It is now the fall of 2026. Today, September 1, important changes and new regulations are taking effect for many groups of Ukrainians. These changes cover a wide range of areas: student scholarships, pension payments, salaries for teachers and railroad workers, as well as rules regarding the conscription of military-age men, business operations, school and preschool education, and even utility rates.
For more details on all the key changes and what Ukrainians need to know starting September 1, 2026, see this article by UA.News.
Student Scholarships to Double
Starting September 1, 2026, academic scholarships for students in Ukraine will increase significantly. The base payment for students at institutions of higher education will be 4,000 UAH instead of the current 2,000. Enhanced academic scholarships will also increase. For certain categories of students, payments will range from 5,100 to 5,800 UAH depending on the type of scholarship, while named academic scholarships will amount to as much as 7,800–8,000 UAH.
The changes will also affect students at institutions of vocational and pre-higher education (colleges and vocational schools). For them, academic scholarships will range from 2,500 to 3,000 UAH.
The Presidential Scholarship will double, reaching 20,000 UAH per month for university students and 15,200 UAH for college students. First-year students who score at least 185 points on each subject of the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) will be eligible to receive 20,000 UAH per month: this year, approximately 3,000 such students are expected. Individual grants from the Verkhovna Rada (8,800 hryvnias for university students and 6,600 hryvnias for college students) and the Cabinet of Ministers (8,000 hryvnias for university students) are also increasing.
The budget allocates 6.6 billion UAH for scholarship payments, which is 1.2 billion UAH more than last year. The payment mechanism also applies to students at private higher education institutions who are studying under a state-funded program—that is, on the state budget.
Teachers’ salaries are increasing by 20%
With the start of the new school year, the second phase of salary increases for teaching staff in 2026 is taking place. Starting September 1, teachers’ salaries will increase by 20%. The total increase compared to 2025 ranges from 40% to 50%.
After the adjustment, depending on their workload and other salary components, young teachers can receive approximately up to 17,700 UAH take-home pay, while experienced teachers with professional categories and years of service can receive up to 28,500 UAH. The specific salary amount depends on the pay grade, years of service, qualification category, number of teaching hours, bonuses for homeroom duties, grading assignments, and a host of other allowances.
In 2026, monthly allowances for working in adverse conditions will also remain in effect. Teachers will receive 2,000 UAH, and those working in communities near the front lines will receive 4,000 UAH.
Free Hot Meals for All Schoolchildren
Starting September 1, all students in public schools—from 1st to 11th grade—will receive free meals if they attend in-person or in a hybrid format. The program will cover approximately 3 million children across Ukraine. To fund the project, the government is allocating over 7.4 billion UAH in grants to local budgets. The cost of a single meal per student is set at 50 UAH for elementary school and 60 UAH for middle and high school. In frontline regions, a special co-financing mechanism with the UN World Food Programme will be in place.
Organization of the New School Year
The 2026–2027 school year will run from September 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The organization of the educational process and the format of instruction will be regulated by local military administrations and school administrators, taking into account the security situation. For example, in Kyiv, it was recommended not to hold in-person “first bell” ceremonies or morning assemblies, and to switch to a hybrid learning model whenever possible—precisely because of the situation involving constant air raid alerts and drone attacks.
Each school will also determine the specific date of the “last bell” ceremony, as well as the duration of summer vacation, independently through a decision by the teaching council; therefore, these may vary from one school to another. In June, schools will be able to offer additional classes and consultations on a voluntary basis to make up for lost learning.
In total, the education system will comprise 25,242 institutions, of which 8,424 schools will operate in-person, 1,306 remotely, and 2,211 in a blended format. Approximately 243,000 children are expected to be enrolled in first grade.
New Rules for Reserving Employees
Important changes taking effect this fall concern critical enterprises and the retention of employees subject to military service. Businesses that received critical-infrastructure status by June 2, 2026, must reconfirm this status. If an employer does not renew the status, after the transition period ends, they will not be able to use the previous decision to continue reserving employees. Businesses must meet the established criteria—including salary requirements—as well as adhere to the specified reservation quotas and properly submit information about employees subject to military service.
New Procedure for Deferrals for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Starting September 1, a new procedure for granting deferrals from mobilization for students and graduate students, approved by the government, will take effect. Deferrals will now be granted on a per-semester basis, but for a maximum of six months. After the semester ends, eligibility for the deferral must be reconfirmed. The Unified State Electronic Database on Education will serve as the primary source of information regarding a student’s status. This means that, formally, students and graduate students will not need to take any action themselves; the process will occur automatically—but only if the educational institution has submitted all necessary information to the TCC in a timely manner.
A new banknote—2,000 UAH—is being
introduced
Starting September 4, the National Bank of Ukraine is putting a new 2,000 hryvnia banknote into circulation. The regulator notes that it will feature more than 20 security features. The banknote’s design is traditionally dedicated to Ukrainian culture: the front features a portrait of the poet and dissident Vasyl Stus, while the back depicts the building of the Faculty of Philology at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University.
The hryvnia banknote series was last updated as recently as October 2019, when the NBU put a 1,000-hryvnia note featuring a portrait of academician Volodymyr Vernadsky into circulation. Prior to that, the highest denomination was the 500-hryvnia note, which was introduced back in 2006, and before that, the 200-hryvnia note, issued in 2001.
Pension Payments and Age-Based Supplements
In September, some Ukrainian pensioners will begin receiving increased payments thanks to age-based supplements. The Pension Fund automatically calculates these supplements for pensioners who have reached a certain age. The amount depends on the age group: from 70 to 74 years old—up to 300 UAH; from 75 to 79 years old—up to 456 UAH; and 80 years old and older—up to 570 UAH. There is no need to contact the Pension Fund or submit an application to receive the supplement; it will be credited automatically.
Updated “Own Business” Program
The updated “Own Business” state grant program went into effect on September 1. To start a business, you can receive a grant ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 UAH, and up to 500,000 UAH if additional conditions are met. Support ranging from 500,000 to 1.5 million UAH is available for developing and scaling an existing business, and with bonuses included, the maximum amount can reach 2.5 million UAH.
Additional bonuses are also provided: +5% for entrepreneurs aged 18–25, +20% for veteran entrepreneurs, VAT payers, internally displaced persons with more than six months of business experience, and other categories, +30% for businesses in frontline regions, as well as +50% for projects in priority economic sectors.
High School Reform
Pilot
Starting September 1, 150 educational institutions across Ukraine will begin implementing a pilot project for a new model of specialized high school education. Students will have the opportunity to choose a specialized track, as well as individual subjects and courses, in accordance with their own educational needs. A full transition to specialized education in grades 10–12 is scheduled for September 1, 2027.
English Becomes Mandatory in Preschools
Starting September 1, English will become a mandatory part of the curriculum in kindergartens, but only for older preschoolers (ages 5–6). The initiative aims to spark children’s interest in learning the international language of communication, provide them with a basic understanding of it, and prepare them for the school curriculum. School teachers, educators from private institutions, and self-employed individuals with appropriate training are permitted to participate in the educational process.
Utility
rates remain unchanged
These days, even the absence of any news (which is usually bad for the public) is already good news. So it makes perfect sense to note here that, as of September 1, utility rates for Ukrainians remain unchanged for now.
The cost of electricity is 4.32 UAH per kWh—this fixed rate has been extended through October 31, 2026. The price of gas for 98% of Ukrainian households served by Naftogaz is fixed at 7.96 UAH per cubic meter until at least April of next year. However, water supply and wastewater disposal rates vary by region, as they are set by local water utilities based on their own operating costs.
Transition to a New Electronic Signature Standard
As of September 1, Ukraine is completing the transition to the new “Kupyna” cryptographic standard for electronic signatures. Updated qualified electronic signatures will be generated using the new Ukrainian cryptographic standard. Previously issued qualified electronic signatures do not need to be reissued immediately: they will remain valid until the end of their established validity period.
Salary
Increases at Ukrzaliznytsia
In September, “Ukrzaliznytsia” will raise salaries for more than 150,000 employees. Salaries will increase by 10–15%. The largest raises will go to specialists in in-demand fields: workers who repair rolling stock, restore damaged infrastructure, and ensure rail traffic.
Penalties for Failure to Pay Property Tax
Owners of large properties should check whether they have paid their 2025 property tax. For most individuals, the payment deadline is September 1, 2026. The tax is levied on areas exceeding 60 m² for apartments, 120 m² for houses, and 180 m² if a person owns different types of housing. Penalties apply for late payment: 5% of the tax debt for delays of up to 30 days and 10% if the delay exceeds 30 days.
