In Ukrainian universities, an increase in tuition fees is expected in the near future. This is due to the rise in salaries for teachers and the necessity for higher education institutions to form special funds to ensure staff payments.
This is reported by Finway
Salary Increases and Their Impact on Tuition Costs
According to Deputy Minister of Education Mykola Trofymenko, the salaries of university staff were increased by 30% starting January 1, 2026, and another increase of 20% is planned for March 1. This encourages educational institutions to adjust the cost of contract-based education to avoid underpricing and ensure quality education.
“You know that university staff had their salaries increased by 30% starting January 1, 2026, and will have another increase of 20% starting March 1. Accordingly, we cannot underprice — we must ensure an adequate price for higher education in our universities,” noted the deputy minister.
Additionally, the government has decided to increase funding by 10% for universities that were forcibly relocated from frontline regions. However, this additional funding is not taken into account when calculating the cost of education for students.
The Ministry of Education and Science emphasizes that the current tuition fees in Ukrainian universities are considered fair. Oleg Sharov, the director of the higher education and adult education directorate, notes that quality education cannot be cheap, and the state covers the majority of costs for budget-funded education.
Trends in Choosing Forms of Education and Admission Statistics
According to Oleg Sharov, in 2025, for the first time in the last four years, the share of graduates who chose budget-funded education, despite being recommended for this form, decreased. During the period from 2022 to 2024, there was an increase in the percentage of refusals of budget places, which is explained by the growing popularity of contract education, especially after the introduction of grants in 2024.
The statistics on refusals of budget places among applicants in recent years are as follows:
- 2022 – 5.7%;
- 2023 – 8.8%;
- 2024 – 10.8%;
- 2025 – 4.3%.
Oleg Sharov noted that currently, the share of unconfirmed contract places among applicants stands at 25%, but this figure is expected to decrease over time.
It is worth adding that at the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian universities have already started making payments of increased salaries for teachers and academic staff. The necessary funds have already been received by educational institutions, and calculations are being conducted according to new standards.