Insurance for Foreign Students in Ukraine in 2026

28.08.2026, 17:52 visitukraine.today

Foreign students continue to choose Ukrainian universities. Find out what insurance is required for studying in Ukraine and why it is worth choosing a policy with war risk coverage

Ukrainian education is valued around the world, and despite the war, foreign students continue to choose Ukrainian universities — let's look at what insurance they need.

Ukrainian education is valued around the world, and despite the war, foreign students continue to choose Ukrainian universities. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2026, 21,271 foreign students from 127 countries were studying at Ukrainian higher education institutions. For comparison, before the full-scale invasion, almost 100,000 foreign students were studying in Ukraine.

The Director of the Ukrainian State Center for International Education (USCIE), Olena Shapovalova, notes that the number of foreign students has decreased compared with the pre-war period, but interest in obtaining higher education in Ukraine remains. Ukrainian higher education institutions are actively developing new educational programs, adapting learning formats and participating in initiatives aimed at developing international education. In the 2025/2026 academic year, foreign students are studying at 369 higher education institutions across the country.

Read also: The 2026–2027 school year in Ukraine: when will classes begin and end?

The largest number of foreign students study at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding, Sumy National Agrarian University, Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics and the National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute.” The list also includes the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, International European University, University of Medicine and Social Sciences, National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” and Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University.

The geography of study primarily covers the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, as well as Sumy, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. The countries of origin of foreign students are mainly countries in Asia, the Caucasus region and Africa, as well as some European countries.

The most popular fields of study are finance, banking, insurance and the stock market, food technology, management, technology for the production and processing of livestock products, medicine, physical education and sports, biotechnology and bioengineering, air transport, economics and international economic relations, as well as computer engineering.

As of January 1, 2026, 6,292 invitations to study had been registered, with the largest number issued to applicants from China, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Morocco, Nigeria, Türkiye, India, the United States and Poland. In 2025, 5,475 foreign students were admitted to Ukrainian higher education institutions — 534 more than a year earlier. Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykola Trofymenko expects that after the war ends, the number of foreign students in Ukraine could grow to 100,000.

Read also: The cost of higher education in Ukraine: tuition fees by major, region and university

Foreign students in Ukraine can choose from different forms of study — full-time, part-time and distance learning. Many universities offer a hybrid format combining in-person and online learning, particularly for foreign students who cannot stay in Ukraine permanently due to the security situation. There is no “full-time only” restriction for foreign students, so the form of study can be selected depending on the rules of the particular university and educational program.

To enter a Ukrainian university, a foreign student needs to prepare a standard set of documents: a foreign passport, a previous education document with an apostille or legalization, a medical insurance policy, an invitation from the university, a type D visa for long-term study, a medical certificate and photographs. This list may vary depending on the requirements of the particular institution and the student's country of origin, so it is worth checking the requirements in advance on the website of the chosen institution or through the official Study in Ukraine platform.

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One of the key documents is a medical insurance policy. To study in Ukraine, a foreign national must have a medical insurance policy recognized by the Ukrainian authorities. This is required both for obtaining a visa and for applying for a temporary residence permit. The policy must cover the entire period of study or stay in Ukraine, and the minimum coverage amount is usually around EUR 30,000.

Planning to study in Ukraine? Order the appropriate insurance policy now from Visit Ukraine. It takes no more than 5 minutes.

The war in Ukraine is ongoing, so foreign students face unique risks that do not exist in other countries. You can choose any medical insurance policy, but it is important to understand that not all policies cover war risks. A regular medical insurance policy covers sudden illnesses, accidents, emergency medical care and hospitalization. However, it does not cover injuries resulting from hostilities, injuries caused by explosions or shelling, concussions related to military actions, or evacuation from dangerous regions due to the threat of shelling.

War risk insurance covers injuries, wounds and concussions resulting from hostilities, accidental death involving war risks, loss of sight or hearing as a result of military actions, and serious limb injuries caused by explosions. That is why, during wartime, it is worth considering specialized war risk insurance or combining a regular medical insurance policy with a war risk policy for maximum protection.

Ukraine remains a zone of armed conflict, and the risk of coming under shelling exists even in relatively safe regions. A regular policy will not cover the treatment of injuries sustained as a result of hostilities, which is precisely something a foreign student may face. Treatment for serious injuries can cost tens of thousands of euros, and war risk insurance will cover these expenses. In addition, having such a policy gives peace of mind to relatives — parents and family members will know that you are protected not only against ordinary illnesses but also against risks related to the war.

Visit Ukraine Insurance offers several types of policies with war risk coverage, and every foreign student can choose an option based on the duration of their studies, budget and purpose of obtaining the policy — a visa, temporary residence permit or additional protection.

Armor 30,000 EUR — a policy with EUR 30,000 in coverage and a price starting from €4.40/day (12% discount from the standard €5/day). It covers COVID-19 treatment expenses up to EUR 30,000, accidental death involving passive war risks (UAH 100,000), concussions of varying severity (from UAH 5,000 to UAH 30,000), penetrating head and brain injuries, fractures and serious limb injuries, loss of sight or hearing, as well as medical assistance in Ukraine of up to UAH 100,000. Daily payment makes this policy convenient for students coming for a semester or a specific educational course.

Armor 100,000 UAH — a more budget-friendly option with UAH 100,000 in coverage and a price starting from €3.56/day (26% discount). The policy covers medical assistance of UAH 50,000, accidental death involving passive war risks, concussions, penetrating head injuries with brain damage, fractures, loss of sight or hearing, and complete spinal cord rupture. This is a solution for those who want protection against war risks without paying extra for additional options.

Visa & Residence Protection – Life & Health — an annual policy with EUR 30,000 in coverage and a price of €200/year (50% discount from €400/year). Coverage includes accidental death involving passive war risks, traumatic injuries, emergency medical assistance, outpatient and inpatient treatment, medical transportation, emergency dental care and medical repatriation. This policy is suitable for students applying for a temporary residence permit and needing protection for the entire academic year.

Armor+ Visa Insurance — another annual policy with EUR 30,000 in coverage, priced at €484.13/year (3% discount from €500.20/year). Coverage includes pain relief for acute dental conditions, COVID-19 treatment, meningococcal infection, acute inflammatory conditions affecting the eyes, ears and respiratory tract, accidental death involving passive war risks, thyroid diseases and acute pancreatitis. This option is suitable for students who need broader coverage for ordinary medical conditions along with protection against war risks throughout the year.

Choose a policy that matches the duration of your studies and arrange it on the Visit Ukraine website before traveling to Ukraine — it will take just a few minutes and save you the hassle of dealing with documents before entering university.

The process of arranging insurance for a foreign student consists of several consecutive steps.

Step 1. Determine the type of policy you need. For obtaining a type D visa, an international or Ukrainian medical insurance policy is suitable. To obtain a temporary residence permit, you need a policy from a Ukrainian insurer covering the entire validity period of the permit. If the goal is maximum protection, consider combining a regular medical insurance policy with war risk insurance, for example Armor 30,000 EUR together with Visa & Residence Protection.

Step 2. Check the policy validity period. The policy must cover the entire period of study or stay in Ukraine without gaps. For consular checks and subsequent visa extensions, annual policies are more convenient, while a daily-payment option is suitable for short-term trips.

Step 3. Arrange the policy online.