Universities in Ukraine

Ukraine has a large higher education system that has long attracted international students, especially in medicine and engineering. Since Russia's full-scale invasion, studying there has changed fundamentally. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends not travelling to Ukraine under any circumstances while the war continues (advice current on 7 October 2026). The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to most of the country and against all but essential travel to the western regions, including Lviv and Chernivtsi. Read your own government's travel advice before considering on-campus study.

Universities continue to teach, on campus and online. According to Study in Ukraine, the government portal run by the Ukrainian State Center for International Education under the Ministry of Education and Science, the country has 388 universities, more than 25,000 international students from 126 countries and over 500 programmes taught in English.

How Ukrainian universities work

Higher education is organised in levels: professional junior bachelor's, junior bachelor's, bachelor's and master's degrees, followed by PhD and postgraduate study. Universities list their programmes by level; Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture, for example, divides its programmes into a first (bachelor's), second (master's) and third (research) level. Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy are long single-cycle programmes: at Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi, founded in 1944, medicine takes six years and dentistry and pharmacy five, taught in English or Ukrainian.

The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA) accredits study programmes and publishes an accreditation database. International students can study full-time, part-time or online; distance learning is available in all fields except medicine, which is taught only on campus. Many universities from the east and south have moved to western Ukraine, and universities that teach on campus must have equipped shelters.

Other universities on this site include Zaporizhzhia National University, Sumy State University and the Faculty of Law of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.

Admission for international students

Applications go through the Study in Ukraine portal. Applicants create a digital account, pay a one-off application fee of 3,100 UAH and can submit up to 20 applications. A university that accepts an applicant issues an offer of admission and then an invitation for study, valid for six months. For junior bachelor's, bachelor's and master's programmes, enrolment takes place twice a year, until 1 November and until 1 March; PhD study and foundation courses enrol all year. Each university sets its own deadlines. Medical programmes typically ask for a school or university diploma, a passport and a photo. Students without the required background can take a foundation year: at Bukovinian State Medical University it lasts 40 weeks and covers Ukrainian, biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics.

Students who need a visa apply for a Type D (long-term) student visa at a Ukrainian embassy or consulate, with the invitation for study, health insurance and legalised documents translated into Ukrainian or English. Students staying longer than 90 days must apply for a temporary residence permit.

Costs and funding

Study in Ukraine gives these annual tuition ranges for 2026:

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

It estimates dormitory rooms at €50 to €150 a month, private housing from €200, food at €120 to €250 a month and medical insurance at up to €1,000 a year. At Bukovinian State Medical University, the latest published fees (2023-24) are US$2,900 for the first year of medicine in English and US$4,100 a year from the second year. Some universities offer competitive scholarships.

How to choose a university in Ukraine

• Safety: your government's travel advice, the university's region and whether it teaches on campus or online
• Study mode: distance learning is possible in most fields, but not in medicine
• Language: programmes taught in English or in Ukrainian, with different fees
• Accreditation: check the programme in NAQA's accreditation database
• Recognition at home: for medicine in particular, check how your country recognises a Ukrainian degree before enrolling

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to study in Ukraine?

Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends not travelling to Ukraine under any circumstances, and the UK advises against all travel to most regions. Universities continue to teach, many of them online, and campuses that teach in person must have shelters.

Can I study at a Ukrainian university online?

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

How much does a medical degree in Ukraine cost?

Study in Ukraine gives a range of €1,500 to €5,000 a year for medical programmes, depending on the university, city and language of instruction.

When do Ukrainian universities enrol international students?

Bachelor's and master's programmes enrol twice a year, until 1 November and until 1 March. Each university publishes its own deadlines.