Admission for applicants from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is not the same as for ordinary students. It is more difficult. It is riskier. It is a choice that requires courage, patience and perseverance. How to cross the front line into a safe region? How to restore lost documents under occupation? How to study remotely when there are constant threats around? How to remain faithful to Ukrainian identity after years of information isolation and forced Russification? These questions face thousands of young people every day. And they take this step. And they do so consciously. After all, their choice is not just about education. It is about the future. Theirs. Ours. The future of Ukraine.
According to official data from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, between 2016 and 2025, more than 44,000 young people from the temporarily occupied territories (44,585) enrolled in Ukrainian universities. After 2022, the trend became particularly noticeable — more and more applicants are choosing Ukrainian education despite all the difficulties. These figures represent stories of courage and the desire to live and study in a free Ukraine.
Main barriers to access to higher education in territories controlled by Ukraine: students’ perspective
In 2025, I prepared an analytical report based on the results of a study on the integration of students from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine into higher education institutions in Ukraine. Importantly, this material is based on a survey of students from TOT who study both full-time in the controlled territory of Ukraine and remotely, in particular while staying in TOT. They shared their experiences of admission, study and adaptation.
The students’ responses revealed real difficulties, in particular:
- information deficit — many applicants did not have reliable information about admission, programmes, financial support;
- Documents and departure — the complexity of restoring documents, the risks of crossing the front line, dangerous journeys;
- housing and finances — difficulties in obtaining housing, unstable income at the beginning of studies;
- language and psychological barriers — adapting to new curricula, social environment, stress from changing living conditions;
- Distance learning — some students are forced to study online from temporarily occupied territories, which adds additional risks and restrictions.
At the same time, young people show high motivation to pursue education in Ukraine, viewing it as a tool for personal development and professional fulfilment. Higher education institutions (HEIs) often become the first point of support for students — not only in terms of education, but also in human terms.
The problems described above must be addressed.
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Based on the report’s findings, I prepared and sent recommendations to central executive bodies and higher education institutions. But in reality, these recommendations are about specific young people and what can help them take their first step towards education in Ukraine.
First and foremost — information. Very often, the problem is not motivation, but the fact that people simply do not know where to go and where to start. That is why I am talking about the need for simple and understandable resources: about admission, educational programmes, financial and housing support.
Secondly, support. Help with restoring documents, explaining procedures, support at the start of studies. It is very important to have someone nearby at the start who can advise and support you.
A separate issue is housing and money. Access to dormitories, scholarships, basic financial support in the first years of study are not bonuses, but necessary conditions without which education simply becomes unattainable.
In addition, the transition to a new academic and social environment is often accompanied by stress, uncertainty, and a feeling of “I don’t belong here.” Integration programmes and psychological support really matter.
And, of course, it is important that higher education institutions themselves are ready to work with young people from temporarily occupied territories — that they have the resources, skills and understanding of these challenges.
Strategic importance for Ukraine
The integration of students from TOT is a multi-level process that requires coordination between government authorities and higher education institutions. It also requires systematic support during the adaptation and learning stages, and the creation of unified approaches to including students in Ukraine’s educational environment. The implementation of these steps is a prerequisite for preserving human potential and preparing for the future restoration of the de-occupied territories.
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