The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to double academic scholarships for students of vocational, vocational higher, and higher education. The changes take effect on September 1, 2026, and affect all students studying under state orders. The initiative was prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science to fulfill the President's directive to strengthen financial support for student youth. According to the Ministry of Education, the state budget for 2026 allocates 1.2 billion hryvnias more for the payment of academic and named scholarships than in the previous fiscal year.
What exactly is being doubled and who it affects
The government's decision applies to students studying under state orders at institutions of vocational, vocational higher, and higher education. The basic academic scholarships, as well as certain types of payments for pupils and students who became winners of intellectual competitions, are subject to doubling. Deputy Minister of Education and Science Nikolai Trofimenko commented on the decision as follows: "Doubling the payments makes state support more tangible and provides more opportunities to focus on learning and academic results." Separately, the government established new amounts for the President of Ukraine's scholarships for the most talented young artists, which were also revised upward.
New guarantees for PhD candidates and participants in academic mobility
In addition to the direct increase in payment amounts, the Cabinet of Ministers resolved a number of legal issues related to scholarship provision. In particular, the right to academic scholarships for full-time PhD candidates studying at private higher education institutions under state orders has been established. Moreover, students participating in academic mobility programs will retain their assigned academic scholarship, provided the established conditions are met. These provisions eliminate legal gaps that could previously lead to the loss of payments during periods of study abroad or at non-state institutions.
Related initiatives: National Researcher System and President's Fund scholarships
The decision to double scholarships fits into a broader package of measures supporting education and science. Ukraine is launching the National Researcher System, thanks to which a number of researchers will be able to receive additional state scholarships of 10,000 hryvnias per month. In parallel, a mechanism is in place under which applicants who scored 185 or more points on each subject test and enrolled in a Ukrainian university receive a monthly scholarship of 10,000 hryvnias from the President's Fund of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science, and Sports. Thus, the state is forming a multi-level system of financial support — from school intellectual competitions to doctoral studies and scientific research.
Context and budgetary framework
The increase in scholarship payments by 1.2 billion hryvnias in the 2026 budget indicates the priority nature of social policy in the field of education. The decision was made in a context where student youth faces rising costs of living, and academic competition requires significant time and financial resources. The doubling of payments, as intended by the authors of the initiative, is meant to reduce the financial burden on students and their families, as well as to increase motivation for academic achievement. All changes take effect on September 1, 2026 — with the start of the new academic year, allowing students to receive increased payments already in the first month of classes.
