Moscow Universities See Record Admissions Competition Amid Wartime Quotas and Budget Cuts

Aug. 13, 2026 The Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency High school graduates will face higher competition for tuition-free university spots in Moscow this academic year, state media reported Thursday, as paid seats are being eliminated while military quotas expand. According to data compiled by the state-run TASS news agency, competition for so-called “budget spots” rose by double digits across major institutions including Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics and the Russian State University for the Humanities. Up to 257 applications per spot were recorded for International Relations at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, while the average spot at the university had 34 applications. MSU saw total applications for budget spots jump 46% to more than 91,000. HSE saw an average of 44 applicants per budget spot this admissions cycle, up from 32 last year. Average competition at the Russian State University for the Humanities grew 22% to 167 applications per spot. The surge comes amid increasing tuition fees and the wartime requirement for Russian universities to reserve at least 10% of their tuition-free spots for soldiers who fought in Ukraine and their children. The number of students admitted into Russian universities under the quota has nearly doubled since the invasion of Ukraine, and reached a record 41,000 this year. At the same time, the government began regulating the number of fee-paying university places, eliminating 47,000 of them nationwide. The Kremlin has pushed to reduce university enrollment in favor of vocational training, with public high schools redirecting teenagers into trade colleges to address industrial labor shortages. Read more about: Education , University Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Feature ‘Are You All Cowards?’: Russian Universities Pressure Students to Fight in Ukraine Russia has increasingly turned to universities as a fresh source of recruits as enlistment numbers dwindle and war casualties soar. 5 Min read Russian Universities Advised to Pre-Authorize Academic Trips to ‘Unfriendly’ Countries, Report Says An advisory on travel was reportedly sent out a month after Polish police arrested Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin. 2 Min read Rosobrnadzor Suspends License of Shaninka University The move follows Rosobrnadzor’s decision last month to strip accreditation from several of Shaninka’s degree programs. 1 Min read Russia to Cut 45K State-Funded University Slots in 2026-27 Academic Year Education officials say the move is aimed at curbing an oversupply of graduates in around 40 fields with low demand. 1 Min read