Contract Postgraduate Admission Starts in Ukraine: Enrollment Set Until October 15

Ukraine has officially launched an additional registration session and enrollment for postgraduate contract studies. The campaign covers Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Arts training programs, offering applicants a second chance to enter higher education institutions in 2026.

Specific Deadlines and Campaign Stages

The additional session for applicants began on September 29, 2026. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Science established a flexible schedule: each university independently determines the exact dates for application registration, entrance exams, and competitive selection within its own admission rules. The main requirement is that the entire enrollment process must be completed no later than October 15, 2026.

Study Form Restrictions and Mobilization Context

An important feature of the current admission campaign is that contract admission to postgraduate studies is available exclusively for part-time or evening learning forms. Enrollment in full-time contract programs has been completely blocked in recent years. Such measures were introduced due to the widespread use of full-time postgraduate studies as a means of evading military service, meaning part-time and evening contract studies no longer grant men the right to mobilization deferral.

Contradictory Data

Despite clear frameworks set by the ministry, discussions continue within the educational community regarding the transparency of additional session schedules in regional universities. Official agencies insist on compliance with the October 15 deadline, while representatives of student and expert organizations point to potential risks of reduced time for quality knowledge assessment due to tight document submission deadlines.

Next Steps for Applicants

Applicants need to promptly study the admission rules of their chosen university, as all procedures must fit into a two-week cycle after document submission ends. Simultaneously with postgraduate programs, similar processes are concluding for master's degree applicants, who can also apply for vacant spots until mid-October of the current year.