The Top Applicants Continue to Choose Strong Universities

On September 5, 2013, at a press conference held at RIA Novosti, the results of a 2013 monitoring study on enrollment in state-funded places in Russian public universities were presented. The study was prepared by the HSE and RIA Novosti and commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Why the monitoring is needed and how it was carried out

Monitoring makes it possible to evaluate universities’ efforts to improve the quality of their enrollment. According to Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science, the Ministry uses this data along with other information to evaluate universities. The monitoring can be used to track changes in prospective students’   preferences, to find out what universities, areas, and specializations are in demand. The monitoring also serves as a benchmark for future students: they can review the previous year’s data to assess their chances of being admitted to certain institutions.

But the monitoring is not a ranking since it is based only on data on the quality of the student body. No less important is the quality of the instructors and the quality of the graduates (expressed in the level of their salaries during the five years after graduation). According to HSE Rector Yaroslav Kuzminov, as early as next year, the Federal Tax Service will be ready to provide the appropriate sample, without violating the law on personal data, and it will be possible to study the quality of graduates in the near future, too.

Utilizing proven technology, the researchers collected data on university websites. This was easier than in previous years since the quality of the information universities are putting out regarding their work with students has improved. Only two institutions failed to publish the necessary data; last year, the number was 11.

Changes shown by the monitoring compared to previous years

The average grade among students enrolled in state-funded places has grown 3.5 points, the main reason for this being that children have started preparing better for exams and have adapted to the format of the test that evaluates their knowledge.

Generally, the research results demonstrate that the situation is stable.

The list of the top ten universities (with state-funded enrolment of over 300 people) has not changed compared with the previous year, and the top three universities retained their positions: MGIMO, MFTI, and the HSE. Both in 2013 and in 2012, almost half of the leaders (12 out of 25) were medical universities.

Top applicants continue to choose strong universities with good reputations.

Boris Startsev, specially for the HSE News Service