Higher Education Ministry rules out full abolition of language certificate requirement

The Minister clarified that the requirement has only been partially eased, with specific exemptions now applying to certain categories of applicants. According to a presidential decree issued on April 10, 2026, students who completed their undergraduate degrees in a foreign language are no longer required to provide an additional proficiency certificate when applying for graduate studies.

"In practice, the certificate requirement has only been abolished for those who studied in foreign language programs," Sharipov told reporters. He emphasized that for the vast majority of other academic disciplines, the broader requirement remains strictly in place.

Minister Sharipov argued that the previous system was redundant for graduates of international programs, as these students had already been assessed in a foreign language throughout their four-year degrees. Requiring them to obtain a separate certificate created unnecessary bureaucracy and financial costs for students who had already proven their proficiency through their coursework and final exams.

The Ministry is currently looking into further targeted exemptions. Proposals have been submitted to potentially extend these waivers to creative and sports-related disciplines. Recommendations on these specific fields are expected to be presented to the government for consideration next year.

The current policy environment traces back to a presidential decree from May 24, 2024, which first established the mandatory submission of foreign-language certificates for entry into master’s and higher-level education programs. While the government is seeking to reduce "illogical" hurdles, the overarching goal remains to ensure high linguistic standards among the country’s postgraduate researchers and specialists.