Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

About Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv — known locally as KNU (Kyivskyi Natsionalnyi Universytet) — is Ukraine's flagship comprehensive university and one of the oldest higher-education institutions in Eastern Europe. The university was founded in 1834 by imperial decree as "Saint Vladimir University of Kyiv" and renamed in 1939 after the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, the central figure in modern Ukrainian literature and national identity.

KNU operates as a self-governing public research university under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. It is a "national" university — a designation reserved for the country's most established institutions — and holds the additional "autonomous research university" status. The main historic Red Building sits on Volodymyrska Street in central Kyiv; modern faculties are spread across the city with a large complex in the Holosiivskyi district.

Why Choose Shevchenko (KNU)?

If you want a name that signals "this is a serious university" both inside Ukraine and to graduate-school admissions committees abroad, KNU is the strongest brand in the country. It is regularly the highest-ranked Ukrainian university in the QS World University Rankings and produces a large share of Ukrainian Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, ministers, and academic researchers. For students aiming to continue postgraduate studies in Europe, North America or East Asia, KNU's reputation makes credential evaluations smoother than most Ukrainian regional universities.

It is not a medical school — there is no MBBS program here. KNU's strengths are law, international relations, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, philology, history and economics. For social sciences and humanities students, this is the strongest option in Ukraine.

Programs Offered in English

KNU offers a growing list of English-medium programs at bachelor's and master's level. Availability changes year to year as new programs launch — confirm at application time:

Some programs are "dual-language" — a mix of English and Ukrainian instruction. This is usually disclosed in the program description; we verify per program before you commit. Ukrainian language classes are included free of charge for foreign students from semester one as a practical skill, not graded.

Tuition Fees and Living Costs

KNU is one of the most affordable flagship national universities in Europe. For 2026–2027:

• Bachelor's programs: €2,000–3,000/year (depending on faculty)
• Master's programs: €2,500–4,000/year
• PhD programs: €3,000–4,500/year

Living in Kyiv adds roughly €4,500–6,000/year for a typical student budget — university hostel (€40–80/month), food (€150–250/month), transport (€10–15/month), phone/internet, books, modest social budget. Total annual cost-of-attendance for a bachelor's is therefore around €7,000–9,000 — substantially less than equivalent programs in Poland, Germany or Hungary.

Admission Requirements

Admission to KNU is based on academic record, not entrance exam. International applicant requirements for 2026–2027:

• Secondary school certificate / 12th-grade / HSC equivalent (notarized translation if not in English/Ukrainian)
• Academic transcripts showing subject grades
• Valid passport with at least 18 months remaining
• Medical fitness certificate (issued within 6 months) and HIV test result
• For competitive programs (Law, IR, Economics): a motivation letter
• IELTS / TOEFL: usually not required for bachelor's, sometimes requested for master's
• Age 17+ at start of academic year

KNU is more selective than regional Ukrainian universities — they expect respectable secondary-school grades, especially in subjects relevant to your chosen program. A weak transcript in mathematics, for instance, is a red flag for the Cybernetics or Economics faculties.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Total time from first message to first lecture: 6–10 weeks. The main academic year starts in September. Plan to start your application 3–4 months ahead.

Rankings, Recognition and Career Pathways

KNU consistently appears in the QS World University Rankings in the top 500–700 band — the highest ranking of any Ukrainian university. It is also listed in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Webometrics. The university is a Bologna Process signatory, meaning the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits earned at KNU are transferable across the European Higher Education Area.

KNU degrees are recognized across the EU, UK, US, Canada, the Gulf and most of Asia, subject to local credential-evaluation procedures (apostille on the diploma + sworn translation). For graduate-school applications abroad, KNU's transcripts and reference letters carry meaningful weight — the international relations and law faculties have particularly strong alumni networks in Western European foreign ministries and international organizations.

Living in Kyiv as a KNU Student

Kyiv is a metropolitan city of about 3 million people with a young, cosmopolitan student population. KNU operates several student dormitories ("hurtozhytky") clustered around the campus districts. Most international students start in dormitory housing — basic but functional, typically 2–3 students per room with shared kitchens and bathrooms per floor — and move to private apartments by year 2 or 3 if budget allows.

Monthly budget for a moderately comfortable student life:

• Dormitory housing: €40–80
• Private apartment shared 2–3 ways: €120–200 per person
• Food (cooking mostly): €150–200
• Public transport (metro/bus/marshrutka): €10–15
• Mobile + internet: €5–10
• Personal & social: €80–150

Kyiv has well-developed public transport, large grocery chains (ATB, Silpo, Novus, Auchan), and a vibrant café and bar culture in the central districts. Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Turkish and Middle Eastern groceries are widely available. The international student community across all Kyiv universities numbers in the tens of thousands.

International Student Community

KNU hosts students from 90+ countries. Active country associations exist for Indian, Nigerian, Pakistani, Iranian, Egyptian, Moroccan, Chinese and Vietnamese students — these run welcome events, cultural festivals (Diwali, Eid, Independence Days, Chinese New Year), and academic peer-support groups. The university's International Office handles registration, residence permits, banking introductions and emergency support; you will use this office a lot in your first month.

KNU also has formal exchange agreements with Sorbonne, Humboldt, University of Vienna, Charles University in Prague, and many others — semester exchanges are open to international students in good academic standing.