Moscow university budget place competition surges in 2026
The competition for budget spots at leading Moscow universities has reached 150–250 applicants per place. The competition for budget spots at Moscow universities has sharply increased.
Consensus
- The competition for budget places in leading Moscow universities increased significantly in 2026.
- The number of applications for budget places at Moscow State University (MGU) rose by 46% compared to the previous year.
- More than 91,000 applications were submitted to MGU for budget places, from 22,400 applicants.
- Approximately 4,300 students were admitted to bachelor's and specialist programs at MGU.
- The average competition in the Higher School of Economics (HSE) reached 44 applicants per place.
- The competition at the Russian University of Friendship of Peoples (RUDN) was 22 applicants per place.
- The competition at the Russian Academy of National Economy and State Service (RANEPA) increased 1.5 times compared to 2025.
- The average competition at the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU) was 167 applicants per place, a 22% increase from the previous year.
- The average competition at Moscow Pedagogical State University (MPGU) was 71 applicants per place.
- Moscow and Saint Petersburg led the list of cities most preferred by applicants for higher education in 2026.
- The top five cities chosen by applicants were Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk.
- The top ten cities included Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Ufa, Krasnodar, and Tomsk.
Points of divergence
- The increase in competition is due to a reduction of approximately 47,000 paid university places in 2026, particularly in law, economics, management, public administration, and advertising, while the number of budget places remained stable and tuition fees rose by 10.7% on average. — novaya_eu
- The government is promoting a shift toward colleges and technical schools, with Minister of Education Valery Falkov stating that the country does not need 'total higher education.' — novaya_eu
- Parents across Russia report that their children are being denied entry into 10th grade, contributing to the trend of students moving to technical colleges and vocational schools. — novaya_eu
- Over 41,000 people, including war participants and their children, were admitted to universities under a special quota in 2026 — a 44% increase from 2025. — novaya_eu
- On some programs, the competition exceeded 250 applicants per place, with the highest recorded at 257 applicants per place at Plekhanov Russian Economic University for 'International Relations'. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- University leaders reported that Olympiad winners in 2026 were admitted to budget places in priority order, and in some cases occupied all or most budget spots. — tg_varlamov_news
Coverage (7 sources)
- In Moscow universities, the competition for budget places has sharply increased — Московские новости
- In Moscow universities, the competition for budget spots has sharply increased — Новая газета Европа
- Competition for budget places in leading Moscow universities reached 150–250 people per place — The Moscow Times
- Contest for budget in leading Moscow universities reached 200 people per place — Коммерсантъ
- In leading Moscow universities, competition for budget spots has increased, in one case exceeding 250 people per spot, reports T... — Varlamov News
- In Moscow universities, competition for budget spots has increased. For some directions, more than 200 applications were submitted for a single spot — Дождь
- In Moscow universities, competition for budget spots has increased. More than 200 applications were submitted for some directions. — Дождь (Telegram)