on the Unified State Exam or demonstrate achievements in Olympiads can qualify for free tuition. This is possible even if there are no state-funded places, as universities undertake to finance the education of such students from their own resources. However, it is worth noting that minimum score requirements for different universities in the capital and the regions can vary significantly. For example, at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, as of August 5, the threshold scores for admission to various programs ranged from 274 to 287, meaning each subject required a score of over 90. At St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, as of August 4, the minimum scores ranged from 220 to 250, which corresponds to approximately 80 points on the exam. And at Tomsk Polytechnic University, as early as July 17, applicants who received 160 points on three Unified State Exams could count on guaranteed admission to programs such as Physics or Optical Engineering.

In light of this, local authorities and individual universities develop new strategies every year to attract and retain talented applicants with high scores. This year, in addition to one-time payments and increased scholarships for high-achieving students entering universities in their region, several new initiatives have been added:

Tomsk Polytechnic University has offered out-of-town applicants reimbursement of travel expenses to Tomsk and back, with the compensation amount set at up to 10,000 rubles. If costs exceed this amount, a decision on compensation will be made by a university committee. Furthermore, for first-year students, the university will also cover their return home at the end of the first semester. Sakhalin authorities have decided to support not only public sector employees but also students enrolled in local higher education institutions on a fee-paying basis. The regional government has offered them compensation amounting to 50% of tuition. Ural State Pedagogical University, located in Yekaterinburg, has probably made the most progress. This institution has promised to enroll all applicants and provide free tuition to those who attend an open day at the beginning of the year. However, it is unclear whether this initiative has produced any results, as no further information about it was available in public sources during the admissions campaign.

Leading universities are seeking additional selection criteria, abandoning the traditional three-session Unified State Exam (USE) system.

On the eve of the start of the student admissions campaign, it became known that the rectors of several prestigious universities, including Bauman and Sechenov, expressed support for the initiative to increase the number of points awarded for individual achievement. This innovation will open up additional opportunities for universities to attract, for example, graduates of specialized classes. The idea of considering the GPA alongside the Unified State Exam (USE) scores was also considered, but it was criticized—it seems that university administrators doubt the objectivity of school grades. However, not everyone considers the GPA useless: at least one university in Russia has already implemented this indicator as an additional admissions criterion, in addition to the three required USE subjects. For example, the Catherine the Great St. Petersburg Mining University decided to take this factor into account. Up to 100 points could be earned for grades on the certificate, which is equivalent to the maximum number of points for each USE subject (the GPA for school years was multiplied by 20).

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Bauman University has introduced a mandatory physics exam for those seeking admission to engineering programs. This decision influenced the selection process, allowing for the selection of more qualified applicants. However, it's worth noting that this rule applies only to the main university in Moscow and does not affect its branches located in other cities.

The Ministry of Education and Science has long advocated making the physics exam mandatory for all engineering majors at all educational institutions. However, the situation has not changed: universities retain the option to choose between physics and computer science, allowing applicants to decide for themselves which of these subjects to take. Most engineering universities in Russia still offer applicants the option of submitting Unified State Exam (USE) results in physics or computer science. However, physics is considered a more difficult exam, so many applicants prefer computer science. However, this year, it has become impossible to enter Moscow's Baumanka without passing physics.

Furthermore, Mikhail Gordin announced in an interview that, starting in 2026, all Baumanka applicants will be required to provide exam results in four subjects: Russian language, mathematics, computer science, and physics. The university is confident that deep knowledge in these areas is crucial for future engineers, and applicants must demonstrate their skills in these subjects already at the entrance exam stage.

The number of applicants admitted to universities on preferential terms continues to grow

This year, competition for state-funded places at prestigious universities was once again fierce, even for applicants with excellent Unified State Exam results. This is due to the increase in the number of Olympiad winners who were able to avoid entrance exams thanks to their victories in school Olympiads. Higher education institutions emphasize that the number of such students has increased compared to the previous year. For example, at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, the number of Olympiad winners among those admitted increased by 60% compared to last year, and at ITMO University, all state-funded places in three educational programs were filled by applicants who had entered through Olympiads. At MGIMO, 35% of all state-funded students were winners and runners-up of All-Russian Olympiads. The Ministry of Education and Science later announced that the number of Olympiad winners admitted to universities in 2025 increased by 11% compared to the previous year.

In 2025, higher education institutions noted a significant increase in the number of applicants admitted through a special quota, reaching an impressive 105%. At least 10% of state-funded places are allocated to this quota. At some universities, the number of applications reached record levels: for example, at the Russian State Social University, the number of applications increased 12-fold compared to the previous year.

It should be noted that participants in special military operations and their children are primarily eligible for such places. They are typically able to enroll without having to take entrance exams (specific requirements for various categories are specified in paragraph 5.1 of Article 71 of the Law "On Education"). If there is a shortage of places under this quota, such applicants can participate in the general competition, and they have the right to choose: submit the results of the Unified State Exam or take entrance examinations at the university. In addition, when participating in the general competition, they have priority for admission, which means that if their results match the results of an applicant who does not have a privilege, then persons entitled to the privilege will be enrolled first.

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This year, 28,400 students were enrolled under a separate quota. Some higher education institutions even increased the number of allocated places—according to the law, the minimum quota is 10% of the total number of budget-funded places in each educational program. As Education Minister Valery Falkov noted at a meeting with the president, every fourth university expanded its separate quota to 20-30%. However, overall, the quota was not fully utilized across all educational institutions: over 50,000 places were initially planned. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, only 55% of them were filled, and the remaining places were returned to the general competition.

The quota for targeted admission, as in previous years, remained unfilled even at the most prestigious universities. For example, at Bauman Technical University, only 82% of the planned number of targeted students were enrolled. Apparently, changes to the admission rules for this category can be expected next year.

The new recruitment round turned out to be quite limited

As in previous years, after the completion of admission to higher education institutions in Russia, there were still available budget-funded places, for which additional admission was then announced. This process could provide the opportunity for free education for those applicants who were unable to pass the competition at their chosen university during the main stage. However, in practice, the number of places available within the additional recruitment is insignificant compared to the general system.

It is quite difficult to estimate the exact volume of additional recruitment at universities. According to forecasts from the Ministry of Education and Science, in 2025, following the results of the main admission, 98.5% of places financed from the budget were filled. Education Minister Valery Falkov announced the following figures: 441,988 places were allocated this year, while 435,186 students were actually enrolled. This leaves 6,802 state-funded places vacant. The ministry's press service noted that the number of state-funded places for which universities have announced additional admissions is three times lower than the 2024 target.

The "Science and Universities" Telegram channel noted a discrepancy in the data: a year ago, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko mentioned adding only 5,800 places in state-funded programs. Furthermore, it remains unclear how many places Falkov was referring to for admission this year. For 2025, universities have been allocated over 592,000 state-funded places, of which approximately 554,000 are for undergraduate, specialist, and master's programs. It can be assumed that the figure of 441,988 voiced by the minister refers exclusively to full-time education at the three levels of education indicated.

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Unofficial estimates of the number of budget-funded places in the supplementary admissions process also do not correspond to the data provided by the Ministry of Education and Science. For example, the resource "Vuzopedia," which collects information on supplementary admissions from the websites of various Russian universities, registered approximately 3,600 budget-funded places on August 14, and by August 19, this figure had increased to more than 4,000. However, the service noted that the presented data may be underestimated, as not all educational institutions have published information on their supplementary admissions requirements.

Despite the various estimates, one thing is clear: the likelihood of receiving a budget-funded place in the supplementary admissions process this year, as in the past, was very low. The supplementary admissions process cannot be considered a full-fledged "second wave" of admissions, similar to those conducted at universities before 2021. Therefore, applicants should not have high hopes that if they were unable to secure a place on a budget during the main stages of the admissions campaign, they will definitely succeed during the additional recruitment.

Paid education is becoming less and less accessible: current trends and forecasts.

On September 1, 2025, a law came into force that grants the government the right to limit the number of places for paid education in higher education institutions. In addition, restrictions are expected to be introduced on the issuance of preferential educational loans, which some banks provide with state support at a rate of 3%. These loans will remain available only to those who enroll in specialties and areas of training that are a priority for the state. A draft of the relevant resolution has already been published for public discussion.

It is still unclear how the restrictions on paid admission and the educational loan system will function. However, it is obvious that starting in 2026, the process of admission to paid education will become significantly more complicated compared to previous years.

Since 2025, admission to paid education has become a significantly more complicated process. According to new admissions regulations that came into effect this year, universities no longer have the right to increase the number of fee-paying places during the admissions process. Previously, if the number of applications from applicants exceeded the pre-established limit for fee-paying places, the institution could increase the number and admit all applicants who demonstrated the required scores on the Unified State Exam (USE)—that is, those who met the minimum application threshold and were willing to pay tuition. As a result, there was virtually no real competition among applicants for fee-paying places. However, in 2025, the number of fee-paying places was set in advance for the first time, and there was no longer the option to increase it as applications were received. This led to the emergence of real competition among fee-paying applicants at some universities, and not everyone was able to pass the selection.

For example, delegates from Chelyabinsk State University and Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University noted that competition had arisen in the specialties of "jurisprudence" and "psychology" within the framework of fee-paying education.

Photo: Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Furthermore, it can be assumed that the reduction in the number of fee-paying places next year contributed to a sharp increase in interest in fee-paying education in 2025. According to information from TASS, this is observed in the capital's universities:

at RSUH - twice as much compared to 2024;
At Moscow Polytechnic University, the figure is 86%.
at RUDN - by 52%;
at RANEPA - by 19%.

Nevertheless, it seems that this trend has not affected all higher education institutions. Fontanka magazine analyzed the results of student admissions to fee-paying places at St. Petersburg universities and found that some of them admitted applicants with extremely low scores on three Unified State Exams (USEs)—in some cases, even as low as 100. This suggests that problems with admission to fee-paying education are not widespread. Despite the price increases, interest in studying remains high. At a number of prestigious Russian universities, tuition fees for certain specialties have increased by 25% or more. Particularly significant increases have been observed at medical schools: at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, the increase ranged from 30% to 35%, and at Sechenov University, the annual tuition for a general medicine major has exceeded 1 million rubles. The Ministry of Education and Science, however, noted that the average price increase is not that significant—12%, with the figure in Moscow reaching 15.7% and in the regions, around 11%.

Amid the current situation, interest in subsidized student loans is growing. According to Yandex, the number of search queries on this topic has increased 1.5 times compared to last year. Regarding the actual issuance of such loans, Sberbank predicted a 40% increase compared to the previous year. However, as bank representatives noted, a similar trend was observed last year, indicating a steady increase in demand for subsidized student loans. Interest in them continued to grow even before news of possible restrictions on paid tuition and loan issuance.

Representatives of higher education institutions expressed concern that tuition prices will continue to rise in the future. The main reason is that universities believe that state-established per-student spending standards do not reflect the actual costs of the educational process, and therefore they are forced to adjust prices in accordance with market conditions. However, State Duma deputies, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, have already discussed the possibility of introducing uniform rules for regulating prices—for example, establishing maximum increase coefficients. This means that, most likely, price increases will be subject to some restrictions.