The Ukrainian relief is almost plain. Plains occupy 95% of inland territory. Mountains - 5%. Three zones –mixed forests, forest-steppe and steppe, present the plain landscapes.

Two climate zones – moderate latitudes and sub-tropical on Southern coast of Crimea – present climate of Ukraine. Mountainous regions have special climate conditions because of vertical ruggedness, different steepness of slopes, local atmosphere circulations etc. In general, Ukraine belongs to countries with moderate climate of four seasons within a year.  Climate conditions 

The territory of Ukraine is equal to 603,7 th sq km or 5,7% of European territory and 0,44% of the World. Ukraine is bigger then France (544 th sq km), Spain (505 th sq km), Sweden (450 th sq km), Germany (356,3 th sq km), Poland (312,7 th sq km). Thanks to beneficial geoposition, wide net of air transport, railroads, marine and auto transport, Ukraine is to be a transit country for passengers and cargos of different countries.influence on economy, tourism development, allow to use the energy of the wind and the Sun.

Ukraine consists of the Crimean Autonomous Republic and 24 regions (oblast): Vinnytsya region, Volyn region, Dnipropetrovs’k region, Donets’k region, Zhytomyr region, Zakarpattya region, Zaporizhya region, Ivano-Frankivs’k region, Kyiv region, Kirovohrad region, Luhans’k region, Lviv region, Mykolayiv region, Odesa region, Poltava region, Rivne region, Sumy region, Ternopil region, Kharkiv region, Kherson region, Khmelnytsky region, Cherkasy region, Chernihiv region, Chernivtsi region.

Kyiv and Sevastopol are the cities of special status, stated by laws of Ukraine. There are 490 districts, 446 cities, 907 towns and 10196 villages.

Territorial structure is based on the principles of indivisibility and unity of the country, the unity of centralization and decentralization of power, balance of social-economic development of regions, according to their historical, economic, geographical and demography peculiarities, ethnical and culture traditions.

The population of Ukraine is 48,5 mln people. Ukraine is the 5th in Europe (after Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France) and the 21st in the World. Ukrainian population sets 7,3% of population of Europe and 1% of the World population. 68% of Ukrainians live in cities and 32% - in rural areas.

The average density of population of Ukraine is 85 people per square kilometer. As per this indicator, Ukraine yields to many European countries. The density is not similar all over Ukraine. The most habitable is Donet’s region - 196 people per sq km. The less one – Chernihiv region – people per sq km.

National currency is Hryvnia (UHR). 1 USD = 23 Hryvnias.

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.

Ukrtelecom, Life, Kyivstar a.c. companies, the sponsors of the Guide, provides excellent telephone communications both in Ukraine and all over the world.

You can use services of fast mail, represented by DHL, Federal Express, UPS, TNT and other companies.

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.

International railway connections are with Bulgaria, Check, Slovak, Germany and Poland. International bus routes are from Poland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany. 

By ship you can get from Turkey.

It is better to find out your own route to the university from the university itself or the agent. 

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 Underground, 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.

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.

The system of education provides good quality and is well developed. One of the most important tasks for central and local authorities is to give equal possibilities in getting top quality education for all citizens of Ukraine. 

In the area of education and upbringing are involved 7% of Ukrainian professionals who teach 11 mln. students (22% of the population).

There are 18400 institutions for pre-school preparation. According to the Constitution secondary school takes the central part in the system and is free and quite accessible. 7 mln. students attend 21900 

schools. Private sector in secondary education is insignificant. Totally, there are 200 private schools (1% of all the amount of students).

Transition of secondary school from 10 (11) to 12 level system, according to European standards, is taking place now. Moreover, there is no difference in content of Ukrainian (post-soviet) secondary education from standards of secondary school of other European countries. 

You can take vocational education in 1003 technical institutions (utchilische) on the base of lower secondary education and upper secondary education. 

In Ukrainian system of education College of Further Education (tekhnikum) refers to the lower part of higher education.

Having more than 1 mln. students institutions of higher education in Ukraine form a system which considers to be one of the biggest in the world.

In Ukraine you can get higher education in universities (academies, institutes) accredited on 3-4th level.

After 4 years of studying you can get Bachelor degree, 5 years is for Specialists, five and a half or 6 years Masters degree. Among all the enumerated degrees Specialist is the most popular. 

You become a student of a university according the results of entrance exams in July August.

The academic year beginning on the 1st of September lasts up to the end of July and consists of two terms. All the students go on holidays between two terms: the first term (September - January) and the second one (February - June). Summer holidays last for two months.

At the end of each term the student takes 3 or 5 examinations and 3 or 5 tests. Successful pass of examinations and tests guarantees the possibility of getting to the second term. 

Students have classes everyday but for weekends. They attend lectures, tutorials, work with materials in libraries and resource centres. Higher education course includes work placement, when students have the possibility to gain experience.

Recognition of qualification gained is the priority of the state. In case of successful graduation of a university students get the Diploma no matter what form of property it refers to. The transcript of the subject list with marks is attached to the Diploma. Although the state guarantees the conformity to standards of qualification, the employer takes into consideration how authoritative the university is.

Today, you can get the education in 313 universities, academies and institutes of Ukraine of 3-4th level of accreditation. Among them there are 220 state institutions, 93- non state. 54,9 % of state universities students get free education.

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.

To select a university and profession you are to take the information right from the institution according to the address, given in the Guide, Embassy of Ukraine in your country or agent, who represents the Ukrainian University.

You have to send the following to the University:

• an application form;
• the copy of the document about secondary education signed by a notary;
• the copy of birth certificate signed by a notary;
• medical certificate that states you have no health problems and infectious disease;
• 8 documental photos.

If there are no problems with the documents, you will get an official proposal, 2 copies of contract and the invoice for study course and other payments.

After that you have to send a letter of confirmation of your coming to take a course, one copy of the contract, a copy of the bank document, that confirms your payment.

The university sends the official invitation to the applicant.

As soon as you get the invitation you have to address the Embassy of Ukraine in your country. There you can find out the information about the list of documents needed to get a student visa.

To get through the passport control you have to show the passport with visa, the copy of the official invitation, medical insurance policy.

On coming to the place of study, international students have to be registered in the local authorities. As a rule, this procedure is done by the international department of the university.

The procedure of medical insurance of international students is a usual practice in Ukraine. Medical insurance can be paid together with study payment or at the airport in Ukraine.

There are other ways of payment as well.

International students live in university hostels. There are various types of hostels. To get more information you can address the accommodation department of the university. It is also possible to live in Ukrainian families or to rent a flat.