University contract 2025: how much will you have to pay for education in Ukraine
19 July 2025 17:04
Starting in 2025, higher education in Ukraine will officially become more expensive. The reason is government decree No. 417 of April 11, which introduces new rules for the formation of the cost of contract education in higher education institutions.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to NV.
Now universities are obliged to set a minimum tuition price not lower than the indicative cost, i.e. the actual cost of the state for training one state-funded student. This innovation applies to more than 30 popular specialties that traditionally have a high competition. They are now included in the list of specialties with a minimum cost threshold.
Education at a coefficient of 1.25: who pays even more
According to The Page, an additional coefficient of 1.25 has been set for certain areas, which automatically increases the minimum price by 25%. This applies to the following industries:
- Business, law and administration
- International relations
- Economics and finance
- Dentistry
- Hotel and restaurant business
- Tourism and recreation
These are the specialties that now require the highest costs for contract students. In the 2025-2026 academic year, the cost of education for lawyers, economists, internationalists, and managers has increased in some cases by up to 50-80% compared to last year.
Top specialties at the highest price
The price increase is noticeable primarily for those who plan to enter the most popular programs:
- Law
- Management
- Marketing
- Finance, banking and insurance
- International Economics
In 2024, these programs topped the ranking in terms of the number of applications submitted. However, there are not enough state-funded places for everyone, so most students are forced to study on a contract basis. In 2025, prices at such faculties grew the fastest.
Creative professions have also risen in price
Even creative education, which does not fall under the 1.25 coefficient, has also risen sharply in price. For example:
Kyiv Academy of Decorative and Applied Arts and Design named after Boychuk:
- design specialty – 59 thousand UAH/year (94%)
National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture:
- Graphic design – 69.3 thousand UAH ( 63%)
- Architecture – 69.3 thousand UAH (77%)
Add to this the costs of equipment, materials, and portfolios, and it turns out that creative fields have also become an education not for everyone.
What this can lead to
Paid tuition at universities in 2025 is turning into a financial challenge for applicants’ families. Conditionally affordable contracts remain available for majors with less demand or less prestigious specialties.
The rise in prices may lead to:
- redistribution of applications to less popular specialties;
- a decrease in the number of contract students in top majors;
- increased competition for the budget.
For many families, this means reconsidering the choice of university and specialty. Traditional priorities, such as law, international studies, or design, are now associated not only with prospects but also with significant costs.
