Admission campaign for military higher education institutions: expanded quotas, increased stipends

The Ministry of Defence reminds that the admission campaign to Ukraine’s military educational institutions is underway. This year, the government’s quota for preparing military specialists has increased by 20% compared to 2024, and has doubled since the beginning of the war. 

In addition, for the first time, a program in physical and sports rehabilitation for wounded service members has been launched at the National Defence University of Ukraine. 

“Military education in Ukraine is currently undergoing transformation. We are adapting military education and training to the realities of war, taking into account the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, integrating international experience, and implementing NATO standards,” emphasized Volodymyr Mirnenko, Head of the Department of Military Education and Science at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

“We also focus on developing leadership qualities in our youth. Admission to a military higher education institution is the first step toward a future officer’s career,” he added. 

In addition to military education, cadets at military institutions receive social guarantees on par with service members. They are provided with full state support and benefit from the following:

• Free accommodation;
• Meals;
• Medical care and provision of uniforms. 

Furthermore, since March this year, following a Cabinet of Ministers resolution, cadets’ financial allowances have been substantially raised. First-year cadets now receive approximately UAH 8,000 per month, while graduates with excellent performance receive over UAH 20,000.

Both civilians and military personnel can submit applications to higher military educational institutions, military training units affiliated with higher educational institutions, and professional pre-higher military educational institutions. Women are admitted to all specialties on equal terms with men, without any restrictions. In 2024, women accounted for over 19% of all enrolled students. 

Requirements for admission to higher military education institutions: 

• Age between 17 and 30 years.
• Completed general secondary, vocational (technical), professional pre-higher, or higher education.

Key aspects of the 2025 admission campaign: 

There are alternative ways to submit documents: through the enlistment office (by June 1) or directly to the educational institution (by July 1).

Applicants may choose the format in which they take their entrance exams: Submit results of the National Multi-Subject Test (NMST) from 2022–2025, or take entrance exams in core subjects directly at the educational institution.

After submitting an application or report for admission to a military higher education institution, all applicants are required to undergo a medical examination by the Military Medical Commission (MMC). Applicants can obtain information about the medical examination from either the enlistment office or the educational institution.

The following institutions conduct admissions for officer training and bachelor's degree programs: 

• National Defence University of Ukraine;
• Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy;
• Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University;
• Military Academy (Odesa);
• Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv;
• Zhytomyr Military Institute named after S.P. Korolyov;
• Kruty Heroes Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology;
• Military Institute for Tank Troops of the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute";
• Naval Institute of the National University “Odesa Maritime Academy”;
• The Institute of Military Law of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University;
• Department of Military Training of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas;
• Department of Military Training of the National Aviation University;
• Department of Military Training for Specialists of the State Special Transport Service at the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies;
• Department of Military Training at Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University;

The following institutions admit candidates for NCO training and professional junior bachelor’s degree programs:

• Military College of Sergeant Staff at the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy;
• Military College of Sergeant Staff at Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University;
• Military College of Sergeant Staff at the Kruty Heroes Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology;
• Military Training Department at the Professional College of Maritime Transport at the Naval Institute of the National University “Odesa Maritime Academy.”

Detailed information on admission to military educational institutions is available in the Admissions Guidebook on the Ministry of Defence website.