Courses and degrees

Ukrainian higher education institutions can confer the following qualifications and degrees:

• Junior Specialist degree: 2-3 years of full-time study

• Bakalavre (Bachelor’s degree): 4 years of full-time study (intermediate) (for medicine: 6 years of full-time study)

• Diploma Specialist, Magister (Master’s degree): 2 years of post-Bachelor full-time study (for medicine: 3 years of post-Bachelor full-time study).

Study for the Bakalavre degree requires graduates to acquire the basic knowledge and skills that are necessary for a specific profession. Over and above this, the Diploma Specialist qualification expects students to acquire the specific knowledge and skills required for a specific advanced professional activity. In order to gain a Magister, graduates must acquire a specific and scientific knowledge for the solution of professional and scientific problems. The Magister is more research-oriented , and graduates must produce a Magister thesis. The Diploma Specialist concentrates more on professional skills. Both degrees require students to hold a Bakalavre degree.

To transit from lower to higher qualifications, students are required to take consecutive and competitive examinations. The curricula for all courses are defined in the appropriate study and examination regulations. Examinations are held at the end of a term and/or the end of an academic year.

The Ukrainian system offers two different doctorates.

• The “Kandydat nauk” (Candidate of sciences) doctorate is comparable to a Ph.D.

• The “Doktor nauk” (Doctor of Sciences) degree is comparable to higher doctoral degrees awarded for published research. This does not always have an equivalent in other countries.

The first doctorate level opens access to professional academic teaching and research as a Docent (associate professor), the second degree qualifies the holder as a full professor. A doctorate involves at least a further 3 years of advanced study and a doctoral thesis (independent research) published in English, Russian, French or German. Other postgraduate courses are also available.

Recognition of foreign certificates and degrees

The republic of Ukraine is a party to several international conventions on the equivalence of degrees, diplomas and other academic certificates. It recognizes higher education entrance qualifications gained in all other Western countries, either on the basis of mutual membership in international conventions or on the basis of bilateral reciprocal agreements.

Supplementary Vocabulary:

to fall under responsibility – підпадати під відповідальність

further and continuing education colleges – коледжі подальшої освіти

fully-fledged - повноправний

vocational - професійний

qualify for – готувати до якої-небудь діяльності

over and above this - крім цього

doctorate – вчена ступінь

doctorate level – вчене звання

entrance qualifications – вимоги до вступу

1. All institutions are subordinate to the Ministry of Education.

2. Level III Institutes award both Specialist degree programs and Magister degree programs.

3. Specialist degree requires specific knowledge and advanced professional skills.

4. You don’t need a Bakalavre degree to gain a Magister degree.

5. To gain a Magister degree, graduates must acquire a specific and scientific knowledge to solve professional and scientific problems.

6. The Ukrainian “Kandydat nauk” degree is equal to a Ph.D. in great Britain or USA.

7. You can become a full professor only if you hold “the Doctor nauk” degree.

8. Ukrainian does not recognize higher education entrance qualifications gained in Western countries.