### 1. Substance of the Act
This Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine temporarily, for the period of martial law, restricts the options for the transfer and reinstatement of students to full-time or dual forms of study in institutions of professional pre-higher and higher education. The document introduces strict limitations on changing the status of learners, which is directly related to matters of military registration and mobilization. Transfer and reinstatement to full-time/dual forms are now permitted only for clearly defined categories of individuals, most of whom must verify their status through the electronic interaction of state registries. Furthermore, the Order regulates the reinstatement of postgraduate students (PhD students) and completely prohibits reinstatement to obsolete educational and qualification levels.
### 2. Structure of the Act and Amendments
The Order has a clear structure consisting of a preamble and 9 regulatory and organizational paragraphs.
The main structural blocks are:
* **Paragraph 1:** A list of restrictions and exceptions regarding transfer (sub-paragraph 1) and reinstatement (sub-paragraph 2) to full-time/dual forms of study.
* **Paragraphs 2–4:** Special rules regarding the prohibition of reinstatement to obsolete educational levels, special conditions for postgraduate students (Doctors of Philosophy), and rules for reinstatement in the event of the revocation of an educational institution’s license.
* **Paragraphs 5–8:** Organizational instructions to the heads of educational institutions and directorates of the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) regarding data verification in the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (EDEBO) and monitoring of implementation.
* **Paragraph 9:** The procedure for entry into force.
**Amendments compared to the original version:**
Pursuant to MES Order No. 808 dated May 20, 2026, amendments were made to the preamble and Paragraph 9. The main amendment concerns the postponement of the entry into force of the provisions on electronic verification of the status of persons liable for military service (through the interaction between EDEBO and the Unified State Registry of Conscripts, Persons Liable for Military Service, and Reservists). These provisions will become operational only after the official announcement on the website of the State Enterprise “Inforesource” regarding the technical launch of such interaction.
### 3. Key Provisions for Practical Application
For the practical activities of educational institutions, lawyers, and learners, the following rules are of the utmost importance:
* **Prohibition of transfer to full-time/dual form:** Temporarily suspended for everyone, except:
1. Individuals who have not reached the maximum age limit for conscription into basic military service (subject to the availability of data on prior study in EDEBO).
2. Individuals who are not subject to military registration or are entitled to a deferment under Article 23 of the Law on Mobilization (status must be confirmed by electronic data exchange between registries).
3. Military personnel discharged from service after February 24, 2022.
4. Foreigners and stateless persons.
* **Prohibition of reinstatement to full-time/dual form:** Suspended, with the exception of the aforementioned categories of persons liable for military service, as well as:
1. Women after childcare leave (up to 3 or 6 years).
2. Individuals after academic leave (lasting up to 1–2 years) due to medical, family circumstances, or mobility programs.
3. Cadets of military educational institutions.
4. Students reinstating to specialties where the full-time/dual form is the only possible form under the educational standard.
5. Students returning from studying abroad.
* **Complete abolition of reinstatement to legacy levels:** Reinstatement to “junior specialist,” “specialist,” and “junior bachelor” levels is no longer carried out under any circumstances.
* **Special conditions for PhD (postgraduate) students:** Postgraduate students expelled before January 1, 2024, who completed their studies without defending their dissertation, may be reinstated to the evening or extramural (part-time) form of study for a period of up to 9 months solely for the defense of the dissertation (at their own expense).
