Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
Between 2000 and 2024, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education in the Russian Federation fluctuated ranging from 55.2% to 60.4%. From 2000 to 2018, government funding per tertiary student as a share of GDP per capita increased modestly, rising from 10.97% to 18.62%. Data on initial household funding are not available from the UIS.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is partially tuition-free under the Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On Education in the Russian Federation” (2012), which guarantees citizens the right to receive one higher education degree free of charge if they are admitted on a state-funded (budgetary) basis through competitive entrance examinations.However, students who do not qualify for state-funded places may enrol on a fee-paying basis. According to Article 54 of the Education Law, higher education institutions have the authority to set their own tuition fees for such programmes, subject to government oversight regulating pricing and enrolment limits.
Governance
Based on the Government Resolution of the Russian Federation No. 682 dated 15 June 2018 (as amended on 11 April 2025), “On the Approval of the Regulations on the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation”, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MSHE) is the main government body responsible for financing higher education. It oversees the allocation of federal budget funds to public universities, sets the procedures for distributing subsidies and grants, and monitors the effective and targeted use of these resources. The Ministry also defines state policy priorities in higher education, coordinates funding for research and innovation within universities, and ensures alignment between financial planning and national education development goals.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Higher education funding is highly centralised, with financial resources for public universities allocated directly from the federal budget through the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MSHE). There are no formal mechanisms for transferring higher education funds from the central government to regional or municipal authorities, as most public higher education institutions fall under federal jurisdiction rather than that of regional governments.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Russian law allows for budgetary support to be allocated to some state-accredited private universities.
While private higher institutions are subject to federal accreditation, evaluation, and licensing procedures,government financial support is mostly reserved for state higher education institutions established by federal or regional authorities, which receive direct budgetary subsidies. Private universities generally operate on a self-financing basis and may participate in public funding competitions if they pass rigorous state accreditation and licensing.
Allocation and equity
Russian government university funding is distributed based on a normative per capita financing system. Each institution receives funds according to the number of state-funded student places, which are set through open competition. Only accredited universities may enter, and public universities receive the vast majority, with a small number of private universities participating. Under this model, the government sets a standard per-student rate that varies by academic field, study level, and mode of instruction, and institutions receive funding according to the number of state-funded student quotas assigned to them. Allocations are made according to official government criteria, not individualised university requests or proposals.
Additional competitive grants such as those under the Priority 2030 are awarded to universities demonstrating excellence in research, innovation, and regional development. However, there is no explicit equity-based allocation formula at the institutional level.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Under Article 71 of the Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On Education in the Russian Federation” (2012), several categories of vulnerable groups are granted special admission rights to bachelor’s and specialist degree programmes. These include orphans and children without parental care, persons with disabilities, and combat veterans. These groups are admitted within a quota of at least 10 percent of all budget-funded places established annually by each higher education institution. Eligible applicants may be admitted either without entrance examinations or through simplified competitive procedures. All such students are funded by the federal, regional, or local budgets, meaning they are exempt from tuition fees, and those enrolled in preparatory departments of federal universities receive scholarships financed from the federal budget as part of the state assignment.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The Russian state social scholarship (социальная стипендия)
The Russian state social scholarship is a form of government-funded financial assistance aimed at supporting full-time students enrolled in budget-funded programs who face difficult living circumstances or belong to socially vulnerable categories as defined by law. It is administered under the authority of the MSHE and financed from the federal and regional budgets. This aid is determined by social status rather than academic performance allowances and targeted at students from socially vulnerable backgrounds, including orphans, students with disabilities, and those from low-income families.
State-backed education loans (государственный образовательный кредит)
Supervised by the MSHE, the state-backed education loan programme provides financial support to students pursuing higher education in accredited institutions, regardless of income level by offering low-interest loans guaranteed by the Russian government. These loans are regulated by the Government Decree No. 1448 of 2014 (“On state support of educational lending”), which defines eligibility, repayment, and guarantee mechanisms. Borrowers are allowed to defer repayment until after graduation, and interest rates are subsidised by the federal budget through agreements with partner banks. Although open to all students, its preferential terms and deferred repayment help improve access to higher education for students who might otherwise face financial barriers.
State Support for Eudcation to Families with Children
Under Federal Law No. 256-FZ and related government regulations, the maternity (family) capital programme is administered by the Social Fund of Russia (SFR). The programme provides targeted financial support to families following the birth or adoption of a child and is designed to improve family welfare and long-term child development outcomes. Eligibility is granted to families who receive a state certificate for maternity (family) capital, primarily upon the birth or adoption of a second or subsequent child since 2007, a first child since 2020, or in other legally specified circumstances, provided that the child is a Russian citizen at birth. Beneficiaries include parents or legal guardians who hold the certificate and may use the funds for both biological and adopted children up to the age of 25 at the start of education. The programme allows families to allocate capital to education-related purposes, including payment for fee-based educational services, childcare and supervision in pre-primary and general education institutions, student dormitory accommodation and utilities, and other government-approved education expenses. Payments are made directly to service providers through non-cash transfers, based on formal contracts and applications, ensuring that public support is systematically channelled into children’s education, care, and related living costs.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
In several Russian regions, full-time students enrolled at state-accredited universities and vocational institutions are entitled to reduced fares on public transport, including metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, as well as a 50% discount on commuter train tickets within their region from September 1 to June 15 each year. This federal and regional social measure is implemented through Russian Railways (RZD) and local transport authorities under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Accommodation
Under Article 39 of the Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On Education in the Russian Federation” (2012), full-time students enrolled in secondary vocational or higher education programmes are entitled to accommodation in student dormitories if they require it during their studies. Dormitory rooms are allocated according to institutional regulations, with priority given to students specified in Article 36(5), including orphans, children deprived of parental care, and students with disabilities, who are exempt from paying accommodation fees. Other students are required to pay rent and utilities, the amount of which is determined by the educational institution in consultation with student representative bodies, considering the quality and location of the housing. Institutions also have the right to reduce or waive dormitory fees or utility charges for certain categories of students, in agreement with student councils.
Textbooks
No evidence was found of any government subsidies or support for textbooks in higher education.
This profile was reviewed by Stanislav Avdeev, Independent contributor.
