Latest Innovations in Admissions: New Beneficiary Categories, Digital Training, Account Changes, and VET Graduate Requirements

Adyghe State University (ASU) announces key changes to its admissions rules for 2026. The new admissions campaign will take into account several updates to federal legislation and recommendations from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

New category of beneficiaries: widows of SVO participants

On April 25, 2026, Federal Law No. 107-FZ of April 25, 2026, came into force, significantly expanding the categories of citizens eligible for admission to universities within a separate quota.

Who is eligible:

• Widows (widowers) of military personnel, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian National Guard, the Federal Penitentiary Service, as well as volunteers who died (died from wounds/illnesses) during a special military operation or other combat actions.

• Widows (widowers) of persons killed in the Armed Forces of the DPR and LPR since May 11, 2014.

Key condition: the benefit is provided only to those who have not remarried after the death of their spouse.

Admission: This category is based on the results of the Unified State Exam (USE) or the university's internal assessments. Admission is based on a separate quota, which is a special right (priority admission).

Benefits for graduates of schools in border regions

In pursuance of the order of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia recommended that ASU adopt local acts on easing entrance examinations for school graduates in the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions from April 26, 2026 (in accordance with the list of Order of the Ministry of Education No. 146 of March 5, 2026).

What's changing:         

• Exam format;  Instead of the traditional Unified State Exam or standard testing, these applicants will undergo an interview.

• Standard format;  It is recommended to conduct a single interview, including questions on specialized subjects.

• Remote;  Interviews may be conducted using remote technologies (online).

• Right of Choice;  Applicants have the right to submit current Unified State Exam results of their choice instead of an interview.

• Evaluation scale;  Interview results are evaluated on a 100-point scale (to ensure fair competition for general positions).

• Exceptions;  Creative tests requiring practical skills (e.g., playing an instrument, drawing) cannot be replaced by an interview [from the provided letter from the Ministry of Education and Science].

Digitalization and simplification of targeted training

In 2026, the reform of targeted education, introduced by Federal Law No. 45-FZ of 08.03.2026 and acts of early 2026, will continue.

Admission Features in 2026:

• The "Jobs in Russia" platform: applicants seeking admission under a targeted contract must find employer offers exclusively on the "Jobs in Russia" unified digital platform. Universities' own job posting databases are being relegated to the background.

• Expansion of customers: the list of organizations that have the right not to publish targeted offers on the platform (for security or business-specific reasons) was expanded in 2026 to include federal anti-money laundering agencies (Rosfinmonitoring) [from the Consultant document in the attached files].

• Placement assignment: At ASU, as at other universities in the country, targeted places are more strictly assigned to specific customer enterprises.

Changes for college graduates (SPO)

Admission rules for graduates of secondary vocational education institutions (SVE) have become stricter in terms of their profile.

• Profile: you can apply using internal entrance examinations (instead of the Unified State Exam) only if the profile of the higher education you are receiving corresponds to the profile of your secondary vocational education.

• Changing majors: If an applicant wants to radically change their major (for example, if they were a chef and are now studying law), they will have to take the Unified State Exam.

Cancellation of personal accounts on university websites

A technical but important change. In 2026, ASU, like all universities in the country, will no longer accept applications through its own information systems (applicant personal accounts on the website).

There are three ways to submit documents:

1. Through the "Gosuslugi" super service ("Online admission to a university").

2. In person at the admissions office.

3. By Russian Post.

Resume for ASU applicants

1. For widows/widowers of SVO participants (not married) - prepare documents on the death of the spouse and the absence of a new marriage to participate in a separate quota.

2. For school graduates from border regions (Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod) – prepare for the interview, not just the Unified State Exam.

3. College graduates: check whether your future major matches your current diploma, otherwise you will have to take the Unified State Exam.

Find out more about educational programs, admissions deadlines, and conditions here.