In 2026, the Ukrainian higher education system will enter an important stage of change. Applicants who have received their secondary education abroad will, for the first time, be able to enroll in Ukrainian universities without taking the mandatory Unified National Testing (UNT). Instead, universities will take into account the results of their national graduation exams.

This information was confirmed by Nikolai Trofimenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. The official explained the details of the mechanism that will allow Ukrainian citizens who have completed their schooling in European countries to access higher education in their homeland.

Which exams will replace the UNT

The new provision concerns applicants who hold a certificate of secondary education obtained abroad and the results of the corresponding graduation exams. The list of recognized exams includes:

  • Matura — in Poland;
  • Abitur — in Germany;
  • Baccalauréat — in France.

The decision to credit the results of these exams instead of UNT subjects is made by the admissions committee of the specific university. The basis for this is the applicant's documents and the current admission rules of the educational institution.

How points will be recalculated

The methodology for converting grades from foreign systems into the Ukrainian 200-point scale has already been approved. It is outlined in Appendix 11 to the Procedure for Admission to Higher Educational Institutions. For clarity, Nikolai Trofimenko provided an example with the Polish Matura exam.

In Poland, the minimum passing threshold is 30%, and the maximum result is 100%. According to the conversion formula:

  • 30% corresponds to 100 points on the Ukrainian scale;
  • 100% corresponds to 200 points.

Thus, if an applicant scores 65% in a subject, their result will be recalculated to 150 points. This allows for an accurate determination of the candidate's competitiveness during admission.

Context of the 2026 admission campaign

The introduction of the new mechanism takes place against the backdrop of active preparations for the 2026 admission campaign. In Ukraine, the registration of electronic applicant cabinets has already started, which will simplify the document submission process and the tracking of admission status.

Previously, rectors of several leading universities appealed to the Ministry of Education and Science with a proposal to lower the passing score for certain elite specialties from 150 to 130 points. However, the ministry officially stated that it does not plan to change the minimum competitive score.

The new rules, allowing for the crediting of foreign exams, open up additional opportunities for Ukrainian youth forced to study abroad. This is a step towards the integration of educational standards and the support of students in the current situation.