Last year, for the first time, the following entry appeared in the personal account of some applicants:

You will not be able to participate in the competition for a state grant this year, as you were recommended for admission on the basis of a state grant in previous years.

I want to comment on this. According to the Presidential Decree of May 25, 2024, a new procedure has been established. According to him:

Second and subsequent higher education is carried out on a paid-contract basis, and a student admitted to the corresponding stage of higher education on the basis of a state grant is not allocated a state grant for this stage of education a second time.

The provision on second and subsequent higher education in this paragraph of the Decree is not new, it was also contained in the Law "On Education." That is, the second specialty will always be on a paid-contract basis, and no state grant will be allocated for it.

The new provision in the decree clause applied to those who were currently students. That is, from now on, a student admitted to the corresponding stage of higher education on the basis of a state grant will not be allocated a state grant for this stage of education for the second time.

❓What does this mean?

First of all, it should be noted that this is not about full-time tuition. Grants are not allocated only for the stage where the student studied on a grant. For example, a student who received a scholarship for the 1st year, if they apply again next year, will definitely study on a contract basis in the 1st year, but if their academic performance is high, they can transfer from the 2nd year to a state grant.

If a student studies on a state grant for 2 years, then changes their mind, resubmits to another field, and is accepted as a student again on a grant basis, then they will not be allocated a grant for 2 years and will be forced to study on a contract basis. But in the 3rd and 4th year, they can transfer to a state grant.

This procedure will continue to apply this year as well. That is:

1) those who are currently students can also reapply as applicants;

2) if a student studying on a state grant submits, they cannot receive a grant until the course they studied.