The article analyzes the problems of student community in the context of shifting to the nonlinear higher education model. Certain nonlinear parameters of students' educational strategies are presented, including flexibility and variability of higher education forms, students' direct participation in controlling, modernizing and developing higher education as well as the subjectness of students' educational community. The analysis found that students' educational strategies formation is affected by a certain number of institutional conditions, however, they appear unfavorable from the point of view of shifting towards the nonlinear higher educational model. Several institutional conditions are considered to be prerequisites of forming the students' nonlinear educational trajectories. They include individual educational trajectories as well as the academic mobility. Still, the results of empirical studies show the declarative nature of such conditions, as well as the absence of their practical implementation mechanisms. Moreover, higher education variability is frequently replaced by the authoritarian decisions of the university executives. The research proves that lack of variability is often observed on higher education levels, terms of apprenticeship as well as entrance examinations. Students' participation in higher education management processes also has little practical evidence. Generally, students consider the possibility of higher educational establishment regulation as relatively low. The research demonstrates lack of subjectivity in students' educational community as well as their unwillingness to make conscious decisions, low degree of activity, leadership and their involvement in the educational process in the context of variability.