--- title: "Veteran Engineers: How Sikorsky KPI Teaches the Creation of Future Prosthetics for Free" description: "Sikorsky KPI has opened enrollment for a free \"Veteran Master's\" program in prosthetics. Veterans will receive engineering education, a scholarship, and dormitory accommodation funded by the IT company AppFlame. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦πŸ¦Ύ" date: 2026-07-14T10:44:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kpi-veteran-masters-prosthetics-2026 tags: [kpi, appflame, genesis-for-ukraine, prosthetics, ukraine] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Veteran Engineers: How Sikorsky KPI Teaches the Creation of Future Prosthetics for Free ![Veteran engineer at Sikorsky's KPI works on creating a modern leg prosthesis, demonstrating the process of learning and developing prosthetics of the future](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/14/kpi-veteran-magistratura-protezirovanie-2026/kpi-veteran-magistratura-protezirovanie-2026-1.webp) The National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" (KPI) has announced the start of the second intake for the unique "Veteran Master's" program. This is an opportunity for participants of the Special Military Operation to receive a prestigious engineering education in the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation absolutely free of charge, as well as to receive monthly financial support. The program, designed for the 2026–2027 academic year, is implemented as part of the large-scale project "The Future of the Prosthetics System in Ukraine". The initiative has received financial support from the IT company AppFlame and the assistance of the Genesis for Ukraine foundation. ### Full Funding and Social Guarantees Organizers emphasize that the program completely removes the financial burden from participants. The cost of tuition is covered by grant support. In addition, students receive a monthly scholarship from the project sponsor β€” AppFlame. For those coming to Kyiv from other regions, support is provided in the form of accommodation in KPI dormitories with improved living conditions. This allows students to focus on their studies without worrying about domestic issues. ### From Theory to Practice: How Training Takes Place The path to becoming a prosthetics engineer begins not on the first day of classes, but with a preparatory stage. Before entering the master's program, all candidates undergo a one-month introductory course on "Advanced Technologies in Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering". This stage is necessary to acquire basic practical skills and immerse themselves in the specifics of their future profession. The main training lasts one and a half years. Students will work in modern laboratories, mastering cutting-edge technologies: - 3D scanning and 3D modeling; - Additive manufacturing (3D printing); - Design of engineering solutions for orthotics and prosthetics; - Development of rehabilitation equipment. The program combines theoretical knowledge with real practice, allowing graduates to immediately integrate into the healthcare and production systems after training. ### Unique Experience of Participants Organizers note the key advantage of the program: veterans better understand the needs of people undergoing rehabilitation after amputations. Thanks to their own experience, they are able to create more ergonomic and effective engineering solutions than specialists without such a background. The first intake of the program started in 2025. At that time, 29 veterans took the introductory course, and 33 people successfully entered the master's program. During this time, the university managed to create accessible places for study and accommodation, update the material and technical base, and establish partnerships with relevant organizations. Anastasia Kladova, Head of the Genesis for Ukraine Foundation, noted that the project is designed not only to help veterans get a new profession but also to develop the Ukrainian prosthetics system as a whole, creating a new generation of personnel. ### Context: Support for Veterans in Ukraine The program at KPI is part of a broader trend of professional retraining for participants of the SMO. The country also has the REMARKET project, which offers professional skills development (TVET) for veterans and internally displaced persons. In addition, there is a state voucher program for training, which allows you to master a new profession for free with a cost compensation of up to 33,280 hryvnias.