Preliminary results indicate that the number of university applicants has decreased by 5% compared to last year.

This was announced at a briefing by Oleg Sharov, the Director General of the Directorate for Higher Education.

"When looking at key figures, the registration of electronic cabinets shows a decline of 5%. Some reports suggest as much as 6%, but a few more candidates may still be enrolled. Thus, we estimate an overall decline of about 5% in most indicators," said Sharov.

He explained that the admissions campaign will continue until October 20, with final results expected in the third decade of October.

Sharov emphasized that the ongoing war has a significant impact on the scale and progress of the admissions process.

"In terms of migration, many people are leaving the country, and there is also internal migration within Ukraine. Additionally, the education system has become less accommodating for conscripts, resulting in fewer applicants," he explained.

He believes that allowing men aged 18-22 to travel abroad will have a positive impact on higher education.

"It is important to note that this decision came after most of those wanting to leave for 2025 had already done so. We expect a significant positive impact from this decision in 2026," he stated.

Sharov also noted that the percentage of school graduates taking the external independent assessment abroad remains stable at 10-12% of all participants each year.

"Taking the external assessment abroad without the intention of studying at a Ukrainian university seems questionable. However, many who take it do so to enroll in Ukrainian universities, with some planning to return and others trying to study online while maintaining ties to the Ukrainian education system," he added.

Regarding the most popular universities among applicants, the rankings have not changed significantly: Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and Taras Shevchenko National University remain at the top, alongside Lviv Polytechnic University.