In 2026, the master's admission system is undergoing significant changes. Special conditions are being introduced for certain categories of applicants, aimed at simplifying the procedure for entering higher education institutions. The new rules provide for the possibility of replacing standard exams with interviews, as well as opening up prospects for transferring from a contract form of study to a state-funded (budget) one.
Admission Geography and Relocated Universities
One of the key innovations is the flexibility in choosing an educational institution. According to the updated Admission Procedure, if a specific university does not train masters in the specialty of interest, the applicant has the right to submit documents to any relocated university. Admission is also conducted at higher education institutions located in the Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, or Chernihiv regions. This decision is aimed at ensuring the accessibility of education even in conditions where traditional educational centers may be unavailable.
Interview Instead of ZNO and PVI
An important change is the possibility of participating in the competitive selection based on the results of an interview. For certain categories of applicants, the results of an interview in a foreign language and a professional exam may replace the mandatory external independent evaluations (ZNO) and professional entrance examinations (PVI). This allows for a more flexible assessment of the candidate's actual competencies than standard testing.
However, there are nuances for beneficiaries. Applicants belonging to preferential categories who have already taken the ZNO or PVI but did not pass the "pass/fail" threshold may use the interview format exclusively when applying for contract-based study. This restriction highlights the importance of preparing for the initial examinations for those who are counting on state-funded places from the very beginning.
Transfer from Contract to State-Funded Places
The system also provides a mechanism for social support for already enrolled students. After enrolling on a contract basis, certain categories of students may be transferred to vacant state-funded places. This opportunity to receive free education arises if there are free places in the university. Thus, even if the initial enrollment occurred on a paid basis, subject to certain conditions and the availability of vacancies, a student can count on a change of status.
Application Submission Strategy
Applications for admission to universities can be submitted starting July 19. This year, applicants are given the opportunity to submit up to 10 applications, five of which can be directed to state-funded places. Experts emphasize the importance of setting priorities correctly: the first place in the list should be the educational institution where the applicant most wants to study. This is critical for the algorithms of place distribution.
Calculating Admission Chances
The final competitive indicator is formed from several components. It is influenced by the results of the National Multi-Subject Testing (NMT), weighting coefficients established for each specific specialty, and additional bonuses granted to certain categories of applicants. Modern applicants can independently calculate their chances using available calculators and data on passing scores from previous years, which allows for planning the admission strategy in advance.
