Ukraine Doubles Student Scholarships From September, but Living Costs Remain Far Higher
Ukraine has doubled a number of academic and named state scholarships from September 1, 2026, but even the new payments remain well below the cost of basic housing and food for a student living independently.
How much will students receive?
The Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 1052, “Some Issues of Scholarship Provision,” on August 19. Under the decision, a number of academic, named and other state scholarships increased from September 1.
The ordinary academic scholarship for students at vocational education institutions increased from UAH 1,250 ($28.02) to UAH 2,500 ($56.04) per month.
For students at professional pre-higher education institutions, the standard scholarship rose from UAH 1,510 to UAH 3,020 ($67.70). The increased rate for designated specialties is now UAH 3,860 ($86.53).
At universities, the ordinary academic scholarship doubled from UAH 2,000 to UAH 4,000 ($89.67) per month. Students in specialties eligible for the higher rate will receive UAH 5,100 ($114.33).
Named scholarships
Named and academic scholarships established by the Cabinet of Ministers have also been increased:
- students at vocational education institutions — UAH 5,000 ($112.08) per month;
- students at professional pre-higher education institutions — UAH 6,040 ($135.40);
- university students — UAH 8,000 ($179.33).
Some scholarships for winners of national intellectual competitions have also doubled. The scholarship for winners of nationwide student Olympiads and the Junior Academy of Sciences competition, for example, has increased to UAH 5,200 ($116.57) per month.
The government has also introduced new scholarship amounts for particularly gifted young artists: UAH 2,500 ($56.04) for students of state arts lyceums, UAH 7,600 ($170.37) for students in professional pre-higher education, and UAH 10,000 ($224.17) for bachelor’s and master’s students at universities.
What does a scholarship actually cover?
The official scholarship increase looks significant in percentage terms, but its purchasing power is much more modest when compared with everyday expenses.
The latest available nationwide statistics show that the average monthly rent for a one-room apartment in Ukraine was UAH 8,662.69, or about $194, in July 2026. This is already more than twice the new ordinary university scholarship of UAH 4,000.
Food adds another substantial expense. Based on the latest available average Ukrainian prices, a basic monthly food basket for one adult can be estimated at approximately UAH 3,028 ($67.88). This is not the official statutory subsistence minimum; it is a practical calculation based on basic food quantities and nationwide average prices. The underlying prices come from monthly State Statistics Service data.
Basic food prices in Ukraine
The latest available nationwide average prices include:
| Product | Average price |
|---|---|
| Wheat bread, 1 kg | UAH 66.37 ($1.49) |
| Milk, 1 liter | UAH 51.06 ($1.14) |
| Chicken fillet, 1 kg | UAH 207.85 ($4.66) |
| Eggs, 10 | UAH 40.74 ($0.91) |
| Pork, 1 kg | UAH 228.71 ($5.13) |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | UAH 22.23 ($0.50) |
| Rice, 1 kg | UAH 52.40 ($1.17) |
| Pasta, 1 kg | UAH 41.05 ($0.92) |
| Buckwheat, 1 kg | UAH 75.17 ($1.69) |
| Sunflower oil, 1 liter | UAH 99.60 ($2.23) |
| Cabbage, 1 kg | UAH 27.39 ($0.61) |
| Onions, 1 kg | UAH 37.01 ($0.83) |
| Carrots, 1 kg | UAH 41.25 ($0.92) |
| Sugar, 1 kg | UAH 30.21 ($0.68) |
| Butter, 200 g | UAH 108.30 ($2.43) |
These prices are based on the nationwide averages for July 2026 published from State Statistics Service data.
For a simple monthly calculation, a basket containing 4 kg of bread, 4 liters of milk, 4 kg of chicken fillet, 30 eggs, 2 kg of pork, 5 kg of potatoes, 2 kg each of rice and pasta, 1 kg of buckwheat, 1 liter of sunflower oil and modest amounts of vegetables, sugar and butter costs approximately UAH 3,028 ($67.88).
A more realistic monthly minimum
Adding average rent for a one-room apartment to this basic food basket gives approximately:
- Rent: UAH 8,663 / $194
- Basic food basket: UAH 3,028 / $68
- Together: about UAH 11,691 / $262 per month
This calculation still excludes utilities, transportation, mobile communications, clothing, medicines, university expenses, hygiene products and other everyday costs. Therefore, UAH 11,691 ($262) should not be interpreted as the actual full cost of living, but rather as a very basic benchmark for housing plus food.
For comparison, an ordinary university scholarship of UAH 4,000 ($89.67) covers only about 34% of this very basic housing-and-food benchmark.
The government’s decision allocates an additional UAH 1.2 billion for academic and named scholarships compared with the previous year.
