Choosing a university is an important stage in the life of every applicant. This decision can be influenced by factors such as the availability of a relevant speciality, the possibility of admission to a state-funded place, as well as the prestige of the institution. We will examine the latter aspect in detail in our ranking of the best higher education institutions.
In this ranking, we have gathered the 20 most prestigious Ukrainian universities in 2026. The list includes educational institutions from different cities of Ukraine and various professional fields. Future students can familiarise themselves with the key information about each HEI and decide on their favourite.
20 best universities in Ukraine in 2026
1. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU)
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is one of the leading research-type higher education institutions in Ukraine, located in Kyiv. The advantage of the university is the variety of specialities, including educational sciences, philology, international relations, economics, computer science, journalism, social sciences, and so on.
2. Lviv Polytechnic National University
Lviv Polytechnic National University is a leading technical university in Ukraine that combines traditional sciences with modern technologies. The main educational fields of the institution are engineering, architecture, construction, computer science, energy, management, economics, design, law, and others.
3. National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (KPI)
National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” is one of the oldest HEIs in Ukraine, specialising in the training of engineers, technical specialists, and scientists. Many other fields are also available at the university, such as engineering, educational sciences, IT, cybersecurity, electronics, telecommunications, energy, mechanical engineering, chemical technologies, and so on.
4. Sumy State University (SumDU)
This multidisciplinary educational institution is located in Sumy. It includes a medical institute, an educational and research institute of law, an educational and research institute of business, economics and management, the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technologies; the Faculty of Foreign Philology and Social Communications, as well as the Faculty of Technical Systems and Energy-Efficient Technologies.
5. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (LNU)
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is one of the oldest HEIs not only in Ukraine, but also in all of Eastern Europe. The university is not limited to one profile and holds leading positions in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, economics, and other fields. The institution also has a strong scientific base: it trains postgraduate students, conducts research, participates in grant programmes and international projects, and actively develops scientific publication activity.
6. V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
This is an institution with a long history that has a strong scientific and educational base in such fields as physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, medicine, law, psychology, philology, history, political science, and so on. The university is also a scientific centre and creates conditions for conducting interdisciplinary research.
7. National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP)
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine is a higher education institution consisting of 13 faculties, 3 educational and research institutes, and 7 research units. The main institution is located in Kyiv. The university specialises in agronomy, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, food technology, management, and so on.
8. Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University
The university is based in Ivano-Frankivsk and is a classic multidisciplinary HEI. In particular, it trains specialists in pedagogical, humanitarian, natural science, economic, legal, and social fields. The structure of the institution includes 12 faculties, 3 institutes, and a college.
9. National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (KhPI)
National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” has a strong engineering school offering more than 130 educational programmes. The main fields are mechanical engineering, energy, computer engineering, transport, chemical technologies, management, and so on.
10. Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University (ONU)
Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University is a leading scientific and educational centre in southern Ukraine. The higher education institution has a wide variety of specialities: from philology and journalism to economics and physics. Thanks to its geographical location, a distinctive feature of the university is the availability of fields related to marine research. In particular, the scientific school “Marine Microbiology and Ecological Biotechnology” operates at the Faculty of Biology.
11. Dnipro University of Technology
Dnipro University of Technology is a leading higher education institution in Dnipro with a strong applied orientation. The main fields of the university are considered to be oil and gas engineering, energy, ecology, mechanical engineering, IT, cybersecurity, electromechanics, economics, and so on.
12. Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (ChNU)
Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University is one of the most well-known multidisciplinary HEIs in Ukraine, as well as an important part of Bukovyna’s cultural heritage. The institution has 2 educational and research institutes, 10 faculties, more than 70 departments, and a professional college. The main educational fields include biology, chemistry, philology, history, political science, international relations, mathematics, economics, pedagogy, psychology, and others.
13. Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU)
Oles Honchar Dnipro National University is a classical university with a wide range of faculties, including the Faculty of Ukrainian and Foreign Philology and Art Studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations, the Faculty of History, the Faculty of Psychology and Special Education, as well as many others. In total, the institution has 14 faculties and 4 professional colleges.
14. National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, based in Kyiv, is one of the most authoritative universities in Ukraine. The institution trains specialists in such specialities as philology, journalism, psychology, political science, history, law, marketing, and others. In total, the educational space includes 7 faculties, as well as the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Professional and Continuing Education.
15. Uzhhorod National University (UzhNU)
Uzhhorod National University is a multidisciplinary university that is one of the main educational and scientific centres of Zakarpattia. The institution’s strong fields include medicine, law, international relations, tourism, philology, history, natural sciences, IT, economics, and pedagogy. Educational and research institutes and specialised institutes also operate on the basis of the institution.
16. Private Joint-Stock Company “Higher Educational Institution “Interregional Academy of Personnel Management’” (IAPM)
Private Joint-Stock Company “Higher Educational Institution “Interregional Academy of Personnel Management’” is a private higher education institution specialising in such fields as management, law, psychology, public administration, economics, social sciences, international relations, and philology. A distinctive feature of the institution is its extensive network, which includes the main university in Kyiv and more than 40 institutes, branches, and subsidiary structures in the regions of Ukraine.
17. Bogomolets National Medical University (NMU)
Bogomolets National Medical University is a leading medical education institution in Ukraine, which has 9 main educational units. In particular, it trains specialists in such specialities as medicine, paediatrics, dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy, psychology, healthcare management, and many others. A distinctive feature of the university is the presence of a clinical base.
18. The National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE)
The National University of Water and Environmental Engineering is a specialised university located in Rivne and specialising in water management, ecology, environmental management, construction, engineering, agroecology, and land management. The structure of the institution includes 10 educational and research institutes, among them: the Educational and Research Institute of Cybernetics, Information Technologies and Engineering, the Educational and Research Institute of Energy, Automation and Water Management, the Educational and Research Institute of Construction, Architecture and Design, as well as others.
19. West Ukrainian National University (WUNU)
West Ukrainian National University is known as a classical university located in Ternopil. The institution’s strong fields are economics, marketing, public administration, international relations, law, social sciences, and computer science. The educational institution includes 13 institutes, 5 faculties, 3 branches, and 4 colleges.
20. Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies (USUST)
Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies is a multidisciplinary university located in Dnipro. The institution has a wide variety of fields with a strong technical, transport, metallurgical, economic, and management profile. In particular, the educational institution offers students a choice of 55 specialities, 138 bachelor’s educational programmes, and 128 master’s educational programmes.
A distinctive feature of this list is also the diversity of training fields at the listed universities, which allows applicants to find the institution they need and familiarise themselves with its advantages. Thus, the ranking can serve as a certain guide for applicants who have a responsible choice ahead of them.
