The Ministry of Education and Science introduces a system of “cross-cutting priorities” for university applicants

The Ministry of Education and Science has decided to change the scheme for entering universities. Already in the spring of 2024, applicants will be able to create a “end-to-end” list of priority areas for themselves, which can be changed once a day directly during the admissions campaign. The department believes that this will increase the chances of getting into the budget. Universities are not yet ready to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative, but admit that the new system can indeed be convenient.

The system of “end-to-end priorities” for applicants was announced on Wednesday by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Dmitry Afanasyev. He presented the changes at a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education.

Currently, applicants can apply to five universities for five directions each. But it is possible to indicate which direction is more important only within one university; Once documents are submitted, priority cannot be changed.

Now the Ministry of Education and Science offers applicants, when submitting documents, to form an “end-to-end rating” of 25 combinations of university + direction.

It will be possible to change the list of priorities directly during the admissions campaign, but no more than once a day. In this case, enrollment will be made automatically for the combination that is indicated by the applicant in the list above all and for which there are enough points at the end of the admissions campaign.

Moreover, universities will have a “rating list of applicants recommended for admission.” It is expected that it will be generated using the new “enrollment support service” and posted on the State Services portal. Ranking of applicants there will occur automatically; the lists will be updated once an hour.

“If an applicant sees his ratings and his chances of admission not at the time of submission of documents, but already during the admissions campaign itself, he may change his choice. And he will be able, for example, to refuse a university that he will not enroll in, and transfer his application to another university,” explained Mr. Afanasyev. All these innovations are contained in draft order Ministry of Education and Science “On approval of the procedure for admission to higher education educational programs – undergraduate programs, specialty programs, master’s programs”, published for public discussion until October 24.

Boris Padalkin, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at MSTU named after N. E. Bauman, suggests that the changes will be accepted without problems, “because they are quite adequately formulated and do not differ much from the current rules.” When asked whether the new system would lead to the fact that applicants will end up “wherever they have to,” he answered this way: “There have always been applicants who cannot decide, rush between directions without understanding their essence, or are simply chasing the budget, just to just to get somewhere. “Cross-cutting priorities” will not increase their number, but others will be given a chance to be enrolled in the right direction.”

“We always welcome changes related to the digitalization of the admissions campaign, if they are aimed at simplifying admission and increasing the applicant’s chances of being accepted,” says Ilshat Dulatov, head of the RUDN Student Admissions Department. “Naturally, admission using “cross-cutting priorities” will require all universities compliance with uniform rules for the reception and rapid exchange of data. However, it seems to me that this system will help applicants enroll in the desired field of study, which will further guarantee universities motivated students in their studies.”

State University Rector Vladimir Stroev believes that such a system will be “some relief for universities,” since “the number of applications to the university from those wishing to change their program or direction of study will decrease.”

Nevertheless, Mr. Stroev admits that this may cause difficulties for applicants: “They will not have the right to make a mistake. I pressed the wrong button and no longer went to the university I wanted to go to. And there won’t be a second chance.” The rector believes that “it makes sense to test the system in a pilot region, eliminate the identified errors and then disseminate this experience more widely.”

The press service of the Ministry of Education and Science told Kommersant that all innovations are “aimed at improving the admission procedure for applicants.” The department is confident that the ranking lists, updated every hour, will help universities “determine the current state of the admissions campaign and take measures to attract students.” According to the ministry, this will give applicants the opportunity to understand in which university they are recommended for enrollment.

Polina Yachmennikova