How and how many applications should applicants submit to ensure they don’t ‘miss out’ on university admission: an explanation from the Ministry of Education and Science
This was announced by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) of Ukraine.
When can applications for bachelor’s degree programmes be submitted?
The MES has reminded applicants that the main application period for admission to bachelor’s degree programmes via the PZSO/NRK5 system is scheduled for:
- from Sunday, 19 July;
- until 18:00 on Saturday, 1 August.
It is worth noting that PZSO refers to complete general secondary education (a certificate of completion of Year 11).
Meanwhile, NRK5 refers to the fifth level of the National Qualifications Framework.
In other words, it refers to a previously obtained diploma as a junior specialist, junior bachelor or associate degree, which allows entry to university.
How many applications can be submitted for state-funded and fee-paying places
Throughout the 2026 admissions campaign, applicants may submit up to 10 applications in total – across all funding sources and admission categories.
Of these, up to 5 applications may be submitted for state or regional quota places (i.e. state-funded places).
Therefore, in total, this year’s applicants for bachelor’s degree programmes can submit (if they wish to apply for a state-funded place):
- up to 5 applications for state-funded places;
- up to 5 applications for fee-paying places.
How many applications can be submitted to a single higher education institution?
The Ministry of Education and Science has stated that there is no limit on the distribution of applications between institutions.
This means that all 10 applications can be submitted to a single institution (at the applicant’s discretion).
Each application is assigned a corresponding priority (where 1 is the highest).
The Ministry of Education and Science also clarified that once submitted, the priority of an application “cannot be changed”.
Can an application be ‘moved’ from a state-funded place to a fee-paying place?
Some applicants wonder whether they might be offered a contract place ‘automatically’ – if they applied for a state-funded place but were not successful.
According to the Ministry of Education and Science, this cannot happen within the current admissions campaign.
“They will not be offered a place automatically. The source of funding is specified in each application, and the application is considered for placement specifically according to that source,” they explained to applicants.
Therefore, to apply for the same course under both state-funded and fee-paying places, two separate applications are required.
How to prioritise between state-funded and fee-paying places
Ukrainians have been told that the targeted placement algorithm recommends the applicant based on the application with the highest priority among those for which they qualify based on their competitive score.
Therefore, an applicant’s strategy should depend on their goals.
“If a state-funded place anywhere is the priority, the top priorities are up to five state-funded applications, followed by fee-paying ones,” explained the Ministry of Education and Science.
If, however, a prospective student’s priority is a specific educational institution, it is advisable to alternate applications (1 – state-funded, 2 – fee-paying for the same programme).
“It is important not to place an ‘undesirable’ state-funded place above a preferred fee-paying place: an offer received for a higher-priority option will block lower-priority ones,” the Ministry added.
Should you ‘hold back’ your priorities for the supplementary intake?
Two further important questions that may arise for applicants:
- whether it is worth ‘reserving priorities’ for the supplementary intake in September;
- whether it is possible to apply ‘additionally’ in the autumn – if all 10 applications have been used up during the main session.
In light of this, the Ministry of Education and Science has reminded applicants that applications for state (regional) quota places, i.e. state-funded places, are only accepted during the main intake period.
Consequently, it is impossible in principle to ‘save’ state-funded priority applications for the autumn.
It is clarified that supplementary rounds (institutions may hold one or two; the first must be no earlier than 1 September, with enrolment no later than 15 October) are conducted exclusively for places funded by individuals and/or legal entities, i.e. on a fee-paying basis.
It is also reported that the overall limit of 10 applications applies to the entire admissions campaign.
“Therefore, if all 10 applications have been used during the main session, it will in fact not be possible to submit a new application during the additional session (bearing in mind that cancelling an application with the status ‘Registered at an educational institution’ does not restore the right to submit a new application),” the Ministry of Education and Science explained.
Based on this, “it only makes sense to reserve 1–2 applications for those who are genuinely considering applying for a contract-based place in the autumn.”
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