The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES) has officially announced an extension of the deadlines for confirming recommendations and enrolling in budget-funded places for applicants to professional colleges. This decision was made in connection with scheduled technical maintenance in the Unified State Electronic Database on Education Issues (ESEDB), which temporarily limited applicants' access to key system functions.

Technical maintenance and reasons for extending deadlines

According to information provided by the MES, between August 5 and 6, 2026, scheduled technical work was carried out in the ESEDB to test seat allocation algorithms and update software. As a result, access to the database's functionality for confirming the choice of educational institution and meeting enrollment requirements was restricted. To ensure equal conditions for all applicants, the ministry decided to extend the admission campaign deadlines.

New deadlines for applicants

Applicants who received recommendations for state or regional order places to obtain the professional junior bachelor's degree based on 9 years of schooling can now confirm their choice of educational institution and meet the requirements for budget enrollment until 18:00 on August 10, 2026. Enrollment in budget-funded places will continue until 18:00 on August 11. On the same day, enrollment for contract-based education must also be completed.

Obligations of educational institutions and technical adjustments

The Ministry has instructed educational institutions to inform admission committees and applicants of the updated deadlines, as well as to ensure the timely issuance of enrollment orders and the entry of information into the ESEDB. The state enterprise "Inforosurce" is required to make corresponding changes to the database software and ensure its correct operation during the extended admission campaign period. Additionally, institutions of professional higher education will be able to announce additional recruitment rounds.

Contradictory data

Although the MES has confirmed the extension of enrollment deadlines, some applicants and representatives of educational institutions have expressed concern that the technical work may have been carried out without sufficient prior notice. According to some sources, some applicants encountered an inability to access the system precisely during the critical period, which could have affected their chances of enrollment. On the other hand, the MES insists that all technical work was planned in advance and carried out in accordance with regulations.

College admission rules for 2026

Previously, RBK-Ukraine reported on the rules for college admission in 2026. Applicants will be selected based on the results of creative competitions or individual oral interviews, while 11th-grade graduates will be able to use NMT (National Multidisciplinary Testing) results instead of an interview. It has also been determined which NMT certificates will be accepted, how to calculate the competitive score, and in what format educational institutions will conduct entrance exams.