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Information on the national higher education system

Types of higher education institutions and their status

Higher education studies in Ukraine are offered by the following higher education institutions:

  • a university is a multisectoral or sectoral higher education institution that carries out educational activities for various degrees of higher education (including PhD), conducts fundamental and / or applied research;
  • academies and institutes are sectoral higher education institutions that carry out educational activities at the first (Bachelor) and the second (Master) levels of higher education in one or several Fields of Study, as well as at the third and higher scientific levels of higher education for certain Programme Subject Areas, and conduct fundamental and / or applied research;
  • a college is a higher education institution or structural unit of a university, academy or institute that carries out educational activities for a Bachelor’s Degree and/or a Junior Bachelor’s Degree, conducts applied research and/or creative art activity. The status of a college is granted to an educational institution (structural unit of an educational institution) in which provision of higher education for a Bachelor’s Degree and / or a Junior Bachelor’s Degree accounts for not less than 30 percent of the total licensed volume of a college.

The status of a national higher education institution is honorary, is awarded for the significant contribution to the development of higher education, science and culture of Ukraine, and is reflected in the official name of a higher education.

 

Types of Educational Programmes and Degrees

Since 2002 higher education studies in Ukraine have been conducted for educational programmes leading to a Junior Specialist’s degree (incomplete higher education), a Bachelor’s Degree (basic higher education), a Specialist’s Degree (complete higher education) and a Master’s Degree (complete higher education).

In 2005 Ukraine joined the Bologna Process and in a decade a three-cycle system of higher education studies (Bachelor, Master and PhD) has been successfully introduced. After adoption in 2014 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’, a three-cycle system has gradually been introduced in educational programmes of higher education institutions. This change has provided enlarged variety and flexibility to students in planning and pursuing individual educational trajectories and laid the ground for enhancing compatibility of educational process in Ukraine and other countries of the European Higher Education Area. Furthermore, the initial level (short cycle) of higher education remains indispensable in the higher education system of Ukraine.

Preparation at the levels of higher education is carried out through academic and professional educational programmes. Higher education institutions (research institutions) develop and approve educational programmes independently, while considering the requirements for the level of higher education established by the legislation and standards of higher education by levels of higher education and each Programme Subject Area.

Standards of higher education are developed according to the National Qualifications Framework that includes description of the qualification levels and levels/degrees of the Ukrainian higher education system, and is harmonized with the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.

Preparation in the higher education system is carried out at the initial level (short cycle) of higher education, first (bachelor’s) level, second (master’s) level, and third (educational-scientific / educational-fine arts) level leading to awarding a Junior Bachelor’s Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree, and Doctor of Philosophy Degree / Doctor of Fine Arts Degree respectively.

The last admission for the educational-qualification level of Junior Specialist was held in 2019. After the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’ entered into force on 06 September 2014, a Diploma of Junior Specialist is equated to a Junior Bachelor’s Degree of higher education. Students who have enrolled into a Junior Specialist educational programme until 2019 inclusive will obtain a Diploma of Junior Specialist that is equated to the Diploma of Junior Bachelor upon successful completion of studies.

The last admission for the educational-qualification level of Specialist was held in 2016. After the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’ entered into force on 06 September 2014, the educational-qualification level of Specialist is equated to a Master’s degree of higher education.

After the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’ entered into force on 06 September 2014, the scientific degree of Candidate of Sciences is equated to the scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

In order to provide, recognize, validate qualifications and educational components, as well as promote academic mobility of higher education students, the higher education system of Ukraine makes use of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). One ECTS credit equals 30 working hours.

 

Licensing of education activities and accreditation of educational programmes

Educational activities in the field of higher education are carried out on the basis of licenses issued by the licensing body designated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in accordance with the legislation.

Until 2020 licensing has been obligatory conducted for each Programme Subject Area of higher education institution (research institution) within which higher education studies have been carried out. Since 16 January 2020, the following are subject to licensing in the field of higher education:

  1. educational activity of a higher education institution at a certain level of higher education;
  2. educational activities under educational programmes that lead to awarding of a professional qualification in professions with additional regulation.

Information on issuing and annulment of licenses for carrying out educational activities by higher education institutions can be found in the Unified State Electronic Database on Education via the link: https://registry.edbo.gov.ua/vishcha-osvita/.

Until 2019 accreditation in the Ukrainian higher education system has been conducted on the level of Field of Study or Programme Subject Area. Since 2019 a system of accreditation of educational programmes has become operational.

The system of higher education quality assurance in Ukraine is comprised of:

  1. a system by which higher education institutions ensure quality of education activity and higher education (internal quality assurance system);
  2. a system of external quality assurance for education activity of higher education institutions and higher education;
  3. a system of quality assurance of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance and independent agencies for assessment and quality assurance of higher education.

Ukraine recognizes certificates of accreditation of educational programmes issued by foreign accreditation agencies or agencies of higher education quality assurance that are approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The effective list of such agencies is approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as of 10 July 2019 No. 554-р on the basis of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).

 

Organization and Structure of Higher Education Studies

  1. Junior Bachelor’ Degree is an educational or professional degree obtained at the initial level (short cycle) of higher education and awarded by a higher education institution as a result of successful completion of an educational programme carrying 120 ECTS credits. Complete general secondary education is the prerequisite for obtaining a Junior Bachelor’s Degree. A higher education institution has the right to recognize and transfer ECTS credits, the maximum amount of which is determined by a standard of higher education, for the purpose of obtaining a Junior Bachelor’s Degree on the basis of professional pre-higher education by each Programme Subject Area. Junior Bachelor’s Degree corresponds to level 5 of the National Qualifications Framework, the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the short cycle of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.
     
  2. Bachelor’s Degree is an educational degree obtained at the first level of higher education and awarded by a higher education institution as a result of successful completion of an educational-professional programme carrying 180-240 ECTS credits. Complete general secondary education is the prerequisite for obtaining a Junior Bachelor’s Degree. A higher education institution has the right to recognize and transfer ECTS credits, the maximum amount of which is determined by a standard of higher education, for the purpose of obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree on the basis of a Junior Bachelor’s Degree or on the basis of professional pre-higher education by each Programme Subject Areas. Bachelor’s Degree corresponds to level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework, the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the first cycle of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.
     
  3. Master’s degree is an educational degree obtained at the second level of higher education and awarded by a higher education institution (research institution) as a result of successful completion of an educational programme carrying 90-120 ECTS credits in case of an educational-professional programme or 120 ECTS credits in case of an educational-scientific programme. Bachelor’s Degree is the prerequisite for obtaining a Master’s Degree. Master’s Degree corresponds to level 7 of the National Qualifications Framework, the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the second cycle of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.
     
  4. Integrated ‘continuous’ Programmes. Master’s Degree in Programme Subject Areas of medicine, pharmacy or veterinary is obtained on the basis of a complete general secondary education or a Bachelor’s Degree, a Junior Bachelor’s Degree, a Junior Specialist’s qualification level in a relevant Programme Subject Area, and is awarded by a higher education institution as a result of successful completion of an educational programme carrying of 300-360 ECTS credits in case a Master’s Degree in Programme Subject Areas of medicine, pharmacy or veterinary is obtained on the basis of complete general secondary education. A higher education institution has the right to recognize and transfer ECTS credits, the maximum amount of which is determined by a standard of higher education, for the purpose of obtaining a Master’s Degree in Programme Subject Areas of medicine, pharmacy or veterinary on the basis of a Junior Bachelor’s degree or on the basis of professional pre-higher education. Master’s Degree in Programme Subject Areas of medicine, pharmacy or veterinary corresponds to level 7 of the National Qualifications Framework, the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the second cycle of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.
     
  5. Doctor of Philosophy Degree is an educational-scientific degree obtained at the third level of higher education on the basis of Master’s Degree. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded by a specialized Scientific Council of a higher education institution (research institution) as a result of successful completion of an educational-scientific programme and public defence of a dissertation at a specialized Scientific Council. The normative term of studies for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in postgraduate (adjunct) studies is four years. An educational component of an educational-scientific programme of Doctor of Philosophy carries 30-60 ECTS credits. Doctor of Philosophy Degree corresponds to level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework, the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the third cycle of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.
     
  6. Doctor of Fine Arts Degree is an educational-fine arts degree obtained at the third level of higher education on the basis of a Master’s Degree. Doctor of Fine Arts Degree is awarded in postgraduate studies in fine arts. The normative term of studies for a Doctor of Fine Arts Degree in postgraduate studies in fine arts is three years. The educational component of an educational-scientific programme of Doctor of Fine Arts 30-60 ECTS credits. A Doctor of Fine Arts Degree corresponds to level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework, the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning and the third cycle of the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area.

 

Official Sources of Information

  • Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) Official website: www.mon.gov.ua;
  • State Enterprise ‘Inforesurs’ of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Official website: https://www.inforesurs.gov.ua/;
  • State Enterprise ‘Information and Image Center’ of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine that performs the functions of a national information center of academic mobility (ENIC Ukraine) Official website: http://enic.in.ua/.