The Ministry of Education and Science introduces the minimum price of contract training for 38 of 121 specialties (indicative cost price). The relevant decision was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers.
The minimum contract tuition price will apply to public universities and those private universities that will receive state funding.
According to the government's decision, from September 1, 2020, for entrants to the most popular specialties, contract training will cost at least 60% of the cost paid by the state for budget places. The changes will not affect students who are already studying.
The Ministry of Education notes that the cost of education will be correlated with the incomes of people in each region. If the price is higher than the three average official salaries in the region, the universities will be able not to raise it.
"The state pays for the education of the best students at budget places at objective prices that allow providing quality education. The average tuition fee per budget student is UAH 43,000, and the average price per contract is UAH 16,500. Budget students and contract students study in joint groups, so universities simply compensate for the lack of funds for contract students at the expense of budget students. As a result, the education of each student is underfunded, and the university cannot create optimal conditions for teaching and work of teachers. The implementation of the minimum price for the contract will allow tuition fees to be made in accordance with the university's real costs for student training and will ensure quality education for each student," said Minister of Education and Science Hanna Novosad.
The minimum tuition fee will be set only for 38 specialties, which are the most popular among contract workers.
These are mainly those specialties for which many more entrants enter than there are corresponding vacancies on the labor market. Among them: law, economics, political science, management, marketing, international relations, journalism, finance, design, tourism, hotel and restaurant business and others. That is, the rule of the minimum cost per contract will not affect other 83 specialties: engineering, technological, humanitarian, natural, agricultural, pedagogical sciences.
Bringing the cost of the contract to the actual costs of the universities will take place gradually: in 2020 it will be 60% from state funding per 1 student at the university, in 2021 – 70% and in 2022 – 80%.
