Over 80,470 international students from 158 countries are currently attending Ukrainian universities, bringing a combined $3 billion to the country’s budget over their 5-6 years of study, Ukraine’s Ministry of Education announced on Nov. 17.
In Ukraine, foreign students pay their tuition fees — usually over $4,300 — and spend money on rent, food and entertainment. According to the Ministry, one student invests up to $8,000 in Ukraine annually.
In 2019, for example, this brought Ukraine nearly $570 million.
Students of medical universities — the most popular among foreigners — usually pay the most. On average, they spend $8,500 annually compared to $6,000 that foreign students of other faculties invest in Ukraine.
Apart from tuition fees, students have to pay for dormitories or rent an apartment. Temporary residence permits, insurance, flight tickets and the translation of application documents cost money as well.
Ukraine is a popular education destination for students from India, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Nigeria, Turkey, China, Egypt, Israel and Uzbekistan.
Indian students have strength in numbers at Ukrainian universities: Over 18,420 Indians are currently studying in Ukraine.
The most popular Ukrainian city among international students is Kharkiv — nearly 4,360 foreigners attend Kharkiv National Medical University and Karazin University. Medical universities in Odesa and Kyiv are popular too.
According to the Ministry of Education, foreign students are flocking to Ukraine even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Nov. 1, over 27,440 students have applied to local universities.
Because of the pandemic, the due date for foreigners to apply was extended. There are now two admission application deadlines — by Dec. 15, 2020 and by April 15, 2021.
For many international students, Ukrainian universities are affordable and they offer graduate diplomas that are valued and recognized abroad.
South Asian students, for example, usually come to Ukraine to obtain a degree in medicine and surgery that will secure a well-paid and prestigious job upon return to their native countries.
International students in Ukraine pay $4,000-$4,500 annually to study for an MBBS – bachelor of medicine and surgery – compared to $10,000-$15,000 in Europe or $32,000 in the U.S. According to the Expat Insider 2019 survey, Ukraine is ranked fifth among 64 countries by respondents’ satisfaction with the cost of living in the country.
But when it comes to applying for a job, students usually opt for moving back to their home country.
During the pandemic, many foreigners complain about their studies. All of the classes are now held online, but foreigners struggle because they don’t understand the language.
Just like many Ukrainians, international students often live in dormitories with shared facilities — high-risk places where the coronavirus can spread quickly.
They also struggle with their exams. On Nov. 17, for example, third-year foreign students protested near Ukraine’s Ministry of Health against Ukraine’s medical exam Krok, which evaluates basic knowledge of science. It is essential for continuing one’s studies in medical school, but the exam is not accredited abroad. That is why foreign students say they don’t need it and demand that the government reduce the passing grade from the current 60.5 % to 50.5%.
Students had to take this exam last year, but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Now, if they don’t pass it this year, they will be expelled and lose the money they already paid for their studies.
