Higher Education in Ukraine

Ukrainian educational system is considered to be one of the most developed in the world; it offers a big variety of educational opportunities to local and international students. There are 313 higher educational establishments in Ukraine. Among them there are 220 state institutions, and 93 privately owned or municipal institutions. One can obtain a higher education in universities, academies, or in establishments which are equivalent to universities, but are traditionally called "institutes" of 3rd and 4th level of accreditation.

Thanks to the educational policy of the USSR leaders, all citizens had a right to obtain all levels of education (including the higher education) free of charge. The powerful economy needed talented and well educated specialists. Since that time, some fundamental principles of educational policy are still observed in modern Ukraine, which helps keep the level of teaching and result of training on comparatively high level. 

Ukrainian Institutions of Higher Education have standardized Educational programs, developed traditionally for 4 years (Bachelor's level), and then additional 2 years (MA level) of education. Due to specialized training terms which are introduced into professional programs of study in Engineering and Medical Universities, the term of obtaining the education is longer, at least 5,5 or 6 years. In the end of the course, each student who successfully passed the Final Examinations, obtains two Diplomas of Higher Education - a Bachelor's degree diploma (after completing 4 years), and a Master's degree diploma (after 5-6 years).

There are also diplomas of a so-called "Specialist" which are issued after completion of 10 semesters (5 years of study). These are the traditional diplomas which were provided for successful completion of the 10-semester course of studies, which is almost equivalent to a Master's Degree. But these diplomas are only recognized in Ukraine and the former CIS states, so majority of the students prefer to take an additional semester or two, and obtain an internationally accredited  Master's Degree of education. 

Though the degree of "Specialist" remains highly appreciated by students and employers locally, more and more Ukrainians tend to obtain internationally recognized diplomas, especially today, when Ukraine has signed the so called Bologna agreement in higher education. Now, all higher education establishments of Ukraine are following and observing the European standards of higher education.

"Bologna process" is the name for a vast all-Europe project of standardization of higher education to make all European diplomas equally accredited in the world. By signing the Bologna Agreement, Ukraine has taken a set of obligations about restructuring the educational system to adjust to the European norms and standards. The new norms started functioning in Ukrainian educational system a few years ago, and today the old system is being replaced by the new one step by step. Among the most significant changes, one can note the transition to Bachelor / Master’s degrees system; introduction of learning modules in the system of knowledge control (ton replace the old system of lectures and "seminars"), the renewed structure of testing and introduction of credits system into Ukrainian education process.

In Ukraine, most of the students are busy studying almost all the year round, with about 5-6 weeks of summer vacation starting in mid-July and lasting through August. The academic year begins on the 1st of September and lasts almost to the end of July. Normally, the academic year consists of two (sometimes three) terms or semesters. All successful students also have about 2 weeks of vacations in winter, between the two terms: usually in February, after successful completion of tests and examinatione of the autumn semester. Then, the next significant period in each student's life happens in June, when a new portion of tests and exams is due.

During the academic year, students have classes every day but weekend days. Some universities may offer two shifts of classes, when some students have classes mostly in the morning time, the others would attend all classes in the afternoon time during the whole semester. They attend lectures, tutorials, practice classes or work with books and learning materials in libraries and computer classes.

At the end of each term (semester) every student takes 3 or 5 examinations and 3 or 5 written tests. The successful completion of examinations and tests guarantees the right to proceed to the next term. But even successful completion of two semesters does not mean transition to the next year of study. Before this happens, each student is supposed to take a professional training term. In July, most of the students are directed to take 3 or more weeks of training at enterprises, companies or organizations related to their specialization. Universities make up preliminary agreements with these companies, and in the end of this term, each student provides an evaluation letter from the company supervisor to his/her university; the letter contains assessment of the student's ability to use the knowledge obtained during the year of study, at a real working place, and the ability to adjust to working situations and corporative environment.

On the 4-th year of study (for Bachelor's degree study), or on the 6-th year (for the Master's degree), each student must write a massive essay related to the main profile of his/her study - a diploma thesis. The thesis topics are suggested to students by their main specialization department, and each student obtains a research superviser - a professor of the department who has extended knowledge of the topic, who assists the student in writing of the thesis through the whole academic year. In the end of the term, all students provide their diploma thesis to a board of professors for assessment, and have to "defend" their work in front of this board. The whole ceremony is called locally a "Diploma Defense". No need to say, this is a very responsible but exciting day for each student - once you have dome your work well, you will become a graduate of a Bachelor's or master's course.

After the graduation from a university, each student who successfully passed all examinations and tests, obtains a standard Diploma of higher education, no matter what form of property the university refers to - private, state-run or municipal. The transcript of the subject list with grades is attached to the Diploma and is regarded as an official document that provides detailed information about the person's particular level of knowledge.