Additional 'Compensatory' Course Introduced in Three-Year Bachelor's Program for Students Changing Profiles After School – Ministry of Education

Mykola Trofymenko, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, has made an important statement regarding the introduction of an additional 'compensatory' course within the framework of a three-year bachelor's degree program. This initiative is aimed at ensuring quality preparation for students who choose new specialties that differ from those they studied in high school.

Trofymenko noted that the ministry is moving into the practical phase of implementing the three-year bachelor's program. "We are starting preparations for the experiment with the three-year bachelor's program. We will soon gather working groups and begin substantive work on the regulatory and methodological framework for this project," he wrote in a post on Facebook. This announcement followed a meeting with rectors of higher education institutions, where the implementation of specialized secondary schools and the transformation of the bachelor's degree were discussed.

According to the Deputy Minister, educational programs and curricula must be prepared in advance to ensure that educational institutions are ready for the experimental launch of the three-year bachelor's program by 2029. He also stated that starting in 2030, the three-year bachelor's degree should become a standard model for those specialties where it is academically and professionally justified.

"Specialized secondary schools are changing the preparation of graduates. Higher education institutions must also change. Where the content of the program, learning outcomes, and professional requirements allow it, the bachelor's degree should become three years long. This will be followed by a two-year master's program. This aligns with the modern trends in the development of European education," emphasized Trofymenko. He pointed out that higher education is already moving in this direction, focusing on greater student agency, individual educational trajectories, flexibility in program construction, and updating standards.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister stressed that this is not about mechanically shortening the duration of study. "There are specialties where a longer training cycle is an objective requirement. This primarily applies to professions with complex technological demands or those that directly impact the safety and health of individuals," he noted, explaining the importance of maintaining educational quality.

It is worth recalling that in September 2017, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a decision to implement a 12-year school education system, which is set to begin in 2027. From September 1, 2025, a pilot reform of specialized secondary schools will commence, which will include the testing of new teaching approaches, the development of courses, and the testing of educational materials. This is the first step towards implementing a new State Standard for specialized secondary education and preparing for the transition to a 12-year system. Thirty lyceums from 19 regions of Ukraine are already implementing a model for students to choose their profiles and subjects.

Starting September 1, 2026, the second phase of the pilot reform of secondary schools in lyceums will begin, during which 150 pilot educational institutions will test the updated content and structure of education in grades 10-12. It is expected that from September 1, 2027, 10th grades will commence their studies in specialized schools. The first graduations from the 12th grade are planned for the spring-summer of 2030, after which, from 2030 to 2033, the transformation of the network of educational institutions will occur depending on demographic situations and the initial results of the reforms.

In 2029, university admissions will begin for applicants from the pilot three-year specialized secondary school. The first stage will involve the three-year bachelor's program as an option for graduates of the pilot three-year specialized secondary school, provided they demonstrate adequate preparation in the relevant profile studied in grades 10-12. If their preparation does not meet the requirements, applicants will need to take a compensatory course to enroll in a four-year bachelor's program.