Educational benefits for military personnel, combatants, and their families

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine emphasizes that the state supports its defenders not only on the battlefield, but also in everyday life. One of the forms of this support is educational benefits granted to military personnel, combatants, and their children. These benefits not only provide opportunities for education but also ensure comprehensive support – from enrolment to dormitory accommodation.

Who is entitled to educational benefits

Combatants and children of military personnel have priority admission to higher and professional pre-higher education institutions. In addition, they have the opportunity to enroll in vocational education institutions on a non-competitive basis.

Those called up during their studies have the right to resume education after demobilisation. Persons who are discharged or have been discharged from military service are entitled to social and professional adaptation, which includes opportunities for training and retraining courses to obtain a new profession.

Priority access to educational services

Military personnel are entitled to priority enrolment of their children in preschool and secondary schools, as well as to placement in children's health camps, regardless of the type of ownership of the institution.

Special rights for children of fallen defenders

Children who have lost one of their parents while performing military service or who are considered missing in action are entitled to admission to universities and vocational and technical institutions on a non-competitive basis, at the expense of the state or local budget. This right is applicable for three years after completing general secondary education.

Furthermore, if a service member has more than 20 years of service or is disabled as a result of service, their children have priority admission to military educational institutions, lyceums with military training, and other educational institutions with military departments.

Financial assistance from the state

The state provides targeted financial assistance for education to military personnel who defended Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; combatants; persons with disabilities as a result of war; and individuals who were unlawfully deprived of liberty due to the armed aggression against Ukraine.

Within the framework of a government initiative, this targeted financial assistance is also extended to the children of these categories of persons, who are enrolled in educational institutions of any form of ownership (including private ones) under contract. This assistance is non-repayable and is provided on condition that both the student and the educational institution participate in the project.

This support includes the following:

• full or partial payment of tuition fees from the state or local budget;
• provision of preferential long-term loans for education;
• allocation of social scholarships;
• free provision of textbooks;
• free access to online educational resources;
• free or discounted dormitory accommodation during studies.

For children of military personnel, these benefits apply until the completion of education, no longer than until they reach the age of 23. Priority is given to children of deceased military personnel, persons with disabilities as a result of war, combatants, and prisoners of war.

How to apply for educational benefits

To receive state-targeted financial assistance, applicants must submit a request addressed to the head of the educational institution specifying the type of assistance requested. The application must be accompanied by copies of documents confirming the applicant’s eligibility for benefits. The decision to grant state-targeted financial assistance is made by the head of the educational institution.

Participation in the assistance programme also provides for the reimbursement of tuition fees already paid, provided the payment was made before the funding was allocated.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine calls on educational institutions at all levels and local authorities to comply with the above-mentioned legal provisions and to ensure the proper implementation of the right to education for military personnel, veterans, and their children.