The results of the 2018 nationwide admission campaign: 3 987 students to pursue a degree in medical specialties on a tuition-free basis

During the 2018 nationwide higher education admission campaign, over 65 000 applications were submitted to different medical schools across Ukraine. The most popular specialties included Medicine (about 30 000 applications), Pharmacy (over 15 000 applications), Dentistry (over 9 000 applications) and Pediatrics (3 000 applications).

According to the 2018 nationwide higher education admission campaign results, 3 987 tuition-free students (government-subsidized places) were enrolled to the medical specialty programs at the universities subordinated to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, as follows:

• Medicine – 3 587 students;
• Pediatrics – 273 students;
• Dentistry – 61 students;
• Pharmacy – 31 students;
• Nursing – 28 students;
• Medical Psychology – 7 students.

For the first time ever, secondary school graduates had to meet the new requirement to be eligible to submit applications to medical schools – to get a minimum score of 150 points on the external independent evaluation (EIE) test in compulsory disciplines: 1) biology, 2) chemistry or mathematics.

The overwhelming majority of prospective tuition-free students pursuing a degree in Medicine (84%), scored 170 points and higher on the EIE test in compulsory disciplines, while 15% – scored 190 points and higher (see the diagram below):

Prospective tuition-free dental students achieved the highest results:  70% of them scored 190 points and higher on the EIE test in compulsory disciplines (see the diagram below):

The EIE test scores of future pediatricians were slightly lower – 160-175 points, in particular 47% of the prospective students scored 170 points and higher, and only 1% – 190 points  (see the diagram below):

In 2018, the broad competition principle has been implemented for the first time. This means that admission to medical specialties is now subject to the availability of places at higher educational institutions, with no restrictions on the number of government-subsidized places in specific institutions – the strongest applicants are offered the opportunity to study tuition free in medical schools of their choice. Therefore, the higher is the competition for admission to a particular medical school, the larger is the number of tuition free students enrolled at this school. The number of government-subsidized places is determined based on the demand, rather than on the Ministry’s order or request.

During the 2018 nationwide higher education admission campaign, the majority of applications were submitted to Bohomolets National Medical University (NMU), which means that this medical school has the largest number of government-subsidized places. Out of all 765 first-year students enrolled at this university on a tuition free basis, 683 students will pursue a degree in Medicine, 71 students – in Pediatrics, 8 students – in Dentistry, and 3 students – in Medical Psychology.

In 2018, the top five medical schools in Ukraine are as follows:

1. Bohomolets National Medical University (765 government-subsidized places),
2. Danylo Halytskyi Lviv National Medical University (453 government-subsidized places),
3. Pirohov Vinnytsia National Medical University (432 government-subsidized places),
4. Kharkiv National Medical University (406 government-subsidized places), 
5. Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University (308 government-subsidized places).