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ENIC UKRAINE
National Information Centre
of Academic Mobility

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EDUCATION SYSTEM

Higher education structure of Ukraine

ComponentLevelDegree, qualification or education levelScope of the program (ECTS1 credits), period of studyNational qualification framework6
Pre-school education
Complete general secondary education Primary education - 4 years 1 level
Basic secondary education - 5 years 2 level
Profile (field-specific) secondary education - 3 years2 3 level
Out-of-school education - - 1-3 level
Specialized education
Vocational (Vocational-Technical) Education and Training3 1st (initial) VET level Working qualification; Qualified worker; Junior Specialist Regulated by standards of professional (vocational) education 2 level
2nd (initial) VET level 3 level
3rd (upper) VET level 4-5 level
Professional prehigher education3 Professional prehigher educationProfessional Junior BachelorEducational-professional program: 240 credits based on basic secondary education; 120-180 credits based on complete general secondary education (field-specific secondary education) 5 level
Higher education Initial level (short cycle) of higher education Junior Bachelor4 Educational and professional program – 120 credits 5 level
The first (Bachelor) level of higher education Bachelor Educational and professional program – 180-240 credits 6 level
The second (Master) level of higher education Master Educational and professional program – 90-120 credits 7 level
Educational and scientific program – 120 credits (scientific component - not less than 30%)
Master of Medical, Pharmaceutical or Veterinary field5 Educational program – 300-360 credits
The third (educational and research /educational and creative) level of higher education Doctor of Philosophy Preparation in aspirantura (adjuncture) – 4 years, educational component of the educational and scientific program – 30-60 credits 8 level
Doctor of Fine Arts Preparation in creative aspirantura – 3 years, educational component of the educational and creative program – 30-60 credits
Adult education, including postgraduate education Partial qualifications -

1 – European Credit Transfer System

2 – In accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Education” (items 3-4 item 3 section ХІІ) learning the pupils on twelve-year full-time secondary education programs begins:

For primary education is from September 1, 2018;

For basic secondary education is from September 1, 2022;

For profile secondary education is from September 1, 2027.

By 2027 the introduction of educational programs of a three-year profile school is possible by the decision of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine

3 – Programs can be integrated with profile secondary education programs

4 – A Diploma on higher education of the educational qualification level of Junior Specialist (primary higher education) equals to a Diploma on higher education of an educational and professional degree of Junior Bachelor's degree. The last admission for obtaining higher education at the educational qualification level of Junior Specialist is conducted in 2019

5 – Training for Master's degree in Medical, Pharmaceutical or Veterinary fields on the basis of complete general secondary education or the educational qualification level of Junior Specialist is considered simultaneously as obtaining the Bachelor's and Master's degrees (integrated programs)

6– National qualification framework: http://zakon0.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1341-2011-%D0%BF#n37

Reforming the education system

The educational system of Ukraine is under active reformation. In 2014 with the adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education" from 01.07.2014 № 1556-VII there have been changes in the structure of higher education. The structure gradually deduces the educational qualification levels of the junior specialist and specialist, as well as the scientific degree of the candidate of sciences.

In September, 2017 the Law of Ukraine "On Education" was adopted and it came into force on 09/28/2017. This law, in particular, provides for changes in the system of complete secondary education and professional (vocational) education. Also, laws on general secondary education and vocational education are expected to be changed.

After 30.03.2021 Doctor of Sciences` degree is not included in the system of higher education of Ukraine. The awarding of the Doctor of Sciences` degree is regulated by the Law on Scientific and Scientific-technical Activities.

Correlation between the degrees in new structure and the previous ones

(according to the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education” from 01.07.2014)

Junior Specialist DiplomaJunior Bachelor Diploma
Specialist DiplomaMaster Diploma
Candidate of Science DiplomaPhD Diploma


Updated: November, 2021.

HIGHER EDUCATION STRUCTURE

According to the Law of Ukraine «On Higher Education» from 01.07.2014 № 1556-VII

Higher education levels Higher education degrees (document on higher education /scientific degree) Document on previous education, which provides access Standard study period (years) and load (ECTS credits1) Academic rights National qualification framework2 EHEA cycles3
Initial level (short cycle) Junior Bachelor (Junior Bachelor diploma) Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Atestat) Educational and professional program – 120 credits The right to obtain a Bachelor's degree 5 level Short cycle of І cycle
Junior Specialist diploma, Professional Junior Bachelor diploma The volume of the educational and professional program is determined by the institution of education
The first (Bachelor) level Bachelor (Bachelor diploma) Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Atestat) Educational and professional program – 180-240 credits The right to obtain a Master's degree 6 level І cycle
Junior Bachelor diploma, Junior Specialist diploma, Professional Junior Bachelor diploma The volume of the educational and professional program is determined by the institution of education
The second (Master) level Master (Master diploma) Bachelor Diploma Educational and professional program – 90-120 credits The right to obtain Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Arts 7 level ІІ cycle
Educational and scientific program – 120 credits (research (scientific) component - not less than 30%)
Master of Medical, Pharmaceutical or Veterinary field (Master diploma) Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Atestat) Educational program – 300-360 credits І-ІІ cycle
Diploma of Junior Specialist, Professional Junior Bachelor diploma The volume of educational program is determined by the educational institution
The third (educational and research/educational and creative) level Doctor of Philosophy (Doctor of Philosophy diploma) Master Diploma Preparation in aspirantura (adjuncture) is 4 years, educational component of the educational and scientific program – 30-60 credits The right to obtain a doctoral degree 8 level ІІІ cycle
Doctor of Art (Doctor of Art diploma) Preparation in creative aspirantura – 3 years, educational component of educational and creative program – 30-60 credits -

1 – ECTS – European Credit Transfer System. 1 credit ECTS = 30 academic hours. One year full-time study load equals approximately to 60 credits ECTS

26– National qualification framework: http://zakon0.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1341-2011-%D0%BF#n37

3 – EHEA – European Higher Education Area.

HIGHER EDUCATION LEVELS DURING TRANSITION PERIOD

The last submission:

- for obtaining an educational qualification level of a Specialist was conducted in 2016;

- for obtaining higher education at the educational qualification level of a Junior Specialist is conducted in 2019;

- preparation of Candidates and Doctors of Sciences, for the programs, begun before September 1, 2016, is continued within the stipulated terms. The diploma of the Candidate and Doctor of Sciences is issued by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine until December 31, 2020. This period may be extended for academic or social leave, military service or long-term illness.

After 30.03.2021 Doctor of Sciences` degree is not included in the system of higher education of Ukraine. The awarding of the Doctor of Sciences` degree is regulated by the Law on Scientific and Scientific-technical Activities.

Transitional period

4 – Higher educational institutions have the right to admit persons to the first (with a shorter term) or the second year (with a normative term of study for vacant places), for obtaining an educational qualification level of a Junior Specialist on condition of admission to a related specialty.

Correlation between the degrees in new structure and the previous ones

(according to the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education” from 01.07.2014)

Junior Specialist DiplomaJunior Bachelor Diploma
Specialist DiplomaMaster Diploma
Candidate of Science DiplomaPhD Diploma

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Available in Ukrainian

ACCREDITATION AND LICENSING

The current structure of quality assurance in higher education in Ukraine includes the following:

  • Licensing of educational activities

Licensing of educational activities of higher education institutions is mandatory.

Licensing is done by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and issued with no expiration date.

Before 2021, licensing of each specialty of a certain level of higher education in higher education institutions was mandatory.

Since 2021, licensing of educational activities of higher education institutions at a certain level of higher education has being introduced. Additionally licensing of educational programs is mandatory for programs that lead to professional qualifications in professions for which additional regulation is required (List of specialties leading to professional qualifications in professions for which additional regulation is required).

Licensing of higher education institutions of foreign countries or their separate branches/campuses that operate on the territory of Ukraine is also mandatory.

  • Accreditation of educational programs

Accreditation of educational programs in Ukraine is mandatory. Accreditation certificates were issued by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (based on the decision of the Accreditation Commission), and since 2019 by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

Accreditation of educational programs in Ukraine can also be confirmed by an accreditation certificate issued by a recognized independent or foreign accreditation agency for quality assurance in higher education (List of foreign accreditation and quality assurance in higher education agencies, certificates of which are recognized in Ukraine).

Higher education institutions develop educational programs within licensed specialties or (after 2021) at a certain licensed level of higher education in accordance with the Higher Education Standards approved by the Ministry of Education and Science. Within one specialty at one level of higher education it could be two or more accredited educational programs. The number of such educational programs and their names are determined by higher education institutions. Educational programs within a certain specialty provide for the assignment of various professional qualifications in accordance with the specialization and learning outcomes (competencies) which should be mastered by students of the relevant educational program.

The Higher Education Standards describe the requirements for higher education programs at a certain higher education level and specialty, and are used to assess the quality of higher education system. The Higher Education Standards are approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and developed in accordance with the National Qualifications` Framework. The standards define the following requirements for educational programs: the ECTS credit load; admission requirements; list of mandatory competencies of graduates; normative program content in terms of learning outcomes; forms of final attestation/examination; requirements for the creation of educational programs and the requirements of professional standards (if applicable).

For the first time, educational programs are accredited by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education for a period of five years, and the subsequent accreditations are done for 10 year periods.

The higher education institutions have the right to issue diplomas of the established template for the accredited educational programs.

  • Accreditation of higher education institutions by levels (I-IV) was cancelled (in 2014).

  • The Law "On Higher Education" from 2017 provides the possibility of institutional accreditation for higher education institutions.

Institutional accreditation is not mandatory and is carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. The institutional accreditation certificate is issued for a 5 year period and gives right to higher education institutions to self-accredit educational programs, except for those programs that should be accredited for the first time. For the first time the accreditation of educational programs should be carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education. As of 2021, the self-accreditation mechanism is under development and implementation.

Information on licensing and accreditation is added to the Unified State Electronic Database on Education: https://info.edbo.gov.ua/ and is available in the «Реєстр суб’єктів освітньої діяльності» (Registry of educational activity entities).

Read more in Information on the licensing and accreditation procedure in the system of higher education of Ukraine.