Over 350,000 individuals have registered for this year’s National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) in Ukraine, according to Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi. Among the registrants, approximately 250,000 are high school graduates from the class of 2026, while around 103,000 are other participants, including those who completed their education earlier or are looking to take the test for university admission.
The minister noted that the number of registrations for the NMT has been increasing for three consecutive years. “We are witnessing a rise in those registering for the NMT compared to previous years, which is a positive trend for university admissions in Ukraine,” he stated.
When asked whether the recent policy allowing men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country has negatively impacted enrollment, Lisovyi emphasized that there is no observable adverse effect on the admissions process. He reported a significant number of registrations from abroad, totaling about 30,000, indicating that many individuals still wish to study at Ukrainian universities.
Lisovyi further clarified that there is no evidence of a critical outflow of students seeking education overseas. He acknowledged a longstanding interest in studying in countries like Poland and Slovakia but stressed that demand for education within Ukraine remains high. Universities in both capital and regional centers are seeing substantial enrollment increases, particularly in cities such as Lviv and Uzhhorod.
In August 2025, the Ukrainian government updated border crossing regulations, allowing young men to cross during the ongoing martial law. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko explained that the aim of this decision is to provide young Ukrainians with broader opportunities for education, internships, and legal employment abroad, ultimately to benefit Ukraine with their acquired experiences.
Since the onset of Russia’s large-scale military aggression against Ukraine and the implementation of martial law and general mobilization, restrictions were placed on the right of military conscripts aged 18 to 60 to leave the country.
This year's National Multi-Subject Test in Ukraine has seen a record number of registrations, reflecting a growing interest in higher education despite recent policy changes allowing young men to travel abroad. Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi confirmed that the trend of increasing participation continues, with many registrants also coming from outside the country.