The Myth of Student Exodus Dispelled: How Many Ukrainians Are Returning to Domestic Universities

According to Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Mykola Vinnitsky, the number of Ukrainian applicants who go abroad for studies is almost equal to the number of those who return to Ukrainian higher educational institutions.

'I can dispel the myths. We have been talking a lot lately about the alleged mass exodus of applicants abroad. Yes, it is evident that there is a certain number of those going abroad. But the figures show that there is also approximately the same number returning from abroad,' Vinnitsky noted.

According to him, the statistics of applicants this year is almost identical to the previous academic year, with figures remaining within the statistical margin of error of 3%. The data obtained indicates stabilization in the higher education system of Ukraine, despite the difficult conditions of wartime.

Regional Differences and Concerns

Noting the presence of minor regional differences in the admission campaign, Mykola Vinnitsky pointed out that there is a lower number of applicants from the eastern regions of Ukraine, which may be related to the challenging situation in those territories.

Overall, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science's statement refutes widespread societal concerns about a mass exodus of youth from Ukraine for higher education, confirming the stability of the country's education system even under military conditions.

During the admission campaign in Ukraine, there is a balance between Ukrainian applicants going abroad and those returning. The stability of the indicators indicates the stabilization of the country's higher education system even in the challenging conditions of war and the presence of minor regional differences in the admission campaign.