Founded 1898 · Kyiv, Ukraine · Engineering, IT, Computer Science, Aerospace · Fees €2,000–3,000/yr · Bologna Process, ECTS
Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute — universally abbreviated as KPI — is Ukraine's flagship technical university and one of the largest engineering schools in Eastern Europe. The institution was founded in 1898 as the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute of Emperor Alexander II, and was renamed in 2016 to honour Igor Sikorsky, the pioneer of helicopter aviation and a KPI alumnus.
The university operates as a National Technical University under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and holds the status of "self-governing autonomous research university". The main campus is a sprawling complex in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, easily reached from the Politekhnichnyi Instytut metro station. With more than 25,000 students across 18 faculties, KPI is Ukraine's largest technical institution and the centre of gravity for the country's IT, electronics and aerospace industries.
If your goal is engineering, IT, computer science or applied physics, KPI is the strongest brand in Ukraine for technical education. Three things make it distinctive: depth (degree programs cover everything from classical mechanical engineering through quantum information theory), industry connection (KPI runs joint laboratories with Samsung, Huawei, Siemens, NASA-affiliated research groups and major Ukrainian IT employers), and an alumni network that runs the Ukrainian tech sector.
It's not the cheapest option in Ukraine — there are smaller technical universities charging €1,500/year — but KPI's name is recognized by recruiters in the EU and the US. Graduates frequently move into roles at major IT outsourcing firms (EPAM, SoftServe, Luxoft), product companies, and engineering consultancies. For students aiming at master's or PhD abroad, the KPI transcript is taken seriously.
KPI offers an expanding catalogue of English-medium programs across most technical disciplines. The most popular for international students:
| Faculty / Program | Level | Duration | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & Software Engineering | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,500–3,500 |
| Cybersecurity | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,500–3,500 |
| Artificial Intelligence & Data Science | Master's | 2 years | €2,800–3,500 |
| Telecommunications & Electronics | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,000–3,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,000–2,800 |
| Aerospace Engineering | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,200–3,000 |
| Applied Physics | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,000–2,800 |
| Industrial Biotechnology & Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's / Master's | 4–6 years | €2,000–2,800 |
Several programs include a mandatory industrial internship in years 3–4 — KPI's partnership network with Ukrainian and international tech companies means these placements are real, not paperwork exercises.
For 2026–2027 admissions:
Living costs in Kyiv add €4,500–6,000/year. A full bachelor's degree at KPI including living typically lands at €25,000–35,000 across four years — roughly a quarter of equivalent CS programs in the Netherlands or Ireland, half the cost of Poland, and comparable to Czech public universities.
💡 Heads up on agents: Some KPI applications are routed through third-party agencies that charge €1,000–2,000 in "processing fees". KPI does not require an agent. We handle the official application directly and free of charge.
Admission is based on academic record. International applicant requirements:
KPI is selective on mathematical preparation. If your school transcript shows weak math, expect to be steered toward a less mathematically-demanding program — or asked to complete a pre-university bridging year. We screen for this honestly during the eligibility check so you don't waste time on the wrong program.
WhatsApp your passport, school grades and target program. We confirm fit (especially math/physics prerequisites) within 24 hours.
Official KPI invitation in 2–4 weeks. We file the application directly with KPI's international office.
Apply at the Ukrainian embassy in your country. Processing typically 2–4 weeks.
Fly into Kyiv Boryspil. Airport pickup, hostel placement and enrolment paperwork all arranged beforehand.
Total time from first message to first lecture: 6–10 weeks. KPI's main September intake closes in mid-October; some programs accept a February intake.
KPI is unusual among Ukrainian universities in the depth of its industry ties. Active partnerships include:
For international students, this matters because KPI graduates can credibly compete for entry-level engineering roles in the EU. Ukrainian software engineers are widely employed remotely by US and Western European companies, and the KPI name on the CV is recognized.
The KPI campus is in the Solomianskyi district, about 15 minutes by metro from central Kyiv. The university operates a large number of student hostels (hurtozhytky) — roughly half the international student body lives in dormitory housing in or near campus. Monthly budget for a typical student:
Kyiv is a young, cosmopolitan city. The KPI district itself has the typical campus-area mix of cheap cafés, libraries, sports facilities, and student services. Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Turkish and Middle Eastern groceries are widely available across the city.
KPI hosts students from 70+ countries — significant communities from Iran, India, Nigeria, China, Turkey, Vietnam, Egypt and Morocco. Country-level student associations run cultural festivals, welcome events for new arrivals, and academic peer-support groups. The university's International Students Office handles all the bureaucracy of your first month — registration, residence permits, bank-account opening, mobile-SIM purchase — and is the first place to go when something goes wrong administratively.
KPI also has exchange-program agreements with technical universities across Germany, Poland, Czechia, China and South Korea. Strong-performing students can spend a semester abroad in years 3–4 of their bachelor's.
Free · No hidden fees · 2–4 week process