Education of international citizens

Admission to the University of foreigners and stateless persons is carried out in accordance with the Laws of Ukraine ‘On Higher Education’, ‘On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons’, ‘On Foreign Ukrainians’, ‘On Refugees and Persons in Need of Additional or Temporary Protection’, “On the Establishment of Additional Legal and Social Guarantees for Citizens of the Republic of Poland Staying in Ukraine”, Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 12.09.2018 No. 729 “Issues of obtaining higher education by certain categories of persons”, Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of 01.11.2013 No. 1541 “Some issues of organising the recruitment and training (internship) of foreigners and stateless persons”, Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of 02.12. 2019 No. 1498 “On Approval of the Procedure for Establishing Quotas for Higher Education by Foreigners and Stateless Persons within the State Order in accordance with International Treaties of Ukraine”, Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of 15.03.2023 No. 276 “On Approval of the Procedure for Admission to Higher Education in 2023”.

Citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus who do not have a permanent (temporary) residence permit in Ukraine are admitted to study with the individual permission of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Foreigners and stateless persons (hereinafter referred to as foreigners) may receive higher education at the expense of individuals and/or legal entities, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Ukraine, ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, legislation or agreements between higher education institutions on international academic mobility.

The admission of foreigners and stateless persons, including foreign Ukrainians permanently residing in Ukraine, citizens of the Republic of Poland, persons recognised as refugees and persons in need of additional protection, to state-funded places is carried out in accordance with paragraph 6 of Section III of the Procedure. Admission of other categories of foreigners to higher education institutions for state-funded places is carried out within the quotas for foreigners.

Admission of foreigners to study for higher education is carried out in accredited educational programmes within the terms established by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the approved Rules for Admission to the National University “Odesa Law Academy” for the current calendar year.

The Rules for admission to study for higher education at the National University “Odesa Law Academy” in 2023 are available at the link.

Foreigners may be admitted to study in person and/or remotely.

Enrolment of foreigners for study at the appropriate level of higher education is carried out on the basis of a document on the previous level of education based on the results of entrance examinations for foreigners in certain subjects and language of study and on the basis of academic rights to continue studying, provided by the document on the level of education in the country of origin, and taking into account the points of success that give the right to continue studying at the next level of higher education in accordance with the legislation of the country that issued the document on the degree (level) of education.

Transfer of students, as well as reinstatement of persons who have been expelled from higher education institutions, is usually carried out during summer or winter holidays.

For successful admission to the National University “Odesa Law Academy”, a foreign applicant must fill out and submit an online application form (questionnaire) for admission to the University. https://forms.gle/ANyATzuAF1WRLchA9 

How to receive an invitation to study?

In order to receive an invitation to study, an applicant must send scanned copies of the following to the University’s International Relations Office mailbox international@onua.edu.ua: 

1) a passport document of a foreigner or a document certifying a stateless person;

2) a document and an appendix to the document on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification) level on the basis of which the admission is carried out, or an academic certificate issued by a foreign / Ukrainian educational institution (translated into Ukrainian with a notarised translation)

3) written consent to the processing of personal data (for a sample, please follow the link).

The study of the compliance of the foreigner’s documents with the requirements established by the educational institution for admission to the educational (educational, professional or educational and scientific) programme chosen by him/her is carried out by the selection committee of the University.

The University sends the original of the invitation registered in the electronic journal to the foreigner or his/her authorised person to arrange the foreigner’s entry into Ukraine for the purpose of study.

The invitation is valid for no more than six months from the date of its issuance.

The validity period of the invitation is set by the educational institution, taking into account the Terms of Admission to Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine approved by the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the duration of the relevant educational, vocational, educational, scientific, academic mobility programmes, programmes for studying the state language and/or language of instruction, internships, preparatory faculties, departments (divisions).

Admission in 2023

The rules for admission of foreign nationals and stateless persons to Ukrainian universities differ significantly from previous years. Foreign students can be admitted to study in person at the National University “Odesa Law Academy” or remotely with the participation of partner companies of the National University “Odesa Law Academy” for the remote recruitment of foreign students.

Foreigners can participate in the remote admission if they have received an invitation to study registered in the Electronic Journal Automated System of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, received information and consulting support services, as well as a visa to enter Ukraine (except for citizens of visa-free countries) for the purpose of studying, or carried out the procedure of legalisation of educational documents in the country of their issuance.

In order to organise the remote admission of foreign citizens for higher education, the university enters into an agreement with a partner organisation that is a resident of the country of origin of the applicants. The subject of the agreement is the provision of services for the identification of the person, verification of the original documents of the applicant, organisation of the reception of applications in electronic form, provision of premises and technical means for consultations and entrance examinations by the higher education institution in a remote form.

In the case of remote admission, a foreigner sends legalised and notarised copies of documents on previous education to the university by post. When crossing the state border of Ukraine for the first time and upon arrival at the university, the foreigner shall hand over the original documents in person.

Arrival in Ukraine

The citizens with visa entry procedure must submit all the documents for obtaining visa type D (student visa) to Ukrainian Embassy (consular office) in their home country. For more information on the requirements for submitting documents and the procedure for applying for a visa, please check the website of the Ukrainian embassy in your country. https://mfa.gov.ua/en/foreign-diplomatic-institutions-ukraine

In addition to the documents required to apply for a visa, the original invitation to study in Ukraine must be submitted to the Ukrainian embassy. The university sends the original invitation to you after its registration in the Electronic Journal Automated System.

It takes about 1 month to obtain an entry visa.

After receiving a “D” visa for study, you must send information about the date, time of your arrival in Ukraine, flight number, and connection (route) to the email address of the University’s International Relations Department: international@onua.edu.ua  

Enrolment for higher education

In order to be enrolled for higher education at the National University “Odesa Law Academy”, an applicant must:

1. Submit an application in paper form to the Department of International Relations of the University (23 Fontanska Road, Odesa, room 207). (for a sample, please follow the link).

The application must be accompanied by: 

1) a document (original and copy) on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification) level, on the basis of which the admission is carried out;

2) an appendix (original and copy) to the document on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification level) level on the basis of which the admission is made (if any);

3) academic transcript issued by a foreign/Ukrainian educational institution (in case of transfer or renewal of studies starting from the second year);

4) the original and a copy of the document containing information on the content of the curriculum for the previous degree (level) of higher education, credits received, duration of study and academic performance (in the absence of this information in the appendix to the document on education), when applying for a master’s degree or postgraduate education, if the absence of this information makes it impossible to recognise the qualification under the document;

5) a copy of a foreigner’s passport or a document certifying a stateless person;

6) health insurance policy, unless otherwise provided by international agreements of Ukraine;

7) 8 photographs 30×40 mm in size;

8) a copy of the certificate of a foreign Ukrainian (if any).

The documents referred to in subparagraphs 1 – 5 of this paragraph shall be translated into Ukrainian with a notarised translation.

The documents referred to in sub-clauses 1-4 of this clause shall be certified in the country of their issuance in the manner officially used in that country for such certification and legalised by the relevant foreign institution of Ukraine, unless otherwise provided by international agreements of Ukraine.

2. Pass entrance exams in the state language and specialised disciplines (depending on the chosen speciality) 
3. During the first semester of studies, carry out the procedure for the recognition of a foreign educational document in Ukraine.

The educational documents of foreigners enrolled for study issued by educational institutions of other countries are subject to the procedure of recognition in Ukraine in accordance with the law. Based on the results of the recognition procedure, the educational institution decides whether the foreigner should continue his/her studies at the level corresponding to the results of the recognition procedure or expel the foreigner.

If the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine or a higher education institution decides to refuse to recognise the submitted document on the level of education, including due to its inauthenticity, the educational institution expels such a foreigner.

Read more about the procedure for the recognition of educational documents: https://mon.gov.ua/ua/ministerstvo/poslugi/viznannya-inozemnih-dokumentiv  

Preparatory courses

Enrolment of foreigners in preparatory courses is subject to the condition that they have a complete general secondary education obtained outside Ukraine.

To enrol in the preparatory courses for foreign citizens at the National University “Odesa Law Academy”, you need to submit an application in paper form to the Department of International Relations of the University (23 Fontanska Road, Odesa, room 207). (for a sample, please follow the link).

The application must be accompanied by: 

1) a document (original and copy) on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification) level, on the basis of which the admission is carried out;

2) an appendix (original and copy) to the document on the previously obtained educational (educational qualification level) level on the basis of which the admission is made (if any);

3) a copy of a foreigner’s passport or a document certifying a stateless person;

4) health insurance policy, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Ukraine;

5) 8 photographs 30×40 mm in size.

The documents specified in paragraphs 1 – 3 must be translated into Ukrainian with a notarised translation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION AND STUDY OF FOREIGNERS AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY “ODESA LAW ACADEMY”

Head of the International Relations Department – Daria Minchenko

Tel. +38 048 719 8851; e-mail: d.minchenko@onua.edu.ua 

Senior Inspector of the International Relations Department – Margarita Zhakun

Tel. +38 048 719 8769; +38068623-89-91; e-mail: international@onua.edu.ua