The Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science has announced the reduction of bachelor’s degree programs for graduates of pilot academic lyceums who will finish 12th grade in 2029. From now on, these students will study for three years instead of the usual four, which is intended to ensure a smooth transition between the updated model of high school and higher education.
This is reported by Finway
First Changes for the Class of 2029
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Nadiya Kuzmychova reported that the graduates of 2029 will be the first to complete the 12-year school program and enroll in universities under the new rules. According to her, this year the number of graduates will be small, so universities will compete for each applicant.
The Ministry of Education reminded that the network of pilot academic lyceums should be established by September 1, 2024. By September 1, 2027, educational institutions must align their founding documents accordingly. The Ministry is conducting regular monitoring of the process and is ready to intervene where the reform is being implemented more slowly.
Those currently in 10th grade will complete their schooling under the existing 11-year system and will enroll in universities according to the old standards. The changes will only affect graduates of pilot lyceums who will transition to 12 years of education.
Pilot Lyceums and the Geography of the Reform
The Ministry has already approved a list of 79 pilot academic lyceums where the reform will start on September 1, 2026. This list includes schools from 23 regions and Kyiv—both urban and rural institutions, full-time and distance learning, various profiles, and with languages of national minorities. The most academic lyceums will open in Kyiv and Lviv regions—eight institutions each, and six in Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The implementation of the new model aims to align the duration of school and university education, as well as to make the educational transition for students more logical and effective.