Regional accessibility of higher education in Russia

Despite the unified system of admission to universities in Russia, applicants can still face unequal access higher education. This article analyzes barriers which restrict inter-regional accessibility We propose an analytical model, reflecting direct and indirect influence family, schools, location on educational strategies youth, assuming that these factors affect university enrollment both directly indirectly through academic achievement. An empirical examination based data from longitudinal study ‘Trajectories Education Careers’, shows students Moscow are most likely enroll at university, since they lowest barriers. The problem education is more acute for residents large cities or regional capitals: their likelihood matriculating limited by cognitive abilities, socio-economic status, school characteristics. Residents small towns villages facing highest gender inequality.