On August 4, a meeting of the Selection Committee of the MEPhI completed admission to budget places. According to its results, an increase was recorded not only in the number of applications submitted, but also in the average score on the Unified State Examination of enrolled applicants.
In particular, the number of applications submitted increased by 70% compared to last year (despite the fact that the target admission figures are only 2%). The average score in general for all faculties increased to 91.9 (compared to 91.1 in 2022, taking into account data on preferential categories of applicants). The most popular areas of this year were Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Applied Mathematics and Physics, Nuclear Power Plants, Nuclear Reactors and Materials.
According to Aleksey Egorov, Deputy Executive Secretary of the MEPhI Selection Committee for Undergraduate and Specialist Admissions, the growth in the number of applicants is primarily the result of a new information policy, the elements of which are, for example, interesting and understandable coverage of the university’s scientific work, streams with answers to questions, useful mailings, 24x7 support for applicants, the principle of early information, many excursions. Changes in the admission rules also had an effect: this year the system of priorities for enrollment returned, which greatly facilitated the life of applicants who were able to apply for five directions at once in each university. Thus, the chances of admission for each of the applicants increased by about 5 times.
An equally significant factor was cooperation with Rosatom State Corporation, which held a number of events during the year, where potential employers of future graduates, lyceum students of the Pre-University School and potential applicants met. In addition, Rosatom acted as the organizer of Olympiads for schoolchildren (including those in nuclear cities), and targeted contracts were concluded right on the territory of the university during the admission campaign. The work done has borne fruit: the applicants assessed the growing need for nuclear energy personnel and chose MEPhI. As a result, the number of applicants from the category "without entrance exams" has increased.
As in the past year, the greatest competition was observed at the Institute of Cyber Intelligence Systems, the average score for which was 95.6 (without preferential categories of applicants – 97.7). In second place is the Institute of International Relations. Compared to last year, the average score increased the most at the Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies and Institute of International Relations. In total, the average score for applicants at MEPhI (excluding preferential categories) increased by 0.9 points, to 93 points.
The university gave more than 900 guarantees of enrollment – at MEPhI this program exists under the name "Temporary Student ID": if an applicant has good chances for admission, but doubts whether he will pass, the university gives him a guarantee of enrollment and education at his own expense. More than 100 people will study at MEPhI under this program from next year.
The success of the admission company is, of course, also associated with the growing participation of schoolchildren in the university's own Olympiads: more than 20,000 people have passed through them this year. As a result, among the applicants there were 10% more winners of subject Olympiads.
Six people were able to enter state-funded places thanks to the unique project "MEPhIst Code". It helped those whose spirit corresponds to the spirit of MEPhI and whose achievements are significant, although they are not expressed in USE scores, to enter. After an interview, the following students were able to apply for free education at the expense of the university: the world champion in Russian and international drafts in his age category, the winner of the IX Young Professionals WorldSkills Russia Junior National Championship in the “Machine Learning and Big Data” competency, the winner of the Rosatom Olympiad in informatics in natural sciences, winner of the international conference MILSET EXPO SCIENCE VOSTOK 2022, winner of the IV Independent International Mathematical Olympiad, co-author of scientific publications.
“I have very good news for applicants who have decided to link their fate with our university: there are many tasks for you - very interesting and different,” said Vladimir Shevchenko, rector of MEPhI, commenting on the results of the admission campaign. – They will require different abilities from you, and above all, to solve fundamental problems - these are deep questions of modern physics, and you should always look for answers to them with someone who is also interested in these questions. I am sure that when you come to us, you will find such people here. On the one hand, they will not be like you – we are very pleased to see complex people, with their own idea of the world and their mission in it, ready to work hard, we do not have a sinecure. On the other hand, their interests will coincide with yours, and you will have something to do together: we pay great attention to project work, the ability of students to join mega-science projects as early as possible.”
