Uzbekistan will remove the requirement for foreign language certificates for applicants to master’s and doctoral programs who completed their previous education in a foreign language, under a new presidential decree aimed at reforming higher education.
The change was introduced by Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 10 as part of broader measures to improve the higher education system, with details released by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan.
Under the new rules, applicants who studied in a foreign language will no longer be required to submit additional language certificates when applying to postgraduate programs.
At the same time, language requirements remain in place for other applicants. Proficiency at C1 level will still be required for foreign language majors, while B2 level will apply to fields such as mathematics, biology, law, journalism, information technologies, and economics.
The decree introduces broader reforms across the higher education system. From January 1, 2027, universities will be financially incentivized based on their performance in a national ranking system.
Institutions will be evaluated by category, taking into account academic output, research activity, international engagement, digitalization, and graduate employment rates. Based on results, the top 20% of universities in each category will be placed in the highest tier, while 40% will fall into the second and third tiers.
In addition, 10 universities selected through a competitive process led by the Innovation Development Agency will receive national research university status, supporting the development of scientific clusters.
The decree also introduces the “New Uzbekistan Scholarship” program, which will allocate up to 500 state-funded scholarships annually to talented international students. These grants will cover tuition and provide stipends, using unfilled quotas from state-funded undergraduate places.
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, international student admissions will be conducted through the “Study in Uzbekistan” platform, with universities given greater independence to set admission criteria and procedures.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation will receive expanded powers previously held by the state admissions commission. These include approving admission results, setting deadlines for enrollment and tuition payments, reviewing student transfer applications, recommending candidates with special privileges, and allocating grants to foreign citizens and compatriots abroad.
Further governance reforms will take effect from September 1, 2026. University rectors will be appointed and dismissed based on recommendations from relevant ministries, with approval from the Presidential Administration and the Cabinet of Ministers.
Universities will also gain greater control over internal management, including appointing vice-rectors, setting academic workloads, managing affiliated institutions, and defining admission formats for master’s programs starting from the 2027/2028 academic year.
Additional powers granted to universities include recognizing academic credits for transferred or returning students, setting conditions for admitting foreign students, offering tuition discounts, and signing direct agreements with international ranking organizations.
