Grants for contract students in 2025: why you will have to pay for your own education
12 March 21:33
In 2025, Ukraine will introduce new rules for applicants regarding state funding of higher education. From now on, if an applicant receives a state-funded place but decides to refuse it, he or she will not be eligible for a state grant to pay for contract education, Komersant ukrainskyi reports, citing Oleg Sharov, Director General of the Higher Education Directorate of the Ministry of Education and Science.
Why was this decision made?
This change was a reaction to the situation that developed during the 2024 admission campaign. More than 7.5 thousand applicants refused budget places, and almost 1.9 thousand of them received a state grant to study on a contract basis. This created an imbalance in education funding and sparked discussions about the effectiveness of budget allocation.
In order to avoid such cases in 2025, the Ministry of Education has adopted a decision that prevents double support: if an applicant refuses the budget, he or she will no longer be able to receive a state grant.
How will this system work?
1. Getting a state-funded place. If an applicant is admitted on a state-funded basis, he or she has the right to study for free.
2. Refusal of a state-funded place. If a student refuses to study on a state-funded basis for any reason, he or she will no longer be able to apply for a grant, even for contract study.
3. Study on a contract basis. Applicants who did not receive a state-funded place or immediately applied for a contract can apply for a state grant under general conditions.
How will this affect applicants?
The new system makes applicants think carefully about their decisions. If a student refuses a state-funded place, he or she must understand that
- won’t be able to receive a state grant for contract education;
- they will have to pay for their education entirely at their own expense;
- it is worth considering financial possibilities and prospects for further education in advance.
Are there any exceptions?
Currently, there are no official exceptions to this rule. That is, regardless of the reason for refusing a state-funded place, a student loses the opportunity to receive any state support.
What will happen next?
Experts predict that this reform will make the admission process more transparent and facilitate the rational distribution of state-funded places and grants. Also, the new rules may reduce the number of unjustified refusals from state-funded education, as applicants will be more responsible in choosing a place of study.
What you need to know about the state tuition grant
Applicants who have chosen a contract form of study can receive a state grant if they have high NMT (National Multiple Subject Test) results.
The amount of the grant depends on the NMT score:
- 15 thousand hryvnias for those who scored from 150 to 169 points in two subjects.
- 25 thousand hryvnias for those who scored 170 or more points.
For some specialties, the minimum passing score may be lowered to attract more students.
If an applicant receives a recommendation for a state-funded place and refuses it, he or she will not be eligible for a state grant for contract study, even if he or she has the required NMT scores.
In 2025, special attention is paid to supporting applicants who choose agricultural specialties. This is due to the need to develop agriculture and provide the country with qualified specialists in this field. Support for the IT industry also remains a priority, as it is key to Ukraine’s technological development.
Grant application procedure
Applicants who meet the above conditions can apply for a grant through the applicant’s electronic account or the Diia mobile application.
After submitting the application and confirming eligibility, the grant will be transferred directly to the higher education institution to cover part or all of the tuition fee.
