The Ministry of Education and Science has revealed how many Ukrainians will take the National Multidisciplinary Test this year
In 2026, the national multi-subject test in Ukraine attracted over 350,000 registrations, and this figure has been rising for the third consecutive year. The Ministry of Education and Science notes that despite the war and the option to move abroad, interest in Ukrainian universities remains strong. On the contrary, the admissions system shows a stable and even positive trend.
The Ministry of Education and Science states that the current admissions campaign is proceeding without any major setbacks or critical changes that could signal a mass exodus of young people abroad, and the overall trend appears stable rather than alarming. According to Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi, the number of registrations for the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) is not merely holding steady but is steadily increasing year over year, which, given the war and uncertainty, is an important indicator of trust in the Ukrainian education system. “The number of those registering for the NMT here is growing. And this is already compared to 2025, while in 2025 it increased compared to 2024. Therefore, we are seeing growth in both this indicator and in the admission rate to Ukrainian higher education institutions,” noted Oksen Lisovyi.
Separately, the ministry points out that approximately 30,000 test registrations came from Ukrainians who are currently abroad but plan to enroll specifically in Ukrainian universities. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, this indicates that the educational connection with the country remains intact even when students are physically outside Ukraine.
The ministry also notes that exit permits for men aged 18 to 22 did not cause a sharp outflow of applicants and did not change the overall picture of admissions. At the same time, some young people traditionally consider studying abroad, particularly in Poland and Slovakia, but this does not appear to be a mass or critical trend.
Instead, according to Lisovyi, Ukrainian universities are showing a noticeable revival, especially in regions where in-person learning is available. This refers to institutions in the western part of the country, where student numbers continue to grow. “We note a clear interest in universities that offer in-person instruction, starting with Zhytomyr, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and further west—where student enrollment is growing significantly: universities in Lviv and Uzhhorod. We support and acknowledge this positive trend,” the minister concluded.
The Ministry of Education and Science adds that demand for Ukrainian higher education remains strong, and current enrollment figures for the National University Entrance Exam only reinforce this trend, despite the war, security risks, and the option to study abroad.
The Ministry of Education and Science states that there has been no mass exodus of students abroad following the change in exit rules.
