Bachelor’s degree in three years. The Ministry of Education and Science explained when and under what conditions
20 February 15:30
Ukraine is preparing a major change to its education model. Due to the transition to 12 years of schooling, the duration of bachelor’s degree programs at universities is planned to be reduced to three years, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Nadiya Kuzmychova told , according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The Ministry of Education and Science has explained that the new system will be implemented in two stages. In 2029, a pilot program will begin for graduates of pilot lyceums, and from 2030, the 12 plus 3 model will become the standard for the entire country. Current 10th graders will complete their studies under the old 11-grade system. The first graduates of the pilot three-year lyceums will appear in 2029.
“They will be the first to graduate in 2029 and will enter three-year bachelor’s programs at higher education institutions,” Kuzmichova emphasized.
The main condition for shortened education is the preservation of the profile. This means that the graduate must enroll in the same specialty that he or she studied in depth at the lyceum. If an applicant decides to change their field of study, they will have to study a standard four-year program or take an additional compensatory course. The ministry believes that this situation will “ensure continuity.”
The workload for students will not increase. The volume of study for a three-year bachelor’s degree will be 180 ECTS credits, which means a standard 60 credits per year. The structure of higher education itself is being transformed: instead of a model of 4 years of bachelor’s degree and 1.5 years of master’s degree, Ukraine will switch to a system of 3 years of bachelor’s degree and 2 years of master’s degree.
At the same time, the representative of the Ministry of Education and Science noted that it is interesting that “there will not be many graduates in 2029.”
“Therefore, universities will actively compete for these applicants,” the official stated.
The Ministry of Education and Science notes that this approach will allow graduates to enter the labor market faster with ready-made qualifications. The main challenge for universities in the coming years will be to update their programs so that they do not duplicate the knowledge that students have already acquired in specialized schools.
