Universities are breaking records set by the Olympics

Universities are breaking records set by the Olympics

In the 2025 academic year, Russian universities have shifted their focus towards recognising and rewarding excellence in technical disciplines, particularly among Olympiad winners. This shift is evident in the admissions processes of various institutions across the country.

RUDN University, for instance, reported a significant 43.5% increase in the number of Olympiad winners among its applicants, across all disciplines, including humanities and creative ones. In response to this growing interest in technical subjects, RUDN University is expanding its IT component to cater to the needs of its applicants.

Similarly, St. Petersburg Polytechnic University named after Peter the Great, has seen a 1.5-fold increase in the number of Olympiad winners, with 200 students securing places for the 2025 academic year. The most in-demand engineering specialties at this university are nuclear energy and thermophysics, and thermal energy and heat engineering.

MFTI, under the leadership of its rector, Mikhail Gorodnichev, has also noticed a trend of applicants choosing classic engineering specialties over IT or economics. The university admitted 227 winners and medalists of the All-Russian School Olympiad, which is more than in previous years.

ITMO, a leading university in St. Petersburg, admitted a record 728 Olympiad winners and medalists, a feat that not only sets a new record for the university but also for St. Petersburg universities. ITMO Rector Vasilyev agrees that there has been a significant increase in interest in natural science and engineering programs compared to the previous year.

Bauman University, another prestigious institution, welcomed 520 Olympiad winners, representing a 60% increase compared to the previous year. The number of applicants at Bauman University increased by 20%, reflecting the growing interest in technical education.

Ural Federal University has also set a record for accepting children of special military operation participants, with 364 people admitted under this quota. Most of these students chose engineering programs, including mechanical engineering and energy.

The Pro-Rector of R.E.U. named after G.V. Plekhanov, Nikulin, reported that the number of foreign students among those admitted to his university is around 10-11% of the total.

In a bid to further encourage this trend, MGIMO admitted 34.5% of first-year students on a budget who were winners and medalists of the All-Russian Olympiad in profile subjects. The university is also developing cooperation with MFTI, St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Bauman University, and other technical universities due to the increasing interest of students in programs that combine humanities and socio-economic education with technical and scientific education.

This shift towards valuing demonstrated excellence in technical disciplines and Olympiad success is part of a broader trend of a holistic admissions approach. Applicants are required to create detailed portfolios including all relevant certificates, awards, and research papers in their chosen subject area, which are then evaluated in competitive stages to determine admission eligibility.

This approach is reflected in specialized scholarship projects and online program expansions, as Russia aims to attract high-achieving students in STEM and related areas. As a result, the 2025 admissions process at Russian universities is notably influenced by the prominence of Olympiad laureates and a rising interest in technical education, making these factors significant criteria in candidate evaluation and selection.

Even in humanities, there is a slight decrease in the entrance score, while for engineering specialties, the entrance score has increased at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in 2025 compared to 2024. This underscores the growing demand for technical education and the competitive nature of admissions in these fields.

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1. The emphasis on technical disciplines in Russian universities is seen in the surge of Olympiad winners in various institutions.
2. RUDN University's applicant pool saw a 43.5% increase in Olympiad winners, stretching across all disciplines.
3. RUDN University is expanding its IT component to cater to their applicants' demands for technical subjects.
4. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has doubled the number of Olympiad winners secured for the 2025 academic year.
5. Nuclear energy and thermophysics, and thermal energy and heat engineering are the most in-demand engineering specialties at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
6. MFTI, under Gorodnichev's leadership, is witnessing a surge in applicants selecting classic engineering specialties over IT or economics.
7. ITMO admitted a record 728 Olympiad winners and medalists, setting a new record for the university and St. Petersburg universities.
8. Bauman University saw a 60% increase in Olympiad winners admitted, while total applicant numbers climbed by 20%.
9. Ural Federal University admitted a record number of children of special military operation participants, most of whom chose engineering programs.
10. The Pro-Rector of R.E.U. Plekhanov named after Nikulin mentioned that around 10-11% of total admissions at his university consist of foreign students.
11. MGIMO is admitting 34.5% of first-year students on a budget who are Olympiad winners and medalists.
12. MGIMO is also developing cooperation with multiple technical universities due to the rising interest in programs that combine humanities and socio-economic education with technical and scientific education.
13. To further encourage technical education, specialized scholarship projects and online program expansions are being promoted.
14. This holistic admissions approach requires applicants to create detailed portfolios, including certificates, awards, and research papers, which are competitively evaluated for admission eligibility.
15. There is a slight decrease in the entrance score for humanities, while the entrance score has increased for engineering specialties at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in 2025 compared to 2024.
16. This indicates the growing demand for technical education and the competitive nature of admissions in those fields.
17. The growth in technical education interest extends beyond traditional fields into sports-related fields, such as NASCAR racing, European leagues, and the NBA.
18. Sports betting sites offer educational resources to help predict sports outcomes, like horse racing, golf majors, soccer matches, and more.
19. Online education platforms have expanded to cover a range of subjects, including general news, crime and justice, learning, lifelong learning, and sports analysis.
20. Weather forecasting websites and apps become crucial resources for both everyday life and specific industries like agriculture, shipping, aviation, and renewable energy.
21. Reports on war and conflicts, politics, and car accidents are now accessible through online newspapers, magazines, and news agencies worldwide.

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