Kharkiv National University named after V. N. Karazin has published new tuition rates for applicants for 2026. The university has officially confirmed a significant increase in contract costs across almost all fields of study. This academic year, the price distribution has undergone unexpected changes: traditional rating favorites have ceded the lead to economic specialties.

Trade and entrepreneurship become the most expensive

The record holder for tuition costs in 2026 is the specialty "Trade, Entrepreneurship, and Stock Exchange Activity". A year of study in this field will cost students 75,000 UAH. Notably, even medicine, traditionally considered one of the most expensive programs, could not top this list.

The first year of the medical faculty is priced at 67,200 UAH. This is, undoubtedly, a high figure, yet it still falls short of the cost of the trade program. Thus, the economic block of specialties at Karazin University has become the most expensive for applicants.

38% price increase: economics, law, and journalism

Immediately following the leaders is a large group of specialties with a cost of 64,450 UAH per year. This "expensive segment" includes:

  • Economics and Finance;
  • Management and Marketing;
  • Law and International Law;
  • International Relations and Public Administration;
  • Journalism;
  • Hospitality and Tourism.

The university itself notes that these specialties were the most expensive in the previous academic year as well. However, at that time, the cost of a year of study was 46,700 UAH. Thus, in just one year, prices have risen by approximately 38%.

IT and Humanities: more affordable rates

While social and economic sciences are becoming more expensive, popular IT fields remain relatively more affordable. Tuition for Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Cybersecurity programs for first-year students will cost 53,150 UAH.

The lowest rates are set for natural, physical-mathematical, and humanities specialties. The cost of annual study in this category ranges from 38,650 to 44,150 UAH.

General trend of price increases in Ukrainian universities

The rise in education costs in Kharkiv is taking place against the backdrop of a general trend across the country. For example, at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, prices for 2026 have risen by almost 27% compared to last year. The most expensive specialty there now costs 119,000 UAH per year.

The situation is similar in technical universities: tuition at KPI has increased by 28%, while at Lviv Polytechnic it has risen by a substantial 50%. Currently, in Lviv, the cheapest specialties cost between 50,000 and 52,000 UAH, while the most expensive reach the 70,000–100,000 UAH mark.