International students get their higher education in universities, academies and institutes that are not only accredited, but also have a special license to teach foreign students. All the universities from this Guide possess the license. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine controls the quality of educational services done to foreign students.
International students start their studying with foundation year.
It includes a course of Ukrainian (Russian) language and some of the comprehensive subjects according to the future profession. Further education is continuing together with Ukrainian students. (English medium is also available however)
Money
National currency is Hryvnia (UHR). 1 USD = 5.04 Hryvnia (1/03/07)
You can change foreign currency in banks, kiosks, in the international airport. In the airport the currency rate is the same as in other places.
Payment for purchasing and services is done in hryvnias. Nevertheless, some companies take payments in USD.
You can use credit cards of international payment systems. They can be used in many of the shops, hotels, transport companies, clubs and restaurants. In cities the net of exchange machines is well developed including the most popular among students that of AVAL bank. This bank is often used to open the account for international students.
Here you can save money both in foreign currency and Ukrainian hryvnia. Departments of the bank are situated in many regions of the country. It makes it easier to transfer money through the Western Union.
Holidays
New Year 1st of January
Orthodox Christmas 7th of January
International Women Day 8th of March
Orthodox Easter
Labor Day 1st of May
Victory Day 9th of May
Trinity Sunday
Constitution Day 28th of June
Day of Independence 24th of August
Communications
UKRTELECOM Company, the sponsor of the Guide, provides excellent telephone communications both in Ukraine and all over the world.
Most of the universities provide access to Internet for their students. There are also a lot of Internet- cafes.
You can use services of fast mail, represented by DHL, Federal Express, UPS, TNT and other companies
.
Medical Service
Most of the State Universities provide free medical service in students’ hospitals. Students can also go to state and private hospitals, where medical service is to be paid. Service of the ambulance is free.
Climate
Climate is mostly continental. The average temperature in January is 1C, in November +5C, in July +22C.
Transport
The international airport of Borispol is the air gate of the country, 36 km from Kiev. To get from the airport to Kiev you can take a taxi, shuttle-bus, bus. You can also order pick up service in the university.
Besides Borispol airport you can take international flights from Simferopol, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk. International railway connections are with Bulgaria, Check, Slovak, Germany and Poland. International bus routes are from Poland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany by ship you can get from Turkey.
Ukraine has a well developed transportation system. So there will no problems to get to any part of the country. You can travel all over the country by train or bus. The fare for distance 500 km is about US$12-15. Tickets on train you can buy in advance either at the railway station or in the city. On the day of departure a ticket can be bought on the station only.
For air travel within the country you can buy tickets from the local companies. Flight cost at distance 500 km is about US$50.
Local transport includes buses, trolleybuses, trams, taxis. The fare is US$0.15. You can buy tickets from the conductor or in yellow kiosks at stops.
The fare for taxi is $US1 + US$0.20 per 1 km.
In Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk you can take SUBWAY, paying at the entrance a ticket of US$0.12 (without time and destination limits).During warm period a water transport is quite comfortable: on the Dnieper river or by the Black sea.
Electricity
The standard electrical currency throughout Ukraine is 220 volts.
Some outlets operate on 127 volts, but these are very rare. You may need a converter as well as an Eastern European plug adapter if you are bringing electrical appliances. You should be aware that there are frequent power surges, and other irregularities in the electrical supply. You may want to consider brining a surge protector.
