Study and find schools in Ukraine

Studying in Ukraine

Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe by area and has a large higher-education sector that has long recruited students from abroad. According to Study in Ukraine, the official government portal for international students managed by the Ukrainian State Center for International Education, the country has 388 universities, and more than 25,000 students from 126 countries study there. Ukrainian is the language of instruction for most programmes, but the portal lists more than 500 programmes taught entirely in English.

Ukraine has been at war since Russia's full-scale invasion. Before you consider studying there, read your own government's travel advice. In its advice valid on 7 October 2026, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends not travelling to Ukraine under any circumstances.

The education system in Ukraine

Higher education follows a sequence of levels that Ukrainian universities describe as professional junior bachelor, bachelor, master and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Medical universities train doctors, dentists and pharmacists in long integrated master's programmes; Bukovinian State Medical University, for example, describes its path as "Professional Junior Bachelor → Bachelor → Master → Post Graduate Education → Doctor (PhD)". Most institutions are state universities, alongside private institutes and colleges.

The academic year has two semesters. Bachelor's and master's programmes admit international students twice a year, before or at the start of each semester, with enrolment open until 1 November and until 1 March. Each university publishes its own deadlines. Doctoral studies and preparatory courses (a foundation year for students who need to learn Ukrainian or complete their school-level preparation) take students all year round.

Because of the war, the format of study matters. Study in Ukraine states that international students can study full-time, part-time or online, and that distance learning is available for every field except medicine. Universities that teach on campus must have equipped shelters and emergency infrastructure, and many institutions from the east and south have relocated to western Ukraine.

Admission and recognition

International students apply through the national application portal run by the Ukrainian State Center for International Education. The process works in steps:

• Create a digital account and submit up to 20 applications; the application fee is 3,100 hryvnia (UAH), paid once
• Receive an offer of admission from a university and accept it
• Receive a digital invitation to study, valid for 6 months
• Apply for a student visa, if you need one, and travel to Ukraine

Foreign documents must be legalised and submitted with a certified translation into Ukrainian or, if that is not possible, into English. Requirements such as entrance tests and language certificates are set by each university. Students who will study in Ukrainian usually start with the preparatory year.

Student visa and residence

Students from countries that need a visa must apply for a long-term Type D student visa at a Ukrainian embassy or consulate in their home country. According to Study in Ukraine, the application needs:

• A valid passport and a completed visa application form
• One colour photo (35 × 45 mm) and biometric data
• Valid health insurance
• Proof of payment of the consular fee
• The invitation to study issued by the university

Spanish citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but they need one for longer stays, according to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Anyone who stays in Ukraine longer than 90 days must apply for a temporary residence permit after arrival.

Costs

Tuition fees are paid per year and depend on the field. Study in Ukraine gives these ranges:

• Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing: €1,500 to €5,000 per year
• Engineering: €1,200 to €4,000 per year
• MBA programmes: €2,000 to €6,000 per year

The same portal estimates accommodation at €50 to €150 a month in a university dormitory and from €200 a month in private housing, food at €120 to €250 a month, and medical insurance at up to €1,000 a year. Check the exact fee for your programme with the university before you apply.

Where to study

The schools in our directory are spread across the country, with the largest group in Lviv. In Lviv, the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv includes a long-established law faculty, and the Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture specialises in sport and physical education. Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi has trained doctors since 1944 and teaches foreign students in English. Other universities in the directory are in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk, and ECHO Eastern Europe Language School, founded in Kyiv in 2004, teaches Ukrainian as a foreign language in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa.

Location is a safety question as well as an academic one. The Spanish travel advice describes the regions near the front line, the north-east near the Russian border (including Sumy) and the Zaporizhzhia area as especially dangerous, and points to the western regions, such as Lviv and Chernivtsi, as the places to stay if leaving is not possible. Universities originally based in occupied or front-line areas may now teach from another city or online, so check where a programme is actually taught.

Culture and practical life

Ukrainian is the official language and the main language of daily life and teaching. Learning it is useful even on an English-taught programme; language schools such as ECHO Eastern Europe offer group courses from €110 a week for 20 lessons, according to the school.

Health insurance is required for the visa, and international students should check what their policy covers in wartime. Daily life in most cities continues, but air-raid alerts, curfews and power cuts are part of it, and students must follow the instructions of the local authorities and their university.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to study in Ukraine?

Ukraine is at war. In its advice valid on 7 October 2026, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends not travelling to Ukraine under any circumstances, so check your government's current advice before any decision.

Can I study at a Ukrainian university online?

Yes, for most fields. According to Study in Ukraine, distance learning is available for all fields of study except medicine.

How much does it cost to study in Ukraine?

Study in Ukraine gives tuition ranges of €1,500 to €5,000 a year for medical programmes and €1,200 to €4,000 a year for engineering. A dormitory place costs about €50 to €150 a month.

Can I study in Ukraine in English?

Yes. The official portal lists more than 500 programmes taught entirely in English, including medicine, engineering and business.

When are the application deadlines?

Bachelor's and master's programmes enrol international students until 1 November and until 1 March, but each university sets its own deadlines. Preparatory courses and doctoral studies admit students all year.