{"id":199734,"date":"2026-08-12T15:55:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/199734\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:55:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:55:20","slug":"most-free-university-slots-for-russians-unfilled-again","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/199734\/","title":{"rendered":"Most free university slots for Russians unfilled again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

August 12, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Belarus\u2019 higher education institutions have enrolled between 300 and 400 citizens of Russia this year to study free of charge, whereas 850 non-fee-paying-places had been allocated for applicants from Russia, according to Siarhiej Pi\u0161\u010do\u016d, a departmental head at the education ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Pi\u0161\u010do\u016d told reporters on August 12, the enrollment figure is not final and will likely increase as Russians use \u201cother available options\u201d for admission to Belarus\u2019 institutions of higher learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the education ministry, Belarus\u2019 education institutions provided instruction for 35,000 foreign students in the 2025\/26 academic year, or 5,000 more than a year before. As of March 2025, around 2,000 citizens of Russia were students of Belarusian higher schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus introduced free tuition for applicants from Russia in 2024, setting the quota at 1000 places. Russians reportedly used about 30 percent of that allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia also has a quota for Belarusians to study at its higher education institutions at the Russian government\u2019s expense. In 2025, it was about 1,300 places, the same as in 2024 and 2023. It covered all levels of education, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, internships and professional degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Russia\u2019s education ministry, Belarusians admitted within the quota are entitled to monthly allowances and dormitory beds. Unlike Belarus, Russia does not assign compulsory jobs to its graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in February 2026 that more than 16,000 citizens of Belarus study at higher education institutions in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the 2020 post-election protests in Belarus, Russian organizations have intensified efforts to shape historical narratives and national identity in Belarus, Pavie\u0142 Ciera\u0161kovi\u010d, Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s representative on education, said at a conference this past June. These efforts include an aggressive recruitment campaign by groups like the Russian Military-Historical Society to draw Belarusians into Russian universities, with Belarus\u2019 attempts to enroll more Russians \u201clooking very weak,\u201d Ciera\u0161kovi\u010d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"