After graduation he worked in the Criminal Department of the Senate but left it a year after and in 1869 returned to the University for academic studies in Roman law.

Like many young students, Bogolepov was inclined towards revolutionary activity, but once he had been accepted by the establishment, he became "a mere tool in the hands of the Procurator of the Holy Synod".

In 1895, the Minister of Popular Enlightenment Ivan Delyanov died, and Bogolepov was appointed by Nicholas II as his successor.

He faced a huge number of problems, firstly student disturbances that ranged from typical protests and demands for autonomy for universities, to the use of revolutionary propaganda.

Although not the author of this highly unpopular innovation, Bogolepov did approve of it, and at the beginning of 1901 he ordered the conscription of 183 students of Kiev University.