Russia's Ministry of Education will introduce a mandatory subject specific Unified State Examination for applicants entering pedagogical universities starting in 2027.
Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov announced the planned entry requirements, according to a report published by Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Kravtsov explained that secondary school graduates seeking admission to teacher training programs will be required to take an entrance examination in their prospective teaching subject. Under the updated system, an applicant planning to become a history teacher will have to take the Unified State Examination in history.
The Unified State Examination, known across Russia as the EGE, is the national standardized test taken by high school students at the end of their secondary education. It serves a dual role in the Russian education system, acting as both the final school leaving examination and the primary admissions requirement for higher education institutions. The Ministry of Education is the federal body responsible for general education, vocational training, and teacher preparation colleges across the country.
Return to specialized entry testing
Kravtsov noted that Russian pedagogical universities previously operated under a similar rule, where applicants took exams tied directly to their chosen academic field. Educational authorities subsequently abandoned that requirement, but officials have now decided to reinstate the practice.
The minister stated that applicants entering pedagogical specialties will take a test matching their field of study, with the exact examination subject depending entirely on the profile of their training program.
Background on teacher training standards
Pedagogical universities in Russia are higher education institutions dedicated to preparing qualified teaching staff for primary and secondary schools nationwide. These institutions offer specialized degree programs across subjects including mathematics, science, literature, foreign languages, and history.
The decision comes as Russian officials monitor national examination results and overall student performance across the country. Andrey Fursenko, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, previously stated that authorities could consider making the Unified State Examination more challenging if high school graduates consistently demonstrate high scores.
