collage| Education System in Ukraine |
| Education | School/Level | Grades | Age | Years | Notes |
|---|
| Primary | Pochatkova zahalʹna osvita | 1–4 | 6–10 | 4 | Початкова загальна освіта | |
| Secondary | Basic General Secondary | 5–9 | 10–15 | 5 | Базова загальна середня освіта | |
| Secondary | Complete General Secondary | 10–11 | 15–18 | 2 | Повна загальна середня освіта | |
| Secondary | Upper Secondary School (Starsha Serednia Shkola) | 10–11 | 15–18 | 2 | ||
| Vocational | Vocational School (Profesijno-Tecnichne Uchylyshche) | 15–20 | 3 | |||
| Vocational | Vocational – Technical Education | 10–12 | 15–17 | 2–4 | Професійно-технічна освіта | |
| Vocational | Profesiyno-tekhnichna osvita | 10–13 | 15–19 | 4 | Професійно-технічна освіта | |
| Vocational | Vocational Secondary School (Technikum) | 15–20 | 4 | |||
| Tertiary | University/Institute/Academy | |||||
| Tertiary | Nepovna vyshcha osvita | 12–13 | 2–3 | Неповна вища освіта | ||
| Tertiary | University, Institute, Academy | 12–17 | 4–6 | Базова/Повна вища освіта | ||
| Tertiary | Aspirantura | 17–20 | 3–4 | Аспірантура | ||
| Tertiary | Doctorantura | 21–23 | 3 | Докторантура |
Primary Education
Education in the Ukraine is compulsory from age 6 to age 15. The first 4 years are at elementary younger school. This introduces them to their school career in which they will be taught art and sciences from a practical orientation, so that they will be able to use them too, in later life.
Middle Education
Lower secondary osnowna serednia shkola middle school is for scholars aged 10 to 15, following which they may qualify for their lower secondary school leaving certificates. The curriculum includes the Ukrainian language and literature, a foreign language, algebra, biology, chemistry, geography, geometry, history, physics, music, art and physical education.
Secondary Education
Thereafter 3 years may be spent at starsha serednia shkola or upper secondary school leading to a matriculation school certificate or atestat. In the process, school students take a series of independent government tests, culminating in a final one that examines their /knowledge of Ukrainian language and literature, English / German / French / Spanish, as well as biology, chemistry, geography, mathematics and physics.
Vocational Education
If students do not go on to upper secondary school, then they may opt to study further at own expense at a vocational secondary school. Programs take up to 4 years to complete, and result in a hierarchy of technical qualifications that fit them for a meaningful working role in Ukrainian society.
Tertiary Education
The ministry of education manages higher education, including vocational schools, colleges and universities. These may be privately or state funded, but all charge fees. Subsidized housing is usually available to assist those from out of town.
Two levels of degrees are awarded these days – bachelors after 4 years, and masters after a further 2. After that, further academic opportunities await. Previously the only degree awarded in Soviet times was a 5 year specialist one. The finest Ukranian tertiary institution is the National Technical University of Ukraine illustrated here.
Pre-higher Education System
Duration of compulsory education
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 15
Structure of school system
Type/level of education: Primary
Type of school: PRIMARY SCHOOL (POCHATKOWA SHKOLA)
Length of program (years): 4
Age level: from 6 to 10
Type/level of education: Lower Secondary
Type of school: LOWER SECONDARY (OSNOWNA SEREDNIA SHKOLA)
Length of program (years): 5
Age level: from 10 to 15
Certificate awarded: SWIDOCTWO PRO NEPOWNU SEREDNIU
OSWITU/LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE
Type/level of education: Upper Secondary
Type of school: UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL (STARSHA SEREDNIA SHKOLA)
Length of program (years): 2
Age level: from 15 to 17
Certificate awarded: ATESTAT/MATRICULATION SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
Type/level of education: Complete Secondary
Type of school: COMPLETE SECONDARY SCHOOL (ZAGAL NOOSVINTIA SEREDNIA SHKOLA)
Length of program (years): 11
Age level: from 6 to 17
Certificate awarded: ATESTAT/MATRICULATION SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
Type/level of education: Upper Secondary
Type of school: UPPER SECONDARY SPECIAL SCHOOL (LICEI)
Length of program (years): 3
Age level: from 14 to 17
Certificate awarded: ATESTAT/MATRICULATION SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE
Type/level of education: Special Education
Type of school: UPPER SECONDARY SPECIAL SCHOOL (GIMNAZIA)
Length of program (years): 3
Age level: from 14 to 17
Certificate awarded: ATESTAT/MATRICULATION SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
Type/level of education: Vocational
Type of school: VOCATIONAL SCHOOL (PROFESIJNO-TECNICHNE UCHYLYSHCHE)
Length of program (years): 4
Age level: from 14 to 18
Certificate awarded: ATESTAT, SWIDOCTWO PRO ZAKINCHENNIA
UCHYLYSHCHA/MATRICULATION SCHOOL CERTIFICATE, VOCATIONAL SCHOOL LEAVING
CERTIFICATE
Type/level of education: Vocational
Type of school: VOCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL (TECHNIKUM)
Length of program (years): 5
Age level: from 14 to 19
Certificate awarded: ATESTAT, DIPLOM TECHNIKA/MATRICULATION
SCHOOL CERTIFICATE, PROFESSIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVING DIPLOMA
Description of secondary school system
All children 7 to 15 years old attend the nine year compulsory school. If parents wish so, the child may start from the age of six. Options after the comprehensive school: upper secondary school, or vocational education. Upper secondary school: 2-year general school ending with Matriculation Examination, permitting successful students access to university and other higher education schools. Present vocational education system covers both general secondary and vocational programmes, with separate tracks for comprehensive school leavers and matriculated students. The system is being reformed.
Higher Education System
Structure of system
Higher education in Ukraine includes universities, and a non-university sector i.e. approximately 160 institutions of higher education, with 4-6 year postsecondary studies, centralized and financed by public funds. Higher education is administered by the Ministry of Education which coordinates the activities of higher schools and supervises the higher schools which are under other ministries. Since 1992 the whole system of Ukrainian postsecondary education is considered “higher education”, and according to the “Law on Education” includes the following levels and categories of establishment: level I – technical and vocational schools; level II – technicums and colleges; level III – institutes; level IV – universities, academies and some institutes. Ukrainian levels I and II may be compared in Western countries to institutions such as technical and vocational schools. Most Ukrainian “institutes” (there are 89) are ranked at level III and (sometimes) IV. The Ukrainian term “institute” means a fully-fledged institution of higher education with faculties (departments) and own programmes. Institutions of level IV (universities, academies or institutes) carry out research and award doctoral degrees. The degree system is under reform: The old system had only one stage of undergraduate studies, the degree of “Specialist”, awarded after 5 years of study. The new system comprises two stages: undergraduate and graduate, with several degree levels. The two systems still co-exist.
Main types of higher education institutions in country
Type of institution: UNIWERSYTET
Translation: UNIVERSITY
Type of institution: AKADEMIA
Translation: ACADEMY
Type of institution: INSTYTUT
Translation: ISTITUTE
Type of institution: KONSERVATORIA
Translation: CONSERVATOIRE
Type of institution: KOLEDGE
Translation: COLLEGE
Main laws/decrees governing higher education
Name of law/decree: Law on Education
Date: 1903
Institution type: state and private system of education
Administrative structure of higher education
Name of body: Ministry of Education. Department of Higher Education.
Address:
Street: Peremoht prosp.
City: Kiev
Postal code: 252 135
Telephone: (380-44)2262661
Fax: (380-44)2741049
E-Mail: 055@miuosvit.niiit.kiev.ua
Academic year
Classes start: September
Classes end: June
Long vacation: from 1 July, to 31 August
Languages of instruction
English, Russian, Ukrainian
Stages and Organization of Higher Education Studies
Higher vocational/technical studies
Since 1992 the whole system of Ukrainian postsecondary education is considered “higher education”. According to the “Law on Education”, the following levels and categories of establishments offer higher vocational education: level I – technical and vocational schools; level II – technicums and colleges. They award the qualification of Junior Specialist. Level III, institutes, are university-level institutions.
University level studies
Stage 1: Bakalavre
Description: The academic and professional diploma of Bakalavre (BA, BEd., BMed.) is awarded after 4 years of successful study (6 years for Medicine). The Bakalavre programme comprises basic higher education and professional training in a given professional field. It is an intermediate degree. The degree of Specialist is awarded after five years of study.
Stage 2: Main stage-Magister
Description: The main stage of higher education has an average duration of five to six years, depending on type and discipline. Graduation requires not only the necessary credits and examinations, but also the preparation and successful presentation of a thesis. To be awarded the Magister degree, the student have to have in-depth scientific knowledge for the solution of professional and theoretical problems. The Magister diploma indicates the professional title and the field of specialization.
Stage 3: Doctoral degree-1
Description: Ukraine keeps a two-degree system at doctoral level: “Kandidat nauk” (Candidate of Sciences, comparable to the Ph.D.), and “Doctor nauk”. The first qualification is obtained by submitting and publicly defending a thesis, and passing the required examinations. The candidate’s thesis can be prepared while following various forms of post-graduate studies.
Stage 4: Doctoral degree-2
Description: The degree of “Doctor nauk” is the highest scientific degreein Ukraine, comparable to “Habilitation” in some Western countries. This degree is awarded to candidates already holding a “Kandidat nauk” degree, on the successful presentation and defence of the “Doctor nauk” (habilitation) dissertation. The habilitation dissertation should represent a major contribution to the development of a given field or branch of learning, and has to be published entirely or at least its main parts.
Teacher education
Training of primary/basic school teachers
Pre-primary and and primary school teachers are trained in teacher-training institutions of I, II, and III levels of accreditation (vocational schools, technikums, colleges, institutes). Practical training at kindergarten and primary schools are part of the teacher training programme.
Training of secondary school teachers
Training is provided by higher education institutions of III and IV level of accreditation (institutes and universities), in different faculties (Education, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Physical Education, etc.). The programme for teachers includes standard topics of education and psychology. Teachers of practical/vocational courses are trained in the technical education institutes.
Training of higher education teachers
There are no special forms of training for higher education teachers. Teachers of higher education are recruited among university graduates holding a Magister or Kandidat nauk degree who have followed special education courses through various types of assistance.
Non-formal studies
Distance higher education
A network of correspondence and evening courses is intended for persons who are already employed. Candidates for such courses must not only pass an entrance examination, but also prove they effectively worked for a certain time.
Lifelong higher education
Some institutions of higher education (mostly private) have departments of continuing education providing teaching based on the principles of general higher education. Obtaining diplomas depends on credits obtained in required topics, as well as on the presentation of a memoire.
Higher education in industry
A certain number of higher education institutions organize evening classes in industry, which are of the same level as full-time studies.
Other forms of non-formal education
The television of Ukraine broadcasts educational programmes of different levels for students and teachers in schools ranging from primary to upper secondary. These programmes are desiged to introduce teachers to new pedagogical methods.
Grading system
Usual grading system in (upper) secondary school
Numerical grading system from 2 to 5 is used: 2 – unsatisfactory; 3 – satisfactory; 4 – good; 5 – excellent.
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level: 3/2
Lowest on scale: 2
Main grading system generally used by higher education institutions
5-2 (very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory; sometimes the marks ‘+’ and ‘-‘ are added to the principal grades).
Highest on scale: 5(very good)
Pass/fail level: 3(satisfactory)
Lowest on scale: 2(unsatisfactory)
Admissions to Higher Education
Admission to Vocational/Technical Studies
Admission to higher vocational/technical or other professionally oriented non-university level studies.
Secondary school credential/certificate/diploma(s) required for entry
Name of sec. school credential: ATESTAT/MATRICULATION SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
Minimum score/requirement: satisfactory
For: all higher technical/vocational and professional non-university studies
Total number of years of primary and secondary school study: 11
Alternative(s) to these credentials:
none
National admission entrance examination requirements
Name of test/exam: ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
Minimum score : determined by each school
For: some of the courses (decided by each school)
Name of test/exam: QUALIFICATION TEST
Minimum score : determined by each school
For: some studies (decided by each school)
Name of test/exam: QUALIFYING INTERVIEW
Minimum score : determined by each school
For: some studies (decided by each school)
Numerus clausus established in the country for students entering higher vocational/technical education
At level of institutions: Y At country/state level: N
Specified restrictions of the country/state level:
These studies are intended for graduates of general secondary schools holding the matriculation school certificate. However, graduates with other secondary school certificates may be accepted.
Admissions to university level
Secondary school credential/certificate/diploma(s) required for entry
Name of sec. school credential: ATESTAT/MATRICULATION SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
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