Education in Ukraine: school stages, the NMT and university entry

In short

Education in Ukraine is organised by the Ministry of Education and Science, and the national exam used for university entry in recent years is the NMT, the National Multi-subject Test (in Ukrainian, Національний мультипредметний тест). Children usually start school at about six, study through a general secondary programme, and receive a certificate of complete general secondary education at the end. Most students who want a place at a university or an academy then take part in the NMT and apply online through a national admission system. Vocational colleges are a well-established second route.

School stages

1. Primary school: The first four grades. Pupils study the Ukrainian language, reading, mathematics, the world around them, a foreign language, arts and physical education, usually with one main teacher. Schools use the framework of the New Ukrainian School reform, which stresses skills as well as knowledge.
2. Basic secondary school: Roughly grades five to nine. Pupils study separate subjects with specialist teachers, including Ukrainian language and literature, mathematics, history, geography, sciences, foreign languages and more. At the end they receive a certificate of basic secondary education, and then choose between continuing at school or moving to a college.
3. Upper secondary school: The final stage, in which students take more specialised subjects according to a chosen profile. The length of this stage is changing as the reform that extends general education to twelve years is introduced step by step, so check the Ministry's current rules for your year group.

School marks are traditionally given on a twelve-point scale, where higher numbers mean better work. Schools also give written feedback, and final marks appear in the school certificate.

The NMT and how it is organised

The NMT replaced the earlier External Independent Evaluation, known by the abbreviation ZNO, which had been the main entrance test for many years. It is organised by the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment. In recent sessions the core of the NMT has covered three subjects: the Ukrainian language, mathematics and the history of Ukraine. Some programmes also require a fourth subject, such as a foreign language, biology, physics, chemistry or Ukrainian literature, and the list of required subjects depends on the chosen speciality. Rules, dates and formats have changed from year to year, so applicants should always read the current rules on the official testing site.

Questions are mostly multiple choice or short answer, and results are converted into a scaled score that universities use for ranking applicants. Candidates register in advance, receive a testing centre and a date, and receive a certificate with their results. In some years there have been separate sessions and special arrangements for applicants in difficult circumstances.

University entry

Higher education institutions admit students by competition. Applicants register in an electronic admission account, choose programmes in order of priority and submit applications online during the admission campaign. Each programme publishes the subjects it needs and a formula that combines the test results with the school certificate and sometimes with an additional exam or a creative contest. Places are funded either by the state or by the student, and applicants who qualify may receive a state-funded place. For master's programmes, applicants usually take a separate unified entrance exam that tests a foreign language and general academic skills, with extra requirements for some fields.

Colleges and vocational routes

Many young people choose a professional college after the ninth grade, or after the final school year. Colleges offer programmes that combine a vocational qualification with general education, and graduates may continue to a university, often in a shortened programme in a related field. Technical schools and trades courses also exist for those who prefer a quick route to work.

Studying in Ukraine as an international student

International applicants usually need a recognised school-leaving certificate and, depending on the course, may take a language test or an entrance exam organised by the university. Universities publish their own requirements, so always check the admission page of the university that you wish to attend.

Practising on GetMyMockTest

These are practice questions we wrote for study. They are not the official exams, and we do not claim they match an exam's current format. Free practice for Ukraine:

• NMT: mathematics, Ukrainian language and literature, and history of Ukraine, with timed tests and flashcards.
• Ukrainian general knowledge: history and politics, geography and nature, and science, arts and culture.
• PDR (Ukrainian driving theory): traffic rules and priority, road signs and markings, and vehicle technical safety and emergency procedures, with timed tests and flashcards.