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Research on attitudes towards digital technologies is important in the study on the features of "digital generation". However, possible differences among representatives of this generation with different experiences of using digital educational technologies (DET), remain insufficiently studied. The present study purpose was to compare attitudes towards digital educational technologies (AtDET) in relation to academic motivation among students who have just entered the university and those who have been studying at the university for 2.5 - 3.5 years. The study involved 338 first-year students aged 16 to 18 (M = 17.85 years) and 267 third- and fourth-year students aged 20 to 23 (M = 20.60 years) studying full-time at Russian universities. The Attitudes towards DETs Scale for University Students based on the Tripartite Model of Attitudes and The Academic Motivation Scales based on Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory were used for measurements. The results showed that there are no significant differences in the AtDET total indicator between the studied groups, however, first-year students have higher scores for the emotional component of AtDET and lower scores for the behavioral component of AtDET than 3-4 year students. At the same time, first-year students have higher scores on the scales of Intrinsic cognition motivation, Personal growth motivation and Motivation for self-respect. Correlation analysis showed a similarity in the associations between the AtDET indicators and the academic motivation scales. In both groups, positive correlations are between the AtDET indicators with all scales of intrinsic motivation (Intrinsic cognition, Achievement, and Personal growth) and one scale of extrinsic motivation (Motivation for self-respect), as well as negative correlations are between the AtDET indicators and Amotivation scale. Based on this findings, recommendations will be developed to improve the psychological support for students in the digital educational environment of universities, taking into account their age and year of study.

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