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Adv Jaspal Singh

Posts for Europe Visa Category

International students are choosing Ukraine studies: A New Trend

Jaspal Singh - 18 December 2020

Updated on August 8th, 2021

I thought to write this blog on Ukraine studies as it is becoming a popular destination among international students, especially Indian students. I am in student visa consultancy, working for over two decades, dealing with various study destinations. Ukraine is now one of them as well. While major players in the global market of higher education set ambitious goals of attracting more international students, they do not consider a country like Ukraine a serious competitor. But changing trends in the past few years reflect the enrollment of international students has flourished significantly. 

During the last five years, there have been changes in mobility patterns. While in the past post-Soviet states were primarily sending countries accounting for almost half of incoming students in Ukraine, their share decreased. New sending countries diversified international enrollment with greater numbers of students coming from India, the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

International Students in Ukraine
The number of international students in Ukraine (2011 – 2020)

Ukraine is a beautiful country in Eastern Europe. You will certainly have a wonderful experience if you choose Ukraine studies. This is one of the newly developing study destinations for higher studies after Canada, Australia, the UK, and other parts of Schengen Europe. It is among the top five countries in the world, with the highest number of international students.

Geographically, Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe, having land of agricultural plains. The country shares its borders with Russia in the east, Belarus in the north, Poland in the northwest, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania to the southwest and south, and Moldova in between.

Indian students choosing different studies

International students, especially from India, choose medicine, healthcare, dentistry and pharmacy; they account for almost half of international enrollment. Other popular options include management, computer sciences, oil and gas engineering, secondary education. Most students are enrolled in bachelor and master programs with fewer than 1% studying in doctoral programs. Because of many years of development passionate work of scientists, Ukraine has built a great national education system and offers the following degrees:

Bachelor Program: The preparation for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree is carried out based on complete general secondary education. Bachelor’s degree is normally 4 years duration, whereas a medical degree, MBBS, has 6 years. Other medical degrees like Pediatrics, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Nursing have different durations.

Master Program: getting a Master’s degree is possible based on a Bachelor’s degree. The period of the course is 2 years.

PhD. A Doctor of Philosophy (or PhD) is a scientific degree received upon completing the Master’s course. Duration is 3-4 years.

MBBS & other Medical courses in Ukraine:

They ranked Ukraine at the fourth position in Europe for having the largest number of postgraduates in the medical field. The world’s major organizations like WHO and UNESCO recognize all the medical universities and the Medical Councils of many countries, including India. The admission process at a medical university in Ukraine is straightforward. They required no entrance examination to get admission to MBBS in Ukraine. The complete duration of an MBBS program in Ukraine is six years.

MBBS in Ukraine
MBBS in Ukraine

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS in Ukraine

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine controls the management of all. The ministry has been keen on the development of the education system in the medical colleges in Ukraine.

Eligibility criteria for getting admission to MBBS in Ukraine differ from institution to institution. There is no entrance exam on a national level for entrance into a medical institution. If you are an Indian student, qualifying for the NEET entrance gives you an immense advantage for admission in Ukraine. Before studying in Ukraine, qualifying for the NEET entrance exam is mandatory for students who want to practice in India post completion of their degree.

Business, Hospitality, Management & other courses:

Students choose Ukraine for medical studies, but it does not mean that other streams are not there. A good number of students go to Ukraine for other courses as well. There are different programs available in Ukrainian Institutes. These courses include Bachelors & Masters in International Business, Business Analytics, International Economic Relation, Human Resource Management, Marketing. Tourism, Hotel and Tourism Management, Hotel and restaurant management, Agricultural science and food, Agricultural engineering (Agronomy), Agricultural Management, Software engineering, Computer sciences, System analysis, Computer engineering, Cybersecurity, AND many more.

Admission & Visa Process

When you decide to have your further education from Ukraine, no matter what subject, medical or other streams, the first step is to choose the right course and the right institute. This you can do with the help of internet search or consulting some expert dealing with Ukraine studies. The next step is to check the admission criteria, which can be different for different institutes. Here, our focus is on Indian students. For them, there is no English language test required for most programs. Students with an academic percentage above 55% in the senior secondary are eligible for Bachelor’s programs. Same way, students having 55% marks in Bachelors are eligible for different master’s degrees. They may enrol students in language courses before joining the actual course. Upon successful completion of the language program, students can major studies.

Visa & Immigration requirement

All international applicants coming to Ukraine with the purpose of studying shall get an “Invitation to study” from the university they are applying to. The invitation shall be in the same form established by the Ministry of Education. After this, students apply for a visa normally termed ‘D Visa’, allowing students to stay in Ukraine for longer than 90 days. To get a type D visa, a prospective student shall submit a list of documents to the consulate of Ukraine in the respective country, according to the list of documents showed on the Embassy’s website. When you have your date of arrival to Ukraine fixed, it is critically important to send a timely notification to your University about the date, time, and point (airport) of your arrival and flight number.

While clearing borders, you must know all details of your purpose for coming to Ukraine. Financially support for your stay must be assured from documents. We advise you to be ready for such an interview–make sure you know your university, its location, your place of residence during your studies, and the major of your studies. A notification letter from your university would be of utmost importance here. If you fail this interview, they can deny you access to enter Ukraine. This blog aims to make students aware of all details while they are planning to study in Ukraine.

If you are planning for Ukraine studies, just drop a call at +91-9216 310 310 and a team of experts will take care of your planning and dream to study in a beautiful country.

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Let’s hope for the revival of the International student Industry.

Jaspal Singh - 8 May 2020

International Students

Updated on September 7th, 2024

The health crisis COVID completely halted the education industry dealing with International students. Social distancing and other orders by the authorities resulted in the complete closure of offices of consultants dealing with overseas education. If we talk about the coming intake of July and even September has a minimal possibility of students joining their classes. So many students have started the process of their admissions. They got admission offer letters but waiting for further process of their visa. Few even got visas but cannot fly as borders are closed. They cancelled flights for the time being.

In this scenario, there is complete uncertainty with no clue of any possibility shortly. However, there are some online activities by few consultants and few educational institutions as well. Online webinars, meetings, counselling sessions create some positivity. Students are preparing for their eligibility tests like IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL, etc. Media reports about pandemics suggest it can stretch this crisis a few months more. Authorities are not ready to take any risk.

The industry faces many issues related to expenditures, staff salaries, rents, and so many others. Survival is a big concern for many consultants. Without the operation, things are getting tougher day by day. There are few positive signals as well. Few governments have announced help packages to international students.

How Canada is helping international students

International students are enormous support for the Canadian economy. They contribute almost $22 billion to their economy every year. Recognizing this, the government has announced some measures to help international students already in the country and those who would like to come to Canada shortly. Normally, students may work for 20 hours a week. They lifted time restrictions for the time being. Now students can work over 20 hours till August 31, but this permission is for some limited sectors.

Besides relaxing during working hours, the government has opened Canada Emergency Benefit, under which they gave students cash help of $2000 per month. They took this initiative as the pandemic affects students’ ability to continue their studies and pay their bills, rents, and other expenses. They made a few more plans to support international students. Such help packages will certainly boost the morale of international students in this situation of crisis.

Australia is planning to reopen step wise

Like other destinations, Australia is also facing issues related to international students. Right now, borders are closed. So many students are waiting to travel. Media reports show Australia is planning to open borders by July if things remain in control. They have planned a three-step framework to allow international students to travel by July.

Prime minister Scott Morrison, while tweeting, revealed the Roadmap to Covid safe Australia. Australia can’t ignore students, as they are an important part of the economy and workforce.

Like Canada, Australia has also announced extra working hours to international students working in major supermarkets, including Woolworths and Coles. In the coming days, this plan may extend to other sectors as well. They announced these changes are short term and regularly reviewed to ensure they are working and still required.

Australia also planned for short-term homestays for needy international students. Program launched under the name International Student Support Network will provide accommodation, meals, and a safe home environment at a discounted price to international students affected by the global crisis.

Analyzing all these developments, we hope the industry related to students will be on track soon.

New Zealand also planning to reopen

A recent report in NzHerald says that New Zealand is also considering reopening the country for the $5 billion student industry. Announcing this, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the government plans to enable international students to return to New Zealand. International students are a $5 billion industry.

All these developments in three major countries show other destinations will eventually start thinking of opening borders for international students. Squeezing economy can be one reason behind it, but there are other more reasons. Students contribute to every country in so many ways.

Being part of this industry, I feel that no doubt we are passing through an adamant time, but we must keep ourselves full of enthusiasm. When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile. #StayHome #StaySafe

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