Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

About Taras Shevchenko National University

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is today a classic university with a distinct research profile, and the leading contemporary academic and educational hub of Ukraine. With the independent Ukrainian nation arising, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is facing new challenges and responsibilities. The academic experts of the future can be identified by a thorough professional knowledge and the ability to think creatively, with an understanding of the massive responsibility to be taken when working at the leading-edge of academic thought. Only a university with a long tradition of achievement and success both in teaching and in research could cope with such a mission. On 21 April 1994, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv was granted the status of «National» by Leonid Kravchuk, the President of Ukraine by Decree № 176/94, and on 25 November 1999 a further Decree, № 1496/99, of Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine at that time, significantly expanded the autonomous status of the university.

Decree № 412/2008, of Viktor Yushchenko, then President of Ukraine, on 5 May 2008, further stipulated the conversion of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv to becoming the main principal educational and scientific centre of Ukraine for the education of academic and teaching staff with higher qualifications. Then on 29 July 2009 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with Regulation № 795 granted Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv the status of being a self-governing and autonomous national research university, while providing increased funding for the future development of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The high status of a classical research Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is underpinned by the numerous academic achievements of its staff. The staff at the University have a broad range of formal achievements recognised, in particular with the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, Awards from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and branches of the national academies of sciences, Orders of Merit, Orders of Saints Cyril and Methodius, awards of the honorary title of Honoured Educationalist of Ukraine and Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine, also Awards by the President of Ukraine for young academics and Awards by the Ukrainian Parliament to the most talented young scientists in basic and applied research, and scientific and technological development.

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv awards Junior Specialist’s, Bachelor’s, Specialist’s and Master’s degrees, Higher Qualification Post-graduate degrees and Doctoral degrees. Training and retraining programs are provided in 14 specialties of Junior Specialist qualification, 55 fields of Bachelor training programs, 49 areas of Specialist training programs and 98 fields of Master training programs. More than 26 thousand students study at the University. Approximately 1,645 postgraduate students and 125 PhD students are working for higher qualifications at the University.

Over 350 doctoral and higher postgraduate theses are submitted annually at the university. Courses are provided by 198 Departments. The academic potential of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is today demonstrated by more than 60 full members and corresponding members of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, 626 members of staff with Doctor’s degrees and 1,645 staff with higher postgraduate degrees.

Today Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv has bilateral partnership agreements with 227 foreign educational and scientific institutions from 57 countries. 180 foreign academics and lecturers from 32 countries visit the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv annually to collaborate in research, attending conferences, and giving lectures. Each year more than 1500 lecturers, researchers and students travel abroad to 59 countries. Two-thirds of those take overseas trips in 2013 travelled abroad for academic purposes (conferences, training, and research).

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv has become more proactive in the foreign citizens recruitment process. At present, the number of foreign students enrolled at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is 935. The Russian and English training programs set up to enable the number of international students increase.

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ranked in the top 421-430 brackets in QS World University Rankings (Great Britain) in 2014-2015.

Our doors are open to all who seek and spare no effort to work for the welfare and prosperity of Ukraine!

Faculties of Taras Shevchenko National University

• Faculty of Chemistry
• Faculty of Computer Science and Cybernetics
• Faculty of Economics
• Faculty of Geography
• Faculty of History
• Faculty of Information Technology
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
• Faculty of Philosophy
• Faculty of Physics
• Faculty of Psychology
• Faculty of Radio Physics, Electronics and Computer Systems
• Faculty of Sociology

Institutes of Taras Shevchenko National University

• Institute of Biology and Medicine
• Institute of Continuing Education
• Institute of Geology
• Institute of High Technologies
• Institute of International Relations
• Institute of Journalism
• Institute of Management State Guard of Ukraine
• Institute of Philology
• Military Institute

Colleges and Lyceums of Taras Shevchenko National University

• Geological Exploring College
• Optical and Mechanical College
• Ukrainian Physical and Mathematical Lyceum

Departments of Taras Shevchenko National University

• Preparatory Department

Other units of Taras Shevchenko National University

• Academic Mobility Office
• Accounting Department
• Astronomical Observatory
• Athletic and Health Center of the University
• Center of Ukrainian Studies
• Department of Communications
• Department of Physical Culture
• Information & Computer Centre
• KNU Language Center
• Learned Society of Students and Postgraduates
• Maksymovich Scientific Library
• Office for International Cooperation
• Primary Trade union organization
• Primary Trade Union Organization of Students
• Publishing and Polygraphic Centre “The University of Kyiv”
• Scientific and Research Department
• Special Training Department
• Student Parliament
• Training-research center of radiation safety
• Youth center of cultural and aesthetic education

Pre-university study

The pre-university training program will fill the «gaps» that are inevitable when transitioning from your educational system to Ukraine’s one, and successful completion of the curriculum will ensure you become a full-fledged student of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv or any other higher educational institution in Ukraine.

Pre-University training consists of two parts: language training and study of general disciplines; and is carried out in four directions: humanitarian, engineering, economic, and medical and biological. The total number of study hours is 1134 hours per each direction per year.

Language training

Studying Ukrainian, Russian or English takes place throughout the pre-university training curriculum. Depending on the chosen direction of study, the minimum number of suggested study hours spent on language learning is 720, that ensures the level of language proficiency at B1 level.

According to the pre-university curriculum, for the first 11 weeks, you are studying the language only for 30 hours per week, and only after the acquisition of the required level of language general disciplines are added to the curriculum, the number of language hours is gradually decreasing.

Study of general disciplines

Starting from the 12th week of training according to the direction you have chosen, the following curriculum will be added: Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Drawings, Geography, Fundamentals of Economics, Basic Informatics, Economic and Social Geography, basics of Ukrainian and Foreign Literature, History of Ukraine, etc.

By studying all these disciplines, you deepen your knowledge of these subjects and learn special terminology in Ukrainian, Russian or English, that is the next stage in learning a language as it is.

On average, 60 hours are spent on studying each of the general disciplines in Ukrainian, Russian or English.

About Accommodation of Taras Shevchenko National University

Student accommodation is provided by a campus with comfortable halls of res