Matviyenko calls for review of university admissions preferences

Federation Council chair Valentina Matviyenko called on Russia’s education authorities on October 14 to review university admissions preferences. She advocated a cautious reassessment while preserving support for children of participants in the military operation.

She addressed a plenary session attended by Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov. Matviyenko argued that the number of preferential admissions routes warrants examination to ensure fair competition for other school leavers.

Citing St Petersburg, she said some applicants with a combined 300 points from three examinations could not obtain state-funded places, while some also struggled to enter paid programmes. She did not present a statistical study supporting that assessment in the remarks.

Matviyenko separately questioned which admissions advantages should attach to academic olympiads. She said the competitions themselves should continue to develop and called for support to help winners, including international medal winners, realise their potential in Russia.

She proposed recording recommendations in a council resolution following the minister’s appearance and requesting road maps with deadlines. Her remarks did not announce specific preferences to be abolished or introduce new admissions rules.