The problem of adaptation in the educational process is quite relevant in connection with the intensive informatization of society. The article is devoted to the analysis of existing approaches to the interpretation of the concept of «adaptation». Attention is focused on the interdisciplinary nature of adaptation, which is studied in detail from the point of view of biological, socio-philosophical, psychological and pedagogical, cybernetic and other approaches. To achieve the goal of the study, the analysis, systematization and generalization of the works of domestic and foreign researchers were applied. According to the results of the study, it was found that adaptation is an integral characteristic of a person, which directly affects the degree of its inclusion in social relations, as a consequence, in the educational process. Considering the student as a subject of learning, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of adaptation due to different subject areas. Therefore, adaptation is interpreted as a process of interaction between the environment and the individual, which occurs at different levels (biological, psychological, social) and provides a sustainable and purposeful response to changing environmental conditions. Adaptation has its types: biophysiological, psychological, social, professional, didactic adaptation; forms: formal, social, didactic. The article focuses on adaptation in terms of the interaction of the system «human – electronic environment», which is determined by intrapsychic and environmental factors. It is found that the adaptation of higher education students to learning is understood as a holistic system process «student – teacher – environment», which determines the degree of inclusion of students in the educational process, an important factor of which is the electronic educational environment. It can be implemented in the following forms: formal, social, didactic adaptation.