University Admission From Temporarily Occupied Territories in 2026: What Nearly 100 Inquiries to East SOS from Young People Reveal

For young Ukrainians living in temporarily occupied territories (TOT), pursuing an education involves more than choosing a university and a future career. The russian occupation restricts access to Ukraine’s education system, promotes the militarization of education, and leads to persecution based on Ukrainian identity. Under these circumstances, leaving for territory controlled by Ukraine gives many young people an opportunity to continue their education in Ukrainian and build a future of their own.

Since 2023, East SOS has been systematically supporting young people through this process and documenting the barriers they face when applying to Ukrainian universities. This year was no exception. From February through October 2026, the Foundation’s education team recorded 90 inquiries.

For young people from TOT, applying to a Ukrainian university often begins long before they submit an application. They need to find information, leave the occupied territory, contact a higher education institution (HEI) remotely, restore documents, confirm their status, understand the admission requirements, and find a way to complete the necessary procedures.

“Behind every inquiry is a young person or their family trying to access the Ukrainian education system despite all the obstacles. Almost every inquiry involves more than one question. A person may not have a passport or a Ukrainian school certificate, may not know whether they qualify for simplified admission, and may have no idea how to cover their initial expenses after leaving the temporarily occupied territory – all at the same time. The actual range of problems our team deals with is much broader than the number of inquiries,” said Yuliia Kishenko, Education Program Coordinator at East SOS.

The inquiries show that the main barrier often arises long before the admissions competition itself. Sometimes, a lack of documents or information about one’s rights can bring the entire process to a halt. In other cases, educational needs cannot be separated from the need for housing, humanitarian assistance, or psychological support.

Below, we take a closer look at how these barriers emerge in real-life inquiries and how the East SOS team helps young people pursue Ukrainian education.

Important: A single inquiry could involve several issues, so the actual range of problems our team addresses is much broader than the number of inquiries.

1. Admission to Ukrainian Educational Institutions Under Special Conditions: 40+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– Admission through a simplified procedure without taking the National Multisubject Test (NMT) – based on an interview;

– Applying for a state-funded places;

– Studying remotely;

– Choosing HEI and a field of study;

– Applying after an extended period in TOT or after leaving it.

Young people often do not know whether they qualify for the simplified admission procedure. The situation is further complicated by universities and educational centers interpreting the same rules differently. Those who remain in TOT and cannot physically travel to HEI have difficulty accessing information. As a result, they may not know where to start or whom to contact.

2. Quota 2 and Other Special Admission Conditions: 15+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– Whether an applicant qualifies for Quota 2 [translator’s note: designated quota of state-funded places reserved for applicants from TOT or areas of hostilities];

– Whether Quota 2 applies to internally displaced persons (IDPs);

– How to confirm eligibility and which documents are required;

– Eligibility for Quota 2 for people who left TOT at different times.

Applicants from Ukraine’s TOT and areas of hostilities are eligible to compete for state-funded places under Quota 2.

Many people do not understand who can apply under Quota 2 and contact East SOS for clarification. 

3. Education Documents: Missing, Recovering, and Obtaining Documents: 25+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– Lack of Ukrainian documents certifying complete general secondary education;

– Documents left behind in TOT or lost;

– Having only russian-issued or occupation-authority-issued education documents;

– Obtaining duplicate documents.

Young people from TOT who attended schools operating under the occupation authorities often do not have Ukrainian-standard education documents. The simplified admission rules for young people from TOT can help overcome this barrier. Educational centers at HEIs facilitate annual assessments in Ukrainian language and the history of Ukraine, as well as the issuance of state-standard education documents. These documents are issued by an authorized general secondary education institution.

4. Passports, Taxpayer ID, and Other Admission Documents: 25+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– No passport available (only a birth certificate);

– No taxpayer ID;

– Lack of an extract confirming place of residence;

– Confirming residence in TOT and leaving it.

Young people often leave TOT without a Ukrainian passport because it has expired, been lost, or was never issued. Obtaining documents after leaving takes time. Without a taxpayer ID, applicants cannot register for the NMT. Obtaining an extract confirming place of residence can also be difficult when the relevant information is missing from official registers. Another challenge is proving that a person resided in TOT: without such confirmation, they cannot exercise a number of rights provided by law.

5. National Multisubject Test (NMT): 15+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– How to register for the NMT;

– Being unable to take the NMT while in TOT;

– Insufficient scores for admission and technical problems during testing;

– Missing registration deadlines.  

It is impossible to take the NMT while being in a temporarily occupied territory. However, difficulties can continue after leaving occupation: applicants may have missed registration deadlines, encountered technical difficulties, or lack the taxpayer ID necessary to register. Many do not know under what conditions or in which cases an interview can replace the NMT.

6. Recognition of Studies Completed in TOT: 7+ inquiries

Main inquiry: Recognition of studies completed at HEI operating in temporarily occupied territory.

Young people who studied under occupation face another obstacle: the procedure for recognizing studies completed in TOT is still being developed.  Universities find themselves in unfamiliar situations without clear procedures to follow, and some therefore suggest that students start again from the first year. Similar difficulties arise when people seek employment with diplomas issued in temporarily occupied territories. This is a challenge not only for applicants but for the education system as a whole.

7. Leaving TOT and Staying Safe: 12+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– Assistance with arranging departure;

– Accompanying a minor;

– Departure of minors without their parents;

– Finding a safe route;

– Assistance after arriving in Ukraine;

– Advice on crossing the border.

Some people seek help arranging their departure because leaving safely on their own is extremely difficult. This is especially true for those who are isolated from reliable sources of information or have no contact with relatives or organizations in territory controlled by Ukraine.

8. Humanitarian, Financial, and Social Support After Leaving: 10+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– Financial assistance;

– Need for food, hygiene products, clothing, and footwear;

– Need for accommodation;

– Assistance with paying for utilities;

– Support for students living independently;

– Psychological and social support.

After leaving temporarily occupied territories, young people often have to start from scratch, without money, belongings, or stable housing. Staying in hostels or temporary shelters, being unable to cover rent and food costs independently, and having no stable income all make pursuing an education difficult. Requests for educational guidance and basic support often come together, and sometimes it is impossible to separate one from the other.

9. Challenges During Studies: 5+ inquiries

Main inquiries:

– Transferring to a state-funded place;

– Benefits and support available during studies;

– Issues with student documentation.

Some inquiries come from young people who have already enrolled but are facing new challenges during their studies. One concern is uncertainty about eligibility to transfer from a tuition-paying place to a state-funded one. For young people from TOT, who often receive no financial support from their families, this can be a critical issue.

10. Inquiries from Educational Centers, Schools, and University Admissions Offices: 8+

Main inquiries:

– How to admit applicants who do not have Ukrainian-issued documents;

– How to verify eligibility for admission under Quota 2;

– How to apply the provisions of the university admission procedure;

– How to handle unusual cases and advice on individual applicants’ circumstances.

Educational centers and university admissions offices encounter unusual situations for which regulations do not yet provide clear procedures. These include differing interpretations of the rules, uncertainty about applicants’ eligibility for an interview, and technical difficulties entering information into the Unified State Electronic Database for Education. This shows that there is a need for clarification at every level.
 
We are sharing several stories from this year’s university admissions campaign. They illustrate the challenges young people from TOT face and how the East SOS team supports them on their path to Ukrainian education.

“Her ID Card Has Expired. Is That a Problem?”

17-year-old Mariia from Donetsk Oblast decided to apply to a medical university in Ukraine. While living under occupation, she had continued her education remotely at a Ukrainian school. Mariia’s father called the Foundation from temporarily occupied territory. Establishing contact was difficult, as the call had to go through a local mobile operator.

His first concern was,

“My daughter’s ID card has expired. Will this prevent her from leaving the occupied territory or applying to a university?”

The Foundation’s team explained that an expired ID card would not prevent her from doing so, outlined the steps to take after arriving in Ukrainian-controlled territory, and provided contact details for organizations that assist people with leaving occupied territories and provide support along the way.

Sometimes, just one question stands between a person and their dream – a question they are afraid to ask. The answer can change everything.

“I Want to Study in Ukraine. My Parents Don’t Know”

A 14-year-old girl from Luhansk Oblast contacted the Foundation on her own. Her parents were firmly opposed to her leaving the occupied territory, and she had not told them about her plans. She wanted to enroll in a school in a Ukrainian city and asked whether it was possible to arrange official accompaniment and leave without her parents’ consent.

The East SOS team explained the legal framework governing the departure of minors without parental consent, provided information about organizations specializing in child protection in such situations, and supported the girl in seeking a safe way forward.

This story is a reminder that sometimes the barrier is not the system but the people closest to us. Even at 14, a person can make a conscious choice about their future.

“I Want to Enroll, but I Need Somewhere to Live”

21-year-old Olena left temporarily occupied Donetsk Oblast and traveled to Kyiv. She was still in the process of obtaining her passport. At the same time, she wanted to enroll at a university but did not know she was eligible for the simplified admission procedure that year. Her inquiry to East SOS concerned not only university admission but also housing, food, and basic support.

The Foundation’s team advised Olena on the possibility of applying without a passport, explained the deadlines and process for simplified admission, and referred her to partner organizations for material and humanitarian assistance.

Access to education and social support are inseparable. Someone who has just left an occupied territory is thinking about university and where they will sleep tomorrow at the same time.

If you or your loved ones in TOT are planning to apply to a Ukrainian university, contact the East SOS team: 0 800 332 614

Telegram: +38 068 827 2895
Viber: +38 095 374 82 70

Email: [email protected];

This August, civil society called on Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science to repeal a requirement threatening the safety of applicants from TOT.