Ukrainian military personnel can pursue distance higher education under specific service conditions
Military personnel in Ukraine serving on a contract, through mobilization, or as officers can legally pursue higher education without leaving military service, provided their studies do not interfere with their duties, mobilizatsiya.novyny.live reported. The Lviv Regional Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support stated that national law allows defenders to combine military obligations with academic programs at civilian universities.
To enroll, service members must choose distance or заочна (correspondence) learning formats. The primary requirement for admission is obtaining official consent from an immediate commander. Leadership within the military unit must verify that the educational process will not hinder the execution of assigned service or combat tasks before granting approval.
Eligible service member categories and restrictions
Regulatory frameworks outline three distinct groups of defenders granted the right to study at civilian universities. The first category includes young personnel aged 18 to 25 who currently lack higher education. This rule applies to both contract soldiers and citizens called up during mobilization.
The second category covers officers. Only officers who previously earned a higher education degree through state orders, completed their required service time matching their study duration, and signed a new military contract qualify for this path.
The third group involves privates, sergeants, and senior enlisted personnel. These service members may enter a civilian university only if they serve under a contract and officially extend it for a new term. Furthermore, an additional restriction applies to this group: they may study in a civilian institution only if their chosen specialty is physically unavailable in specialized military educational institutions.
Prohibited categories and parallel legislative initiatives
Ukrainian legislation establishes strict boundaries for personnel barred from studying in civilian universities. An absolute ban applies to citizens currently undergoing basic military service. Current cadets at specialized military schools and officers serving on a conscription basis also cannot pursue external higher education.
In parallel legislative developments, the government submitted a bill to parliament proposing to simplify housing registration procedures for military personnel and their families by removing the mandatory link to a registered place of residence. Parliament also drafted a mechanism to raise baseline salaries for defenders, which have remained unchanged for several years despite inflation, through adjustments that avoid increasing tax pressure or cutting social benefits.