Education in Russia - statistics & facts
Even though the share of Russian government spending on education in the gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 2022, at less than four percent, it was lower than in most European countries. To compare, the figure stood at over five percent in Finland and more than four percent in the United Kingdom (UK). The main levels of the Russian education system are preschool, general, vocational, higher, and further education.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational establishments switched to remote learning and used online platforms to organize courses and collect assignments. However, after the pandemic, online courses were primarily used in supplementary education.
The popularity of higher education was lower than in the 2000s, though it increased slightly in recent years. Around 4.1 million students were enrolled in Russian universities in 2022, compared to over seven million in 2010. The reasons behind that could be the discouragement that a diploma would not help to find employment, opting for a college in fear of failing state exams, and the lack of finances to cover living costs in large cities. At the same time, Russia was the sixth most popular study abroad destination, having hosted over 351,000 international university students in 2022.
The Russian education sector is expanding due to increasing government spending, more students obtaining paid services, and the continuous popularity of vocational and higher education. Furthermore, e-learning has become an integral segment of the market, in particular when it comes to supplementary courses for children and adults.
General education in Russia
Russian children commonly start school at the age of six or seven and study for 11 years, of which the first four are known as primary, the next five as basic general, and the last two as general secondary education. Compared to countries where these three levels are studied at different locations, schoolchildren in Russia often attend the same institution for the whole period of study. After completing the ninth grade, students can finish school and enter a college, a vocational education institution, such as technical, nursing, or culinary school. The other option is to stay in school for two more years and apply to university, after passing the Unified State Exam. In total, over 17 million students were enrolled in public schools across the country in the school year 2022/23.During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational establishments switched to remote learning and used online platforms to organize courses and collect assignments. However, after the pandemic, online courses were primarily used in supplementary education.
Higher education in Russia
As of July 2023, over 1,000 universities operated in Russia, which was the seventh-highest number worldwide. In general, Russian universities offered bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. However, instead of the first two, students could obtain a five- or six-year-long specialist degree, which was recognized only in Russia and some other CIS countries. Most university programs had limited state-funded study places for students with the highest exam results, and the rest were paid places. In 2022, the Russian government that the country stopped participating in the Bologna Process, an international education system harmonizing higher education requirements, which it adopted in 2003. The country's own higher education system, which also involves two levels, has been tested in several universities since 2023.The popularity of higher education was lower than in the 2000s, though it increased slightly in recent years. Around 4.1 million students were enrolled in Russian universities in 2022, compared to over seven million in 2010. The reasons behind that could be the discouragement that a diploma would not help to find employment, opting for a college in fear of failing state exams, and the lack of finances to cover living costs in large cities. At the same time, Russia was the sixth most popular study abroad destination, having hosted over 351,000 international university students in 2022.
The Russian education sector is expanding due to increasing government spending, more students obtaining paid services, and the continuous popularity of vocational and higher education. Furthermore, e-learning has become an integral segment of the market, in particular when it comes to supplementary courses for children and adults.
