The Ministry of Education and Science has proposed a new academic schedule for students
The Ministry of Education and Science recommends that universities condense the academic schedule for the 2026–2027 academic year. Among the proposed options are classes on Saturdays in the fall and spring, as well as extending the academic year into the summer of 2027. However, these are only recommendations, so not all students will automatically be required to attend classes on Saturdays.
The Ministry of Education and Science is urging higher education institutions to adjust their academic calendars for the upcoming academic year in advance. The reason is potential power outages, which could cause universities to lose instructional days. The Ministry advises making the schedule more intensive to compensate for potential interruptions in classes. To this end, universities are encouraged to consider several options.
What will happen on Saturdays?
One of them is to hold classes on Saturdays in the fall of 2026 and the spring of 2027. In other words, part of the academic workload could be shifted to Saturdays. This would allow universities to gain additional time for classes and reduce the risk that students will not be able to complete the entire program due to power issues.
But here’s an important point: the Ministry of Education and Science is not requiring all universities to hold classes on Saturdays. Each institution of higher education will make its own final decision regarding the academic schedule. Therefore, one university may introduce Saturday classes, while another’s schedule may remain unchanged.
Classes may continue in the summer
Another option proposed by the ministry is to extend the academic year into the summer of 2027. This approach is also intended to help universities make up for class time that may be lost due to power outages. However, the recommendation to extend classes into the summer does not apply to students in their final year.
Thus, universities can have a more flexible schedule for the 2026–2027 academic year. Some classes can be held on Saturdays, and if necessary, classes can continue during the summer months. The Ministry of Education and Science is essentially suggesting that universities prepare for potential power supply issues in advance, rather than trying to make up missed classes after outages occur.
At the same time, the specific schedule will depend on the university’s own decision. Therefore, it is currently incorrect to say that all students in Ukraine will be required to attend classes on Saturdays or during the summer. Separately, the Ministry of Education and Science plans to strengthen oversight of students aged 25 and older who are enrolled in institutions of higher education. This involves verifying the authenticity of their studies and potentially identifying cases where enrollment or continued study is used primarily to obtain a deferment from mobilization. This is outlined in the Ministry of Education and Science’s recommendations.
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