The Structure of higher education system in Ukraine

The structure of higher education system in Ukraine is based on the education systems of the developed nations of the world in accordance with recommendations from the UNESCO, UN and other international organizations. Higher education is an integral part of the Ukrainian education system as laid down in the Law of Ukraine “On Education”. The four-level system provides thorough academic, professional and practical training with the following degrees: Junior Specialist, Bachelor, Specialist, Master.

Higher education can be obtained in higher education establishments of a certain level of accreditation. The applicants must have either basic general secondary education, complete secondary education, or hold degrees of the Junior Specialist or Bachelor, as well as of the Specialist or Master if they apply for a postgraduate degree.

The students can take either the full-time courses (day), part-time courses (evening classes, distance learning), or take a combination of these. Sometimes they can do an external course.

Admission to higher educational establishments is selective and depends on the applicants' ability; it does not depend on the ownership type of the education establishment or the sources of money to pay tuition fees.

According to their status, all education establishments fall into four categories:

·        First level – the technical school, vocational school, or other schools of the same level;

·        Second level – the college, or other establishments of the same level;

·        Third and fourth levels (according to their accreditation) – the institute, conservatory, academy, university.

The higher education establishments can award degrees:

·        Junior Specialist (technical schools, vocational schools, and other education establishments of the first accreditation level);

·        Bachelor (colleges and other education establishments of the second accreditation level);

·        Specialist, Master (education establishments of the third and fourth accreditation level)

The multi-layer structure of the higher education system means that on completion of education on a given level, students obtain a corresponding degree and can move up from level to level.

According to the structure of the higher education system, the first level leads to Junior Specialist Diploma, the second level to Bachelor’s Degree (basic higher education), the third to Specialist, Master’s Degree (complete higher education).

Accredited education establishments provide instruction according to their accreditation level. However, the higher the accreditation level of an education establishments is, the more options it can offer its students, who can graduate it with a diploma or degree of any chosen level.

Being a participant of the Bologna process, Ukraine joined common European education system, as well as European academic research community. In this way it will take part in creation of the "Europe of Knowlege", and became more competitive.