Students at Odesa universities can expect a significant increase in scholarships in the near future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) to conduct a review of the current scholarship system and develop new mechanisms to support young people.

The head of state justified the need for reform by stating that current payments no longer correspond to real economic conditions. Due to inflation and the constant rise in prices for goods and services, the funds allocated to students no longer cover even basic needs.

Economic reality: scholarship vs. prices

The current situation in higher education institutions, including those in Odesa, is as follows: the basic academic scholarship amounts to about 2,000 UAH per month. For honor students, this amount increases to 2,600–3,000 UAH. However, over the past few years, the purchasing power of these funds has dropped so much that they are insufficient for elementary expenses.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the state must create conditions that allow students to focus on their studies rather than looking for part-time jobs to survive. The goal of the reform is to free up young people's time from searching for additional sources of income.

Who will be supported first?

The Ministry of Education has already begun working on updating the system. Experts are considering not only the indexation of payment amounts but also a change in the principles of accrual. In the new mechanism, priority will be given to several categories of citizens:

  • Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) continuing their education in new regions;
  • Children of the fallen defenders of Ukraine;
  • Youth studying in specialties critical for the development of the state.

Among the priority areas are technical, medical, and pedagogical specialties. For Odesa, where major technical, maritime, and medical universities are based, such changes could have strategic significance.

Support for science and implementation timelines

In addition to students, strengthening financial support for graduate students and young scientists is being discussed. Currently, their scholarships often do not allow them to fully devote themselves to research activities without additional part-time work.

Official representatives of the MES note that the final parameters of the reform will depend on the capabilities of the state budget. Nevertheless, the draft budget for 2026 already provides for an increase in funding for the education sector.

It is expected that specific proposals for new scholarship amounts and accrual rules will be ready in the coming weeks. With prompt decision-making, the updated system could start working by the beginning of the new academic year.