Ukraine’s higher education system is regulated by the Constitution of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine «On Education», «On Higher Education», «On Scientific, Research and Development Activity», by ministerial and central government orders, and by international agreements which Ukraine has concluded in compliance with domestic and international law.
Education and training in Ukraine’s higher education system is delivered at the following higher education levels:
- Initial level (short cycle) of higher education, which corresponds to Qualification Level Five in the National Qualifications Framework;
- First level of higher education (bachelor level), which corresponds to Qualification Level Six in the National Qualifications Framework;
- Second level of higher education (master level), which corresponds to Qualification Level Seven in the National Qualifications Framework;
- Third level of higher education (doctoral level), which corresponds to Qualification Level Eight in the National Qualifications Framework;
- Research level of higher education (habilitation), which corresponds to Qualification Level Nine in the National Qualifications Framework.
Attaining higher education at each of these levels requires successful completion of a relevant programme of study (vocational or academic) or research programme that leads to the award of a relevant higher education degree: junior bachelor; bachelor; master; doctor of philosophy; doctor of sciences.
Junior bachelor is a vocational degree acquired at the initial (short-cycle) level of higher education, and is awarded by a higher education institution upon successful completion by the student of a vocational programme of study comprised of 90-120 ECTS credits.
Bachelor is a degree acquired at the First level of higher education, and is awarded by a higher education institution upon successful completion of a professionally oriented bachelor programme comprised of 180-240 ECTS credits. The workload required for the award of a bachelor degree to a student who is continuing studies after having been awarded a relevant junior bachelor degree shall be defined by the higher education institution.
Master is a degree acquired at the Second level of higher education, and is awarded by a higher education institution upon successful completion of a relevant academic or professionally oriented programme. A professionally-oriented master programme is comprised of 90-120 ECTS credits; an academic programme is comprised of 120 ECTS credits.
A Master degree in medical, pharmaceutical or veterinary fields is awarded to students who are accepted by a higher education institution after completion of full general secondary education to a relevant continuous programme of study (i.e. first and second levels combined) comprised of 300-360 ECTS credits, and is awarded upon its successful completion.
A document certifying the award of a higher education (research) degree is issued to a person who has successfully completed a vocational, professional, academic or research programme, and has passed the attestation requirements of the relevant programme.
The following types of documents are established to certify higher education (research) degrees at the relevant levels: junior bachelor diploma; bachelor diploma; master diploma; doctor of philosophy diploma; doctor of sciences diploma.
The bachelor, master, doctor of philosophy and doctor of sciences diploma are each appended by a Diploma Supplement produced according to European standards, which provides structured information about the completed course of study.
Ukraine’s system of higher education quality assurance is comprised of:
- a system by which higher education institutions ensure quality of education activity, and of delivered higher education programmes (the institution’s internal quality assurance system);
- a system of external quality assurance for higher education institutions and higher education programmes (the national quality assurance system of higher - education, including national standards for higher education institutions and for delivered programmes);
- a system of higher education programme quality assurance verification by the National Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency and by independent quality assurance agencies empowered to assess and ensure quality of higher education.
For more information about the national higher education system refer to: http://www.mon.gov.ua/.