10 Cheap Universities in Ukraine for International Students
Ukraine was once a part of the Soviet Union before it gained its independence in 1991. With its independence, Ukraine gradually attracted tourists from all over the world. Aside from being home to seven World Heritage Sites, this Eastern European country also has a rich history being the melting pot of different cultures.
The country’s population is made up of ethnic Ukrainians, Russians, Crimean Tatars, Romanians, Belarusians, Bulgarians, Poles, Moldovans, and Hungarians. Ukraine was also once the center of the first and most powerful Slavic state in Europe in the 10th and 11th centuries.
But Ukraine is more than just a tourist destination since it can be a good option for students looking for a new place to study abroad. Even as the education system of Ukraine is not as well-developed as its European neighbors, it does provide a cheaper alternative for international students around the world. So, let’s talk about the cheapest universities in Ukraine for international students.
Cost of Studying in Ukraine
Even as Ukraine is referred to as the heart of Europe due to its location, the cost of studying is cheaper compared to its neighbors. To illustrate this, the tuition can go as low as $600 USD per academic year depending on the program and university you’re attending.
In addition, the living cost can be between $1,500 USD and $2,500 USD per year. This amount already includes accommodations, food, and other living expenses.
Are Universities Free in Ukraine?
While the universities in Ukraine aren’t free, they are cheaper compared to universities in other European countries. Scholarships are also offered by some universities and organizations to deserving students.
What are the languages of instruction for universities in Ukraine?
The main languages of instruction for Ukrainian universities are Ukrainian and Russian. English is also used to accommodate the increasing number of international students attending universities in Ukraine. But tuition for English-taught programs is higher than programs taught in Ukrainian or Russian.
Cheapest Universities in Ukraine
1. Kharkiv State University of Railway Transport
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs:
- 16,500 UAH ($600 USD) to 30,820 UAH ($1,100 USD) per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs:
- 20,500 UAH ($700 USD) to 34,340 UAH ($1,200 USD) per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Established in 1930, the Kharkiv State University of Railway Transport was originally called the Kharkiv Institute of Engineers of Railway Transport. It is a level 4 accredited educational establishment in Ukraine that has a reputation for providing high-quality scientific research. With the tuition fee starting from $600 a year for undergraduate students and $700 for graduate students, Kharkiv State University of Railway Transport is the cheapest university in Ukraine for international students.
The university has five faculties and one education and scientific center comprised of 35 departments that work together with industrial organizations within Ukraine and other countries. These departments include the Department of Automation and Computer Remote Control of Train Operation, Department of Higher Mathematics, Department of Foreign Languages, and Department of Heat Engineering and Heat Engines, among others.
The university also prides itself as an active participant in scientific and educational projects across Europe. Advanced research and studies conducted by the university are also published in prestigious international journals.
2. Uzhhorod National University
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $1,100 USD to $1,300 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $2,500 USD to $4,000 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Uzhhorod National University or UzhNU was established in 1945 following the passing of a joint resolution by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Council of the People’s Commissars of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was meant to create a state university in Uzhhorod with the faculties of philology, medical, biology, and history.
The university currently has 20 faculties offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs for local and international students. These faculties include the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Philology, and Faculty of Law.
Aside from their academics, the students can also look forward to some leisure activities while studying at the university. These activities include visiting the museums of the university, sweating it out at the sports center, or reading for leisure at the library.
3. National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs:
- 40,000 UAH ($1,400 USD) to 65,300 UAH ($2,300 USD) per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs:
- 42,500 UAH ($1,500 USD) to 68,000 UAH ($2,400 USD) per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Established in 1885 as the Practical Technological Institute, the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” is among the oldest universities in Ukraine. It was given a new namein 1898 before it was renamed again in 1923. By 1929, the institute was given a new name, Kharkiv V.I. Lenin Polytechnic Institute, which was kept before it was given the National Technical University status in 2000. At this point, the university received its current name.
The university is known for its excellent reputation in research and education. It is also among the top ten universities in Ukraine. The university offers several undergraduate and postgraduate programs for both local and international students. These programs include Electric Power, Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Multimedia Information Technologies and Systems, and Chemical Technology and Engineering.
Being the second-largest city in the country, this cheap university in Ukraine has a lot to offer when it comes to leisure activities for the students. The students can visit museums, watch shows at the theaters, or play sports at the sports center. Moreover, parks are also good places for the students to relax and wind down after a whole week of classes.
4. Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $1,600 USD to $2,000 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $2,000 USD to $3,000 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Even as the Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University was established in 1865, it traces its roots to the Richelieu Lyceum, which was founded in 1817. The university was the result of an edict by the Russian Tsar Alexander II that reorganized the lyceum into the Imperial Novorossiya University. The university became known for its scientific and educational training in the northern coastal region of the Black Sea.
The university consists of ten faculties composed of different departments offering a broad range of courses for its students. These faculties include the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Economics and Law, Faculty of Psychology and Social Work, and Faculty of History and Philosophy.
In terms of extracurricular activities, the students can visit different museums in and around the university. They can also immerse themselves in cultural activities sponsored by different student groups and organizations.
5. Sumy State University
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $1,600 USD to $3,000 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $3,850 USD to $4,300 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Next in our list of cheapest universities in Ukraine for international students is the Sumy State University. This university started off as a department of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute when it was established in 1948. By 1966, it became a branch of the institute. The Sumy Institute of Physics and Technology was later established in 1990 before it became the Sumy State University.
Today, it is the leading classical type university with a Level IV accreditation in the region. It offers a wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in different fields of study. It is also one of the top universities in Ukraine and is among the top three percent of universities around the world
Life at the university is not limited to academics since the students have access to different facilities to allow them to maintain relax after a whole week in class. Aside from the sports facilities, the university also has health and wellness facilities to maintain the mental and emotional wellbeing of its students.
6. Central Ukrainian National Technical University
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $1,900 USD to $2,500 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $2,400 USD to $2,800 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
The Central Ukrainian National Technical University traces its roots to the Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering, which was established in 1929 amid the rapid industrialization of the city of Zinoviev. In 1933, the institute was liquidated before the Kirovograd Institute of Agricultural Engineering was established in 1967. Even as the university go through liquidation and reorganization, most of its teachers were graduates of its predecessor. Today, it has links to many colleges and universities around the world and it provides numerous agricultural specialists for the country.
This affordable university in Ukraine has five faculties offering a wide selection of bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These degrees include Automation and Computer Integrated Technologies, International Economics, Applied Mechanics, Management, Agricultural Machinery, Foreign Languages, and Engineering Technologies.
To destress and relax, the students can join one of the many clubs of the university. These clubs include a student drama club, a dance ensemble, and a singing club. Moreover, the sports camp of the university encourages the students to remain healthy and fit while playing their favorite sports.
7. National Technical University of Ukraine
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $2,000 USD to $3,500 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $2,300 USD to $5,000 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Next in our list of cheapest universities in Ukraine for international students is National Technical University of Ukraine. Named after the well-known creator of the Sikorsky Helicopters, National Technical University of Ukraine was established in 1898. It was renamed several times before it was given the National Technical University of Ukraine status in 1995. It received its current name in 2016 as a tribute to the famous inventor who is an alumnus of the university.
The university offers 42 specialties along with 134 educational programs through its 16 faculties as well as 11 educational and research institutes. The faculties of the university include the Faculty of Linguistics, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Electronics, and Faculty of Applied Mathematics.
The students have several extracurricular options so they can pursue interests outside of the four walls of the classroom. They can join a student organization, play sports, or participate in an arts and culture activity.
8. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $2,500 USD to $3,700 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $3,000 USD to $4,500 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
The Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv was established as the Imperial University of Saint Volodymyr in 1834 by Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. In 1920, the university was renamed to Mykhailo Drahomanov University. It was renamed again in 1939 to Taras Shevchenko University. It was given the national status in 1994 that allowed it to take its present name.
This university has eight institutes and 13 faculties offering a wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees to local and international students. These degrees include Philology, Medicine, Earth Sciences, International Law, Journalism, and Sociology.
At this affordable university in Ukraine, the students can make their spare time productive by joining some clubs. They are also encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle by taking advantage of the different health and sports facilities in Kyiv. Moreover, they may also want to check out some of the museums within the university itself.
9. Kharkiv National Medical University
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $2,500 USD to $5,400 USD per year
- Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $4,500 USD to $6,500 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
Kharkiv National Medical University was originally the medical faculty of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, which was established in 1805. This means the university is more than two centuries old. It received its accreditation in 1994 and was given its national status in 2007.
The university has eight faculties offering several medical-related courses. Foreign students will be trained in two undergraduate specialties: General Medicine and Stomatology. The languages of instruction at the university are Ukrainian, Russian, and English.
The university is accredited by several international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the European University Associations, and the International University Association.
10. National Pirogov Memorial Medical University
- Tuition Fee for Undergraduate Programs: $3,000 USD to $4,400 USD per year
- Tuition Fee Link
We end our list of the cheapest universities in Ukraine for international students is the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, which was established in 1921 as the Vinnitsya Pharmaceutical Institute. The institute was later renamed to the Vinnitsya branch of the All-Ukrainian Institute of Extra-Mural Medical Education in 1930. It received its national status through a decree issued by President of Ukraine L.D. Kuchma in 2003.
The university has four faculties, namely the Faculty of General Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Preparatory Faculty. It also has several departments handling the different courses offered by the university to local and international students.
Since the city of Vinnytsya was established in 1363, students at the university can explore the city during their free time to learn more about its history and culture. Students can visit the museums in the city or attend cultural activities held in different institutions within the city.
Ukraine may have opened its doors to international students recently, but its affordable tuition and rich cultural history will likely allow it to attract more students who have plans of studying abroad.
I hope that this article on the cheap universities in Ukraine for international students was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Cheap Tuition Category!