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ENIC UKRAINE
National Information Centre
of Academic Mobility

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HIGHER EDUCATION LEVELS AND DEGREES

With the adoption of the Law of Ukraine «On Higher Education» in 2014, there were changes in the structure of educational levels and degrees of higher education. The main changes were related to the degrees of Junior Specialist, Specialist and Сandidate of Sciences, which were replaced by the degrees of Junior Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Art. These changes were implemented gradually. So the last admission to the Junior Specialist programs took place in 2019, to the Specialist programs - in 2016, to the Candidate of Sciences programs - in 2015.

The structure of modern system of higher education includes the following higher education levels:

  • initial level (short cycle) of higher education
  • first (bachelor's) level
  • second (master's) level
  • third (educational-scientific/educational-artistic) level.

Obtaining higher education at each level implies successful completion of higher education program, which is the basis for awarding the appropriate higher education degree:

  • Junior Bachelor
  • Bachelor
  • Master
  • Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Art.

Junior Bachelor`s degree is an educational or professional degree obtained at the initial level (short cycle) of higher education and awarded by a higher education institution after successful completion of higher education program of 120 ECTS credits. If the junior bachelor degree is obtained on the basis of professional prehigher education, a higher education institution has the right to recognize and transfer ECTS credits, the maximum amount of which is determined by the standard of higher education.

A person has the right to apply for the junior bachelor's degree programs provided that he/she has complete general secondary education.

Bachelor's degree is an educational degree obtained at the first level of higher education and awarded by a higher education institution after successful completion of an educational-professional program of 180-240 ECTS credits. If the bachelor's degree is obtained on the basis of junior bachelor degree or professional junior bachelor degree, a higher education institution has the right to recognize and transfer the ECTS credits, the maximum amount of which is determined by the standard of higher education.

A person has the right to apply to the bachelor degree programs provided that he/she has complete general secondary education.

Master's degree is an educational degree obtained at the second level of higher education and awarded by a higher education institution (scientific institution) after successful completion of the relevant educational-professional or educational-scientific program. The volume of the educational-professional master's program is 90-120 ECTS credits, the volume of the educational-scientific program is 120 ECTS credits. The master's educational-scientific program shall include a research (scientific) component of at least 30 percent.

A person has the right to apply to the master's degree programs provided he/she has a bachelor's degree.

The master's degree in medicine, pharmacy or veterinary specialization is obtained on the basis of complete general secondary education, junior bachelor degree, professional junior bachelor, or junior specialist in the relevant specialty. If the master's degree in medicine, pharmacy or veterinary specialization is obtained on the basis of complete general secondary education, the volume of the program should be 300-360 ECTS credits. In cases when the master's degree in medicine, pharmacy or veterinary specialization is obtained on the basis of junior bachelor or professional junior bachelor, a higher education institution can recognize and transfer ECTS credits, the maximum amount of which is determined by the higher education standard.

Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy is an educational and at the same time scientific degree obtained at the third level of higher education on the basis of master's degree. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded by a specialized scientific council of a higher education institution or scientific institution based on the results of successful completion of the relevant educational-scientific program (four years) and public defense of dissertation. The volume of the educational component of the educational-scientific program of the Doctor of Philosophy is 30-60 ECTS credits.

Doctor of Art is an educational and creative degree obtained at the third level of higher education on the basis of master's degree. The degree of Doctor of Art is awarded by a specialized higher education institution’s council in the field of art after successful implementation of the relevant educational program (three years) and public defense of the art project. The volume of the educational component of the educational and creative program of Doctor of Art is 30-60 ECTS credits.

"The system of higher education levels and degrees before 2014 and during the transition period"