diff --git a/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb b/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb
index 62af141fbc5b2fbf0e7e4b8a728e9327e9b82f68..b37d54667575711a5e64cb8b2c2b6ea21d37935b 100644
--- a/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/projects_controller.rb
@@ -436,6 +436,7 @@ def project_params_attributes
       :request_access_enabled,
       :runners_token,
       :tag_list,
+      :topics,
       :visibility_level,
       :template_name,
       :template_project_id,
diff --git a/app/services/projects/create_service.rb b/app/services/projects/create_service.rb
index 97ea7d8754593852de714b934ddb634ef6dc6271..8beb34a4626969dae1a178e967c8e7118dd47c6f 100644
--- a/app/services/projects/create_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/projects/create_service.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ def initialize(user, params)
       @initialize_with_readme = Gitlab::Utils.to_boolean(@params.delete(:initialize_with_readme))
       @import_data = @params.delete(:import_data)
       @relations_block = @params.delete(:relations_block)
+
+      build_topics
     end
 
     def execute
@@ -261,6 +263,14 @@ def project_visibility
         .new(current_user, @project, project_params: { import_data: @import_data })
         .level_restricted?
     end
+
+    def build_topics
+      topics = params.delete(:topics)
+      tag_list = params.delete(:tag_list)
+      topic_list = topics || tag_list
+
+      params[:topic_list] ||= topic_list if topic_list
+    end
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/app/services/projects/update_service.rb b/app/services/projects/update_service.rb
index 541b333aae30224133072b8c8d5e909125f83ff3..4351a66351d135b835dd2a7a2c522124da92654b 100644
--- a/app/services/projects/update_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/projects/update_service.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class UpdateService < BaseService
     ValidationError = Class.new(StandardError)
 
     def execute
+      build_topics
       remove_unallowed_params
       validate!
 
@@ -167,6 +168,14 @@ def changing_repository_storage?
         project.repository_storage != new_repository_storage &&
         can?(current_user, :change_repository_storage, project)
     end
+
+    def build_topics
+      topics = params.delete(:topics)
+      tag_list = params.delete(:tag_list)
+      topic_list = topics || tag_list
+
+      params[:topic_list] ||= topic_list if topic_list
+    end
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/app/views/projects/settings/_general.html.haml b/app/views/projects/settings/_general.html.haml
index 845fb299b74e3f17ee54065095e9d8602479a459..0891e3e052697693d01816086e44b67b99e07230 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/settings/_general.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/projects/settings/_general.html.haml
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 
     .row
       .form-group.col-md-9
-        = f.label :tag_list, _('Topics (optional)'), class: 'label-bold'
-        = f.text_field :tag_list, value: @project.tag_list.join(', '), maxlength: 2000, class: "form-control gl-form-input"
+        = f.label :topics, _('Topics (optional)'), class: 'label-bold'
+        = f.text_field :topics, value: @project.topic_list.join(', '), maxlength: 2000, class: "form-control gl-form-input"
         %p.form-text.text-muted= _('Separate topics with commas.')
 
     = render_if_exists 'compliance_management/compliance_framework/project_settings', f: f
diff --git a/doc/api/projects.md b/doc/api/projects.md
index 6fd9ca81b8c2dba7ffdc7e7d6bb1ffc7ed84a5a8..4f5233e212685523316bc64b7b2ef83f78f680ed 100644
--- a/doc/api/projects.md
+++ b/doc/api/projects.md
@@ -1165,9 +1165,10 @@ POST /projects
 | `show_default_award_emojis`                                 | boolean | **{dotted-circle}** No | Show default award emojis. |
 | `snippets_access_level`                                     | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | One of `disabled`, `private`, or `enabled`. |
 | `snippets_enabled`                                          | boolean | **{dotted-circle}** No | _(Deprecated)_ Enable snippets for this project. Use `snippets_access_level` instead. |
-| `tag_list`                                                  | array   | **{dotted-circle}** No | The list of tags for a project; put array of tags, that should be finally assigned to a project. |
+| `tag_list`                                                  | array   | **{dotted-circle}** No | _([Deprecated](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/328226) in GitLab 14.0)_ The list of tags for a project; put array of tags, that should be finally assigned to a project. Use `topics` instead. |
 | `template_name`                                             | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | When used without `use_custom_template`, name of a [built-in project template](../user/project/working_with_projects.md#built-in-templates). When used with `use_custom_template`, name of a custom project template. |
 | `template_project_id` **(PREMIUM)**                         | integer | **{dotted-circle}** No | When used with `use_custom_template`, project ID of a custom project template. This is preferable to using `template_name` since `template_name` may be ambiguous. |
+| `topics`                                                    | array   | **{dotted-circle}** No | The list of topics for a project; put array of topics, that should be finally assigned to a project. _([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/328226) in GitLab 14.0.)_ |
 | `use_custom_template` **(PREMIUM)**                         | boolean | **{dotted-circle}** No | Use either custom [instance](../user/admin_area/custom_project_templates.md) or [group](../user/group/custom_project_templates.md) (with `group_with_project_templates_id`) project template. |
 | `visibility`                                                | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | See [project visibility level](#project-visibility-level). |
 | `wiki_access_level`                                         | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | One of `disabled`, `private`, or `enabled`. |
@@ -1239,8 +1240,9 @@ POST /projects/user/:user_id
 | `snippets_access_level`                                     | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | One of `disabled`, `private`, or `enabled`. |
 | `snippets_enabled`                                          | boolean | **{dotted-circle}** No | _(Deprecated)_ Enable snippets for this project. Use `snippets_access_level` instead. |
 | `suggestion_commit_message`                                 | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | The commit message used to apply merge request [suggestions](../user/project/merge_requests/reviews/suggestions.md). |
-| `tag_list`                                                  | array   | **{dotted-circle}** No | The list of tags for a project; put array of tags, that should be finally assigned to a project. |
+| `tag_list`                                                  | array   | **{dotted-circle}** No | _([Deprecated](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/328226) in GitLab 14.0)_ The list of tags for a project; put array of tags, that should be finally assigned to a project. Use `topics` instead. |
 | `template_name`                                             | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | When used without `use_custom_template`, name of a [built-in project template](../user/project/working_with_projects.md#built-in-templates). When used with `use_custom_template`, name of a custom project template. |
+| `topics`                                                    | array   | **{dotted-circle}** No | The list of topics for the project. _([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/328226) in GitLab 14.0.)_ |
 | `use_custom_template` **(PREMIUM)**                         | boolean | **{dotted-circle}** No | Use either custom [instance](../user/admin_area/custom_project_templates.md) or [group](../user/group/custom_project_templates.md) (with `group_with_project_templates_id`) project template. |
 | `visibility`                                                | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | See [project visibility level](#project-visibility-level). |
 | `wiki_access_level`                                         | string  | **{dotted-circle}** No | One of `disabled`, `private`, or `enabled`. |
@@ -1317,7 +1319,8 @@ PUT /projects/:id
 | `snippets_access_level`                                     | string         | **{dotted-circle}** No | One of `disabled`, `private`, or `enabled`. |
 | `snippets_enabled`                                          | boolean        | **{dotted-circle}** No | _(Deprecated)_ Enable snippets for this project. Use `snippets_access_level` instead. |
 | `suggestion_commit_message`                                 | string         | **{dotted-circle}** No | The commit message used to apply merge request suggestions. |
-| `tag_list`                                                  | array          | **{dotted-circle}** No | The list of tags for a project; put array of tags, that should be finally assigned to a project. |
+| `tag_list`                                                  | array          | **{dotted-circle}** No | _([Deprecated](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/328226) in GitLab 14.0)_ The list of tags for a project; put array of tags, that should be finally assigned to a project. Use `topics` instead. |
+| `topics`                                                    | array          | **{dotted-circle}** No | The list of topics for the project. This replaces any existing topics that are already added to the project. _([Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/328226) in GitLab 14.0.)_ |
 | `visibility`                                                | string         | **{dotted-circle}** No | See [project visibility level](#project-visibility-level). |
 | `wiki_access_level`                                         | string         | **{dotted-circle}** No | One of `disabled`, `private`, or `enabled`. |
 | `wiki_enabled`                                              | boolean        | **{dotted-circle}** No | _(Deprecated)_ Enable wiki for this project. Use `wiki_access_level` instead. |
diff --git a/lib/api/helpers/projects_helpers.rb b/lib/api/helpers/projects_helpers.rb
index d9c0b4f67c854a7a72f6bb85cf3c01be332a4b70..e2897ba6a3ced97a2f630071cd1bf1090fef0467 100644
--- a/lib/api/helpers/projects_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/api/helpers/projects_helpers.rb
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ module ProjectsHelpers
         optional :only_allow_merge_if_pipeline_succeeds, type: Boolean, desc: 'Only allow to merge if builds succeed'
         optional :allow_merge_on_skipped_pipeline, type: Boolean, desc: 'Allow to merge if pipeline is skipped'
         optional :only_allow_merge_if_all_discussions_are_resolved, type: Boolean, desc: 'Only allow to merge if all discussions are resolved'
-        optional :tag_list, type: Array[String], coerce_with: ::API::Validations::Types::CommaSeparatedToArray.coerce, desc: 'The list of tags for a project'
+        optional :tag_list, type: Array[String], coerce_with: ::API::Validations::Types::CommaSeparatedToArray.coerce, desc: 'Deprecated: Use :topics instead'
+        optional :topics, type: Array[String], coerce_with: ::API::Validations::Types::CommaSeparatedToArray.coerce, desc: 'The list of topics for a project'
         # TODO: remove rubocop disable - https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/issues/14960
         optional :avatar, type: File, desc: 'Avatar image for project' # rubocop:disable Scalability/FileUploads
         optional :printing_merge_request_link_enabled, type: Boolean, desc: 'Show link to create/view merge request when pushing from the command line'
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ def self.update_params_at_least_one_of
           :shared_runners_enabled,
           :snippets_access_level,
           :tag_list,
+          :topics,
           :visibility,
           :wiki_access_level,
           :avatar,
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
index e103aa3d6dee576d7fb0a97ab70fef7bb03e4c8b..5a76495327ddf4a54202507a9479bcfae22f0db7 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@
       expect(json_response['readme_url']).to eql("#{Gitlab.config.gitlab.url}/#{json_response['namespace']['full_path']}/somewhere/-/blob/master/README.md")
     end
 
-    it 'sets tag list to a project' do
+    it 'sets tag list to a project (deprecated)' do
       project = attributes_for(:project, tag_list: %w[tagFirst tagSecond])
 
       post api('/projects', user), params: project
@@ -1040,6 +1040,14 @@
       expect(json_response['tag_list']).to eq(%w[tagFirst tagSecond])
     end
 
+    it 'sets topics to a project' do
+      project = attributes_for(:project, topics: %w[topic1 topics2])
+
+      post api('/projects', user), params: project
+
+      expect(json_response['tag_list']).to eq(%w[topic1 topics2])
+    end
+
     it 'uploads avatar for project a project' do
       project = attributes_for(:project, avatar: fixture_file_upload('spec/fixtures/banana_sample.gif', 'image/gif'))
 
@@ -3009,6 +3017,26 @@ def failure_message(diff)
 
         expect(json_response['auto_devops_enabled']).to eq(false)
       end
+
+      it 'updates topics using tag_list (deprecated)' do
+        project_param = { tag_list: 'topic1' }
+
+        put api("/projects/#{project3.id}", user), params: project_param
+
+        expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:ok)
+
+        expect(json_response['tag_list']).to eq(%w[topic1])
+      end
+
+      it 'updates topics' do
+        project_param = { topics: 'topic2' }
+
+        put api("/projects/#{project3.id}", user), params: project_param
+
+        expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:ok)
+
+        expect(json_response['tag_list']).to eq(%w[topic2])
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when authenticated as project maintainer' do
diff --git a/spec/services/projects/create_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/projects/create_service_spec.rb
index 6c0f36ededa9469782578a756639041de6235a11..753c89eb98149c281360e83227d6c00e3740ef70 100644
--- a/spec/services/projects/create_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/projects/create_service_spec.rb
@@ -82,6 +82,34 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'topics' do
+    subject(:project) { create_project(user, opts) }
+
+    context "with 'topics' parameter" do
+      let(:opts) { { topics: 'topics' } }
+
+      it 'keeps them as specified' do
+        expect(project.topic_list).to eq(%w[topics])
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with 'topic_list' parameter" do
+      let(:opts) { { topic_list: 'topic_list' } }
+
+      it 'keeps them as specified' do
+        expect(project.topic_list).to eq(%w[topic_list])
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with 'tag_list' parameter (deprecated)" do
+      let(:opts) { { tag_list: 'tag_list' } }
+
+      it 'keeps them as specified' do
+        expect(project.topic_list).to eq(%w[tag_list])
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   context 'user namespace' do
     it do
       project = create_project(user, opts)
diff --git a/spec/services/projects/update_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/projects/update_service_spec.rb
index b9e909e8615ac5f04dd47494f7245e98a97c1a67..e1b22da2e61f6b74b78d2c00f7329312f695408c 100644
--- a/spec/services/projects/update_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/projects/update_service_spec.rb
@@ -587,6 +587,31 @@
         it_behaves_like 'the transfer was not scheduled'
       end
     end
+
+    describe 'when updating topics' do
+      let(:project) { create(:project, topic_list: 'topic1, topic2') }
+
+      it 'update using topics' do
+        result = update_project(project, user, { topics: 'topics' })
+
+        expect(result[:status]).to eq(:success)
+        expect(project.topic_list).to eq(%w[topics])
+      end
+
+      it 'update using topic_list' do
+        result = update_project(project, user, { topic_list: 'topic_list' })
+
+        expect(result[:status]).to eq(:success)
+        expect(project.topic_list).to eq(%w[topic_list])
+      end
+
+      it 'update using tag_list (deprecated)' do
+        result = update_project(project, user, { tag_list: 'tag_list' })
+
+        expect(result[:status]).to eq(:success)
+        expect(project.topic_list).to eq(%w[tag_list])
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe '#run_auto_devops_pipeline?' do