New NMT Format: Exams in Equipped Shelters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced significant changes to the format of the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) for 2027 applicants. The key innovation will be the ability to take the exam in technically prepared shelters. This decision aims to solve the problem faced by thousands of schoolchildren this year: the need to interrupt testing due to air raids and security threats.
As the head of state noted during the Ukrainian Youth Forum, conducting the NMT in regular schools makes children hostages of the security factor. Moving the process to secure facilities will allow testing to proceed without disruptions or panic, ensuring equal conditions for all participants, regardless of their region of residence.
Reduced Intensity and Right to Retake
In addition to changing the location, authorities plan to revise the exam structure itself. The President pointed out that the current format creates excessive psychological stress for children and their parents. Specifically, this concerns the duration of testing and the high intensity of tasks. The plan is to reduce the complexity and volume of the test to relieve applicants.
An important change will be the introduction of the possibility to retake the NMT. Currently, if a student fails to pass the test on the first try, they often do not have time for a second attempt before the start of the admissions campaign. The new regulations should provide a "reasonable period" for a second attempt, guaranteeing that the result is obtained before university admissions commissions open.
Response to Current Campaign Issues
The reform initiative is a direct response to problems identified during the 2026 admissions campaign. In particular, Zelenskyy recalled the multi-hour test administration in Odesa, which caused wide public resonance. The President emphasized that the state cannot attribute all difficulties to "war challenges" but must solve organizational problems that depend on the quality of management.
The question of changes has already been discussed with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, and the President's Office team. The task of detailing the specifics is now assigned to the Ministry of Education jointly with communities, schools, and universities. The focus is on respect for children and eliminating the dependence of results on poor organization of the process.
Social Guarantees and Scholarships in 2026
Alongside the discussion of the NMT reform, authorities have confirmed changes in social support for students, effective from September 1, 2026. The minimum academic scholarship in universities will be increased to 4,000 hryvnias, and the presidential scholarship for top students will rise to 20,000 hryvnias.
Special conditions are maintained for applicants from frontline and temporarily occupied territories. Students choosing universities in frontline regions will receive a state grant for education increased by 50%, aimed at supporting the development of education under difficult conditions.
