Магистратура в России: тенденции, противоречия и перспективы развития

M. : HSE University, Institute of Education, 2025.

Khavenson T., Korchak A., Реута А. Ф., Ozerova M.

Editor-in-chief: Zair-Bek S. I.

The aim of this study is to characterize master’s education in the Russian context from multiple perspectives: through official statistics, as well as from the viewpoints of prospective and current master’s students. The research employed descriptive analysis of quantitative data and thematic analysis of qualitative data. The study utilized statistical reports from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation based on Form No. VPO-1 (2016–2023) and survey results from master’s students collected within the framework of the Education Economy Monitoring (2022). These data were supplemented by interviews with directors of master’s programs at leading Russian universities, conducted between June and October 2022. The results indicate that both the number of master’s programs and the number of students enrolled in them increased from 2016 to 2023. The most popular mode of study remains full-time education, while the most in-demand fields are “Social Sciences” and “Engineering.” However, nearly one-third of master’s students do not complete their programs for various reasons, with the dropout rate rising from 21% to 28% over the past four years. The majority of master’s students are young adults under the age of 30, but there is a noticeable trend toward an aging student body. According to students, the most valuable skill gained during their master’s studies is research ability, followed by entrepreneurial skills and practical skills. Among different study formats, part-time students report the highest satisfaction with their learning experience, while those in blended (hybrid) programs report the lowest. The primary motivation for enrolling in a master’s program is career advancement. However, the main barrier preventing students from pursuing a master’s degree is their job commitments. As the profile of master’s applicants continues to diversify, there is a growing demand for two distinct types of programs: research-oriented and practice-oriented master’s programs.

Keywords: магистратура, магистерские программы, высшее образование, прикладная магистратура, академическая магистратура, higher education, graduate education, master’s education, master’s degree’ master’s programs