New Recognition System for Education Abroad in Ukraine
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a new mechanism that allows for the recognition of educational results at the level of complete general secondary education obtained outside the country.
This process pertains to foreign educational institutions, including Saturday and Sunday schools, as explained by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
The Ministry emphasizes that this mechanism is critically important for children living abroad who wish to obtain Ukrainian educational documents or return to studies in Ukraine without losing their class or years of education.
How will Ukraine recognize educational results obtained abroad?
For the first time, Ukraine will create a register of Ukrainian educational institutions operating abroad.
Educational institutions that have submitted applications through the Automated Educational Management Information Complex (AICOM) and have passed verification by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be included in this register. One of the requirements is the teaching of subjects with a Ukrainian cultural component.
Applications for the register will be accepted starting in the fall of 2025 on the Ministry’s website. The Ministry assured that it will soon provide details on the application submission process and verification criteria.
Results of education in foreign institutions will be automatically recognized in Ukraine without the need for additional assessment. Grades will be transferred according to the scale approved by the Ministry of Education.
Results of informal education related to Ukrainian cultural subjects will also be recognized if the student studied in centers, educational institutions, or organizations registered in AICOM.
Otherwise, performance will be considered based on general principles.
"If a child studied Ukrainian cultural subjects in a Saturday or Sunday school abroad, the school in Ukraine may recognize these results if they have been evaluated according to the Ukrainian scale," the Ministry explained.
What opportunities does this mechanism provide for children studying abroad?
- Children can study where they live abroad while maintaining a connection with Ukrainian education.
- Results of their studies will be recognized in a simplified manner, meaning students will not need to undergo assessment for subjects studied abroad.
- Students will be able to obtain Ukrainian educational documents and continue their education in their homeland, including at higher education institutions.
It is worth noting that in February 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that allows for the recognition of educational results for children studying abroad at a normative level.
