In Uzbekistan, the requirement for students educated on a state grant basis to work for 3 years after completing their studies has been canceled. This decision was announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation on May 8. The state grant system will now include an educational grant awarded based on academic performance and a social incentive grant for targeted admission students with privileges.
Abduvali Khalikov, a Ministry official, mentioned that the obligation to work off the grant has been removed, and diplomas will be issued promptly upon completion of studies. Graduates receive electronic diplomas, eliminating the need for original copies. The distribution of grant places among universities will change, and a new approval process will be introduced for degree programs.
The state order will be adjusted to focus on engineering, medical, exact, and natural sciences, reducing quotas for social and humanitarian fields. Starting in 2025, the state order parameters will be set for 4 years. The minimum admission scores will be raised significantly for certain disciplines, and quotas for social and humanitarian professions will be decreased.
A new selection process will recommend high-scoring applicants for a state grant regardless of their chosen university, with the grant being redistributed annually to high-achieving students. These changes are to be implemented from the upcoming academic year following instructions from the President on May 6.
