The procedure for admission of foreigners and stateless persons to study at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
● FULL ADMISSION RULES 2025 (in Ukrainian)
1. Preparation of foreigners and stateless persons is carried out in accordance with the Laws of Ukraine “On Higher Education”, “On Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”, “On Foreign Ukrainians”, “On Refugees and Persons in Need of Complementary or Temporary Protection in Ukraine”, Decree № 271 of the President of Ukraine from June 3, 1994 “On measures to develop economic cooperation between Ukrainian regions, the Republic of Belarus border regions and the administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Moldova”, Regulation № 136 of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from February 26, 1993 “On education of foreign citizens in Ukraine “(with amendments) and № 684 from September 11, 2013 “Some aspects of the organization of admission of foreigners and stateless persons”, Decree № 1541 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine from November 1, 2013 “Some aspects of the organization of recruitment and training (internship) of foreigners and stateless persons” registered at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 25 November 2013, № 2004/24536 (with edited decree № 1272 by the Ministry of education and Science of Ukraine from December 11, 2015), Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine of December 2, 2019 № 1498 “On approval of the Procedure for establishing quotas for higher education by foreigners and stateless persons within the scope of the state order in accordance with international treaties of Ukraine”, registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on February 10, 2020 №153/34436.
Citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, who do not have a permanent (temporary) residence permit in Ukraine, are accepted for study with the individual permission of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
2. Foreigners and stateless persons (hereinafter – foreigners) may obtain higher education at the expense of individuals and / or legal entities, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Ukraine, the binding nature of which is approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, legislation or agreements between higher education institutions on international academic mobility.
Admission of foreigners and stateless persons, including foreign Ukrainians permanently residing in Ukraine, citizens of the Republic of Poland, persons recognized as refugees, and persons in need of additional protection, to state-funded places is carried out in accordance with paragraph 6 of Section III of the Admission Rules. Admission of other categories of foreigners to the University for state-funded places is carried out within the quotas for foreigners.
Admission of foreigners and stateless persons for higher education are admitted to accredited educational programs. The University can also accept foreigners and stateless persons to study at the Center for International Education of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Pre-University Training of the University (hereinafter referred to as the IEC) (under the programs preparatory department and state language courses), as well as to obtain postgraduate education, advanced training and internships.
3. Foreigners and stateless persons may be admitted to study in person and/or remotely. Foreigners are enrolled for study using the Unified Interdepartmental Information System of Ukraine for Foreigners and Stateless Persons Who Wish to Study in Vocational (Vocational and Technical), Professional Higher Education Institutions and Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as the Unified System).
An electronic invitation to study issued through the Unified System shall be valid for no more than six months from the date of affixing the electronic qualified seal of the University or the qualified electronic signature of an authorized person of the University.
An invitation to study issued by means of the Automated System “Electronic Journal” of a state-owned enterprise authorized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine remains valid until April 01, 2025 inclusive.
Foreigners who have received an electronic invitation to study, have received a range of information and consulting support services (in case of receiving an invitation to study through the Electronic Journal Automated System of a state-owned enterprise authorized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine), and have completed the procedure for legalizing educational documents in the country of issue: legalized in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that issued the educational document; legalized in the
In order to organize remote enrollment of foreigners for higher education and for the purpose of studying at the IEC, as well as for postgraduate education, advanced training and internships, the University conducts identification of the person and entrance examinations in a remote format with video recording (including from the screen of the applicant’s device). The video recording of the entrance examination is stored after the entrance examination for foreigners for five years at the University, and a link to this recording is entered into the Unified Database.
In the case of remote admission, the foreigner sends legalized or notarized copies of documents on previous education to the University by post. When crossing the state border of Ukraine for the first time and upon arrival at the University, the foreigner shall hand over the original documents in person.
4. The University enrols foreign applicants for study at the expense of individuals and/or legal entities:
- 1) once a year to obtain bachelor’s and master’s degrees;
- 2) during the year for studying at the IEC.
The University calculates the points/grades of the applicant on the basis of the document on the previous level of education. The minimum number of points/grades in general education subjects for which the entrance exam for foreigners is held is 100 points.
Enrollment of foreigners for study at the appropriate level of higher education is carried out on the basis of a document on the previous level of education based on the results of the entrance exam for foreigners in certain subjects and language of study and on the basis of academic rights to continue their studies, provided by the document on the level of education in the country of origin, and taking into account the points of success that give the right to continue studying at the next level of higher education in accordance with the legislation of the country that issued the document on the degree (level) of education.
5. All categories of foreigners entering the study are enrolled in the University on the basis of enrollment orders. Confirmation of the fact of training can be a certificate generated in EDEBO (The Unified State Electronic Database in Education).
6. Foreigners applying to the University shall personally submit the following documents to the University Admissions Committee:
- 1) application;
- 2) a document (original and copy) on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification) level, on the basis of which the admission is carried out;
- 3) an appendix (original and copy) to the document on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification) level on the basis of which the admission is made (if any);
- 4) an academic transcript issued by a foreign/Ukrainian higher education institution (in case of transfer or renewal of studies starting from the second year);
- 5) the original and a copy of the document containing information on the content of the curriculum for the previous degree (level) of higher education, credits received, duration of study and academic performance (in the absence of this information in the appendix to the document on education), when applying for a master’s degree or postgraduate education, if the absence of this information makes it impossible to recognize the qualification under the document;
- 6) a copy of a foreigner’s passport or a document certifying a stateless person;
- 7) a certificate of graduation from the Centralized Educational Institution, preparatory faculty (department) for foreigners and stateless persons (if any);
- 8) health insurance policy, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Ukraine;
- 9) 4 photos of 3 x 4 cm in size;
- 10) a copy of the certificate of a foreign Ukrainian (if any).
The documents referred to in subparagraphs 2-6 of this paragraph shall be translated into Ukrainian with a notarized translation.
The documents referred to in subparagraphs 2-5 of this paragraph shall be certified in the country of their issuance in the manner officially used in that country for such certification and legalized by the relevant foreign institution of Ukraine, unless otherwise provided by international agreements of Ukraine.
The documents referred to in this paragraph shall be kept in the personal file of applicants/students.
7. Selection criteria for studying:
Enrollment of foreigners and stateless persons to study at the CMO (under the programs of the preparatory department) is subject to the availability of a complete general secondary education obtained outside Ukraine.
Enrollment of foreigners in the first year of study for a bachelor’s degree is based on the results of entrance exams in the Ukrainian language, mathematics and history of Ukraine, a creative competition (if any) and on the basis of academic rights to continue their studies, provided by a document on the previous educational level in the country of origin, and taking into account the points of success that give the right to continue studying at the next level of higher education in accordance with the legislation of the country that issued the document on the degree (level of education).
For foreigners and stateless persons who have successfully completed their studies at the University’s CMO and received a state-issued certificate, the results of the entrance exams in the Ukrainian language, mathematics and history of Ukraine are credited with the grades of the final exams in the relevant subjects, converted to a scale of 100-200 points.
Enrollment of foreign citizens for studying for a master’s degree is based on the results of entrance exams in the language of study and specialty.
The university calculates the applicant’s scores/grades for the entrance exams and enrolls them on a competitive basis, within the licensed volume, but if the applicant’s competitive score is at least 110 points.
Submission and consideration of documents for further enrollment of foreigners to the University for higher education at the appropriate level of higher education (bachelor’s, master’s) is carried out from July 19 to October 20, 2025 (inclusive).
Entrance exams and creative competitions (if necessary) are held according to the following schedule: I session – August 22, 2025; II session – September 22, 2025; III session – October 22, 2025.
Foreigners are enrolled for study no later than November 1, 2025 (inclusive).
Foreign applicants must be proficient in the language of instruction at a level sufficient to master the educational material in the chosen field (specialty). The level of proficiency in the language of instruction (Ukrainian) can be confirmed by the Certificate of the National Commission for State Language Standards, University certificates of proficiency in Ukrainian as a foreign language, and CMI certificates. The corresponding result of the Certificate is counted as the result of the entrance exam in the language of instruction (Ukrainian).
8. Programs of entrance examinations for higher education at the appropriate level of higher education (bachelor’s, master’s) are published on the University’s website.
9. For a document on a degree (level) of education obtained by a foreigner abroad, the procedure of recognition during the first year of study and the establishment of equivalence of such a document is mandatory, which is carried out in accordance with the procedure determined by the Ministry of Education and Science. Information on foreign educational documents recognized in Ukraine by the competent recognition authorities and certificates of recognition of a foreign educational document in Ukraine are transferred to the Unified State Electronic Database on Education and the Unified System.
Transfer of a foreigner to the next year of study is carried out if the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (USEDE) contains information on the recognition of a document on the degree (level) of education obtained by a foreigner abroad, on the basis of which the foreigner enters the University.
If the competent recognition authority decides to refuse to recognize the submitted document on the degree (level) of education obtained by a foreigner abroad, the University expels the foreigner within two weeks from the date of registration of the notification of refusal to recognize it. If, as a result of the recognition procedure, it is established that the degree (level) of education obtained does not provide the foreigner with the appropriate academic rights to study at the chosen degree (level) of education, the University decides to continue the foreigner’s studies at the level that corresponds to the results of the recognition procedure.
10. Foreigners who are granted state scholarships under international treaties, national programs, and other international obligations of Ukraine are admitted to study within the established quotas for foreigners on the basis of referrals from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
11. Foreigners who arrive in Ukraine to participate in academic mobility programs or to obtain higher education under educational programs agreed between Ukrainian and foreign higher education institutions shall be admitted to study taking into account the contractual obligations of the relevant higher education institutions.
12. Foreigners and stateless persons, including foreign Ukrainians permanently residing in Ukraine, persons recognized as refugees and persons in need of additional protection, have the right to receive higher education on an equal footing with citizens of Ukraine, in particular at the expense of the state or local budget, with the exceptions established by the Constitution of Ukraine, laws of Ukraine or international treaties ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Foreign Ukrainians whose status is certified by a certificate of a foreign Ukrainian (except for persons permanently residing in Ukraine) may be enrolled in state-funded studies within the established quotas for foreigners at the entrance exam for foreigners in the subjects provided for in the Admission Rules.