Russia Dramatically Expands Free University Slots for IT Students

More Russian students than ever are receiving free training in high-demand tech fields like AI and robotics.

Over the past five years, Russia has increased the number of tuition-free university spots in IT fields by 2.5 times, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko. More than 230,000 students have already taken advantage of this opportunity to enter the high-demand tech workforce.

Major Russian companies are also participating in the education process, helping universities and technical schools launch new training programs in areas like robotics, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and autonomous systems.

Under the federal program 'Personnel for Digital Transformation,' the government plans to train about 770,000 young people by 2030. More than 40 billion rubles (approximately $450 million) will be allocated to the initiative over the next five years. Training will begin as early as 8th grade to ensure that students graduate with skills aligned to the needs of digital businesses.

Workforce development in the IT sector is a top state priority. With demand for tech specialists nearly double the current workforce, the government is expanding educational access and strengthening school-level programs in coding and robotics.