In the article an attempt to generalize and analyse all known data on the educational level of Russian officials of 2 nd half of XVIII th — 1 st quarter of XIX th century (especially of the political elite) is made. The author considers that the higher bureaucracy of that time in the majority of cases had no regular education. The educational level of Russian top officials (political elite) — senators, ministers, members of the State council and governors — is analysed. Comparison of the data on education of the elite and of the whole Russian bureaucracy allows to draw a conclusion that up to the middle of 19 th century representatives of the higher bureaucracy had no regular education, and the professional specialization of the Russian elite was poorly developed.
political elite, bureaucracy, educational level, universities