High school graduates will face higher competition for tuition-free university spots in Moscow this academic year, state media reported Thursday, as paid seats are being eliminated while military quotas expand.
According to data compiled by the state-run TASS news agency, competition for so-called “budget spots” rose by double digits across major institutions including Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics and the Russian State University for the Humanities.
Up to 257 applications per spot were recorded for International Relations at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, while the average spot at the university had 34 applications.
MSU saw total applications for budget spots jump 46% to more than 91,000.
HSE saw an average of 44 applicants per budget spot this admissions cycle, up from 32 last year.
