Deferment for students and postgraduates: changes in 2025 and prospects for admission
3 February 16:27
According to the Law 3633-IX “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Certain Issues of Military Service”, persons who are pursuing vocational (vocational-technical), professional higher education or higher education in full-time or dual forms of education are entitled to a deferment from mobilization, provided that their level of education is higher than the previous one. This is enshrined in part two of Article 10 of the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, as well as for doctoral students and persons enrolled in internships.
In addition, Government Resolution No. 1558 of December 31, 2024, amended the Procedure for Conscription of Citizens for Military Service during Mobilization, approved by Resolution No. 560. According to these amendments, the rules for granting deferments for students and teachers are clearly regulated, as noted by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Komersant ukrainskyi has analyzed this topic in detail, so read about all the changes regarding deferment for students and postgraduates in the article below.
Mykhailo Vynnytskyi, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, spoke exclusively to about the peculiarities of the admission campaign for postgraduate students in 2025. According to him, no significant changes are expected.
“Admission for postgraduates in 2025 will be almost the same as in 2024. We keep a significant number of places for them under the state order. We predict about 5 thousand places,”
– Mr. Vynnytsky said.
He also emphasized that full-time enrollment will be carried out exclusively at the expense of the state order. At the same time, admission to part-time and evening programs will be possible under a contract, but full-time enrollment is not provided for.
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Deferment for undergraduate and graduate students: what will remain unchanged
Regarding the issue of deferment from mobilization, Mykhailo Vynnytskyi assured that no changes are expected in 2025. All undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in full-time education will be able to defer their military service.
“According to the current legislation, the deferment will be granted to those who study full-time, regardless of whether it is a bachelor’s or master’s degree,”
– explained the Deputy Minister.
However, he also noted that if a student is expelled, or if he or she is not studying in a sequential program (for example, entering a second bachelor’s or master’s degree after an incomplete previous one), the deferment will not be granted.
Regarding mobilization, Vynnytskyi clarified that students can be mobilized only in case of expulsion or due to violation of the requirements for the sequence of studies.
Basic military training: when will it start and how will it affect students?
Mykhailo Vynnytskyi also spoke about plans to introduce basic military training for students. It should start on September 1, 2025, but the practical part is still being agreed upon between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defense.
“The Ministry of Education is responsible for the theoretical part, and the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the practical part. Practical training will probably start in April-May 2026,”
– said the Deputy Minister.
He noted that it is too early to talk about possible expulsions due to refusal to undergo military training. In general, the Ministry of Education and Science assures that the nearest changes for undergraduate and graduate students will be minimal. Plans for basic military training and deferral from mobilization currently require further discussion and approval. It is important to note that, given the current conditions, admission for postgraduate students and the issue of deferment for the next year remain stable and understandable for all participants in the educational process.
Thus, in 2025, the admission campaign for postgraduate students will remain virtually unchanged compared to 2024. Important innovations include the retention of a significant number of state-funded places for postgraduate students, which will ensure that education is available free of charge. However, admission to full-time education will be carried out exclusively at the expense of the state order, and contract education will be possible only for part-time and evening forms. At the same time, the deferral from mobilization provided to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students will remain in effect, and no changes in this direction are expected. This means that all full-time students who do not disrupt the sequence of their studies will be guaranteed a deferment.