“Zero-year course starts in 45 universities: MES launches an “open path” to admission in 2026
2 January 14:41
The Ministry of Education and Science has published a list of 45 higher education institutions that will be enrolling in the preparatory department of the Open Path to Higher Education, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The corresponding order is published on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science. These are universities subordinated to the Ministry.
Who joined the program
The list includes the country’s leading universities, including:
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv;
- Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
- Vasyl Karazin National University of Kharkiv;
- Lviv Polytechnic National University;
- National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”.
In general, universities from different regions of Ukraine participate in the program.
What is the Open Way?
The program provides several months of preparatory training – the so-called “zero” course – to prepare for the National Multisubject Test (NMT).
The curriculum is standardized and includes:
- ukrainian language
- mathematics
- history of Ukraine;
- one subject of your choice.
The minimum amount is 90 classroom hours for each subject.
For whom the state will pay for education
Within the framework of the winter admission policy approved by the government, the state pays full tuition for certain categories:
- residents of the temporarily occupied territories
- military personnel;
- war veterans.
For other applicants, tuition will be paid, with the format and cost determined by each university independently.
The Open Way to Higher Education initiative was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in December and presented as one of the tools to expand access to higher education in times of war.
It is intended to help applicants who have lost the opportunity to fully prepare for entrance exams due to hostilities, occupation or military service.
Earlier, the parliament passed a law according to which the NMT in 2026 will be held according to the 2025 model, making the parameters of the “zero” course clear in advance.
The universities are to announce the enrollment schedules, admission requirements, and tuition fees in the near future. It is expected that the program will become a permanent element of the admission campaign if it proves effective in 2026.
