The state grant for education in 2026 provides an opportunity for entrants who did not pass the budget, but have high scores on the NMT, to partially or fully pay for a contract at the expense of the state. The program has been in effect for the third year in a row as an experiment and this year operates under the same rules as last year. The money is received not by the student, but by the university, and it is this amount that reduces the cost of education. The conditions have many nuances, due to which a high score alone does not guarantee a grant. Below, we will explain who is eligible for support, how much the state provides, within what timeframe, and where to confirm the grant, as well as what mistake can lead to its loss, even for excellent students.
What is a State Grant and Why it Does Not Replace the Budget
A grant is a non-refundable targeted assistance that the state directs to pay for the education of a contract student. The rules are defined by the Procedure for the implementation of an experimental project, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers No. 822 of July 18, 2024 in the edition of the resolution No. 1059. The conditions for admission in 2026, including the definition of a grant, are enshrined in the Procedure for admission to education, approved by the order of the Ministry of Education and Science from February 26, 2026, No. 373.
A grant and a budget place are different things. A budget place means that the state pays for the entire education, but there are a limited number of such places and the competition for them is high. A grant is intended for those who did not pass the budget, entered into a contract, but showed a high result on the NMT. The state order in 2026 works as usual, budget places have not disappeared anywhere, and the grant only adds another way to reduce the cost of education. The funds go directly to the educational institution, and if the amount of the grant is less than the cost of the contract, the student pays the difference himself. The grant cannot exceed the cost of the contract, so there is no “change”.
Who is Eligible for a State Grant in 2026
Applicants for the first year of a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree on a full-time or part-time basis under a contract can apply for support. The key condition is the results of the NMT. The first-level grant is awarded to those who scored at least 150 points in two subjects, and for specialties with special support, the threshold is lowered to 140 points. The second-level grant, which is larger in size, is provided for applicants with a score of 170 points or higher.
There are also restrictions that do not depend on scores. A grant is not appointed to someone who has already received the first (bachelor’s) level of education at the expense of the state or local budget. If an applicant was previously enrolled under a state order and was expelled, and now claims a grant, they will have to reimburse the budget for the previously spent funds. A separate application for a grant is not required – its proposal is formed automatically after enrollment in a contract for those who meet the conditions.
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How Much Money the State Provides
The size of the grant depends on the level, specialty, and region of the institution. Last year, the basic amount of the first-level grant was 17,000 hryvnias per year, the second level was 25,000, and the final accrual is adjusted by coefficients. The state is betting on in-demand areas: a sectoral coefficient is applied to the basic amount, which increases the payment for priority specialties. Because of this, the same NMT score in different specialties gives a different amount, and those who enter priority areas win the most.
The amounts are reviewed every year and may be indexed, so the exact figures for the 2026 enrollment should be checked with the official data on the admission portal vstup.edbo.gov.ua, where the Ministry of Education and Science publishes the sizes of grants and the list of priority specialties. The grant is accrued for each year of study, provided that the student meets the requirements of the program and does not lose the grounds for support.
How to Confirm a Grant in Diia and Within What Timeframe
The mechanism for confirming this year is digital. First, the applicant must be enrolled in a contract – then a grant proposal appears in the electronic system, and it must be confirmed or rejected in the Diia application. The Ministry of Digital Transformation announces the launch of this year’s stage on the Diia portal. Last year, the window for confirming the certificate lasted from September 15 to October 25, so students have several weeks to make a decision after enrollment.
Missing this step means staying without money, even if you formally meet all the conditions: without a confirmed certificate, the state will not transfer the funds. The final amount of compensation is shown by the system only after the grant is confirmed, and only then can you see what part of the contract the state covers, and how much is left to pay.
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Mistake That Can Lead to Loss of Grant
The main trap is hidden in the enrollment procedure. Applicants who received a recommendation for a budget place but refused it to enter into a contract do not have the right to a grant. This is especially true for those who were recommended for a budget place according to the first, highest priority. Refusal of a budget recommendation automatically removes the proposal for a state grant, and no NMT score can compensate for this.
Hence the practical conclusion for applicants: the decision to refuse a budget proposal should be weighed in terms of a grant, and not just a desired specialty or university. The grant was conceived as support for those who did not get into the budget, and not as a tool for those who deliberately refused it.
When to Expect the Results of Admission
The deadlines for the grant stage are tied to the general calendar of the admission campaign. The lists of recommended budget places are published before August 6, confirmation of enrollment is required before August 11, and enrollment is completed on August 13. It is only after the publication of the recommendations that it becomes clear who will pass the budget, and who will enter into a contract and be able to apply for a grant. Applicants will see grant proposals in their electronic cabinets after enrollment in a contract, and they will confirm them in Diia closer to the start of the school year.
Those who are counting on a grant should monitor the status of their applications in the system every day in the first two weeks of August and check in advance whether the Diia application is ready to confirm the certificate. The actual dates and conditions are always published by the Ministry of Education and Science and the admission portal, so any figures from the news should be checked with the primary source before making a decision.
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