The reforms of higher education in Ukraine in 2022–2024 aim to improve the quality of educational services. It focuses on integration into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and adaptation to modern challenges, in particular under martial law. It improves the efficiency and quality of higher education providers. It supports the higher education system under martial law. It brings the legal framework of higher education in line with the European Union (EU) standards.
- Reform in higher education aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of higher education providers’ activity
- Reform of the legislative and regulatory framework of higher education aimed at bringing it in line with EU standards
2026
There have been no reforms in this area in 2026.
2025
In 2025, the main focus of the reforms was the amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’ aimed at improving quality, deepening integration into the EHEA and adaptation to wartime challenges. Key legislative developments included amendments supporting research activities in higher education institutions (HEIs). They also laid the foundation for modernising the sector in line with the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and Bologna Process standards.
In 2025, Ukraine closely tied higher education reform to its integration into the EHEA. Reform efforts also targeted updating degree programme standards in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework and strengthening university autonomy. Authorities focused mostly on digitalising governance and teaching, introducing electronic services for both students and academic staff.
International cooperation was another priority: academic mobility expanded, and Ukrainian HEIs increased participation in Erasmus+ and other European projects.
The amendment to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’ gives students who join the Armed Forces of Ukraine the right to keep their study place. They automatically receive academic leave for the time they serve.
The reform of the network of the HEIs continued by consolidation. The HEIs with low number of students and duplication of training in specialties/educational programmes merged with large HEIs. In 2025, 3 HEIs merged with larger educational institutions.
In general, the higher education system demonstrated progress towards European integration and institutional resilience in 2025.
2024
Reform in higher education aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of higher education providers’ activity
On 25 October 2024 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution ‘Some issues of granting professional qualifications by higher education institutions in the absence of a professional standard’ (Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України ‘Деякі питання присвоєння професійних кваліфікацій закладами вищої освіти в разі відсутності професійного стандарту’). It ensures a match of volumes and directions of personnel training by HEIs with the needs of the national and regional labour markets. There is a current approved Procedure for granting professional qualifications by HEIs in the absence of a professional standard.The National Qualifications Agency is responsible for implementation and monitoring. As of 01.01.2026, the qualification register included 339 professional qualifications of HEIs.
The status of the reform component – adopted by the government and implemented in practice.
On 18 July 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution ‘On the Implementation of a Pilot Project for the Provision of State Grants for Higher Education’ (Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України ‘Про реалізацію експериментального проекту щодо надання державних грантів на здобуття вищої освіти’). It aims to form a financial and organisational mechanism for the transition to grant-based budget financing of higher education applicants.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) developed the Procedure for the provision of state grants for higher education. The MESU also approved the Procedure of state budget funds usage for the provision of state grants for higher education.
The status of the reform component – early stage of implementation.
On April 2024, the Verkhovna Rada approved the Law of Ukraine ‘On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Development of Individual Educational Tracks and Improvement of the Educational Process’ (Закон України ‘Про внесення змін до деяких законів України щодо розвитку індивідуальних освітніх траєкторій та вдосконалення освітнього процесу’). It ensured the formation of an individual track for higher education applicants to realise their personal potential.
This reform facilitated the access of applicants to the types, forms and pace of obtaining education, such as subjects of educational activity and the educational programmes offered by them. It opened the way to academic disciplines and their level of complexity, methods and means of education. It relates to applicants who study at the expense of the state budget. The MESU is responsible for methodological support, while each HEI is individually responsible for practical implementation.
The status of the reform component – adopted by Parliament.
Reform of the legislative and regulatory framework of higher education aimed at bringing it in line with EU standards
On 30 August 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution ‘On Amendments to the List of Knowledge Branches and Specialties for the Training of Higher and Professional Pre-Higher Education Applicants’ (Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України ‘Про внесення змін до переліку галузей знань і спеціальностей, за якими здійснюється підготовка здобувачів вищої та фахової передвищої освіти’). It updated the List of branches of knowledge and specialties of higher education. It follows the recommendations of the European Commission on the harmonisation of the Ukrainian list with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). The government’s approval of this technical document became a step towards the integration of Ukrainian education into the EHEA. It is an important element of the comprehensive transformation of the higher education system and its content. The responsible authority is the MESU.
The status of the reform component – approved by the government and implemented in practice.
During March-November 2024, there has been a discussion of the Draft Law of Ukraine ‘On the National Qualifications System’ (Проєкт Закону України ‘Про національну систему кваліфікацій’). This draft law regulates the formation and development of the qualifications system in Ukraine, its integration into the European Qualifications Framework.
The Draft defines the structure and functioning of the National Qualifications System. For the first time, it sets legal definitions, structure and other context of the sectoral qualifications framework. It establishes the unified register of qualifications, sectoral councils for the development of professional qualifications, microqualifications / microcredentials, etc.