Guidelines for students fleeing the war in Ukraine

Are third coutnry nationals coming from Ukraine treated like Ukrainian nationals in the process of admission?

Third country nationals (i.e.non-EU or EEA nationals) who legally resided in Ukraine prior to 24 February 2022 and have temporary protection status in Luxembourg are treated like Ukrainian nationals.

Third country nationals who come from Ukraine and do NOT have temporary protection status in Luxembourg are considered third-country citizens and must conform to the rules that apply in that case.

A student with third country nationality who resided in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 cannot argue that s/he has the same rights as a Ukrainian national because the temporary protection is not granted automatically. In order to obtain temporary protection, the third country national must prove:

• that s/he was in possession of a valid residence permit issued by the Ukrainian authorities before 24 February 2022; and
• is unable to return to their country or region of origin in safe and durable conditions.

Only after having obtained the status of beneficiary of temporary protection can third country national students be treated in the same way as Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection. Third country foreign nationals (i.e. non-EU nationals) also have to provide proof of enrolment at a Ukrainian university on 24 February 2022 if they seek admission at the University of Luxembourg as per the criteria established for Ukrainian nationals.

If these conditions are not met, third country national students who resided in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 must apply for an authorisation of stay as an international student.

Which deadlines for admission are applied to Ukrainian nationals from Ukrainian universities?

The deadlines for admission as applied to EU nationals.

Can Ukrainian nationals coming from Ukrainian universities apply to a programme after the deadline for EU applicants has passed?

No.

What if Ukrainian nationals from Ukrainian universities do not have the required paperwork or documentation to complete the admission process?

Ukrainian and, if applicable, third country national students who fulfil the conditions mentioned above,from Ukrainian universities can submit uncertified photocopies and non-translated documents as proof of their studies, diplomas, and qualifications if translated or certified versions are not available to the applicant.

However, the candidate has to provide the required documentation to prove the qualifications and language skills as required by the study programme. If the applicant cannot provide relevant copies of the documents, then the application cannot be treated.

All foreigners studying in Ukraine are part of the central register managed by the Study Abroad Department of the Ministry of Education in Kyiv. Foreign students can contact info@studyinukraine.gov.ua and ask for the relevant documents of their studies.

Are language requirements binding or is there any flexibility?

The University of Luxembourg offers multilingual courses and does not make any exception to the language(s) proficiency that is required to pursue a programme. In this respect, Ukrainian applicants, and foreign students from Ukrainian universities have to possess the required levels of proficiency in the same way as any other candidate who is being assessed for the programme. This applies to bilingual and trilingual programmes; applicants from Ukraine will have to provide proof that they speak the required languages at the right level of proficiency.

However, we apply flexibility in how the language proficiency can be demonstrated by Ukrainian nationals and foreign students from Ukrainian universities. We accept a) valid language certificates, b) expired language certificates, and c) alternative language certificates issued by the universities and other entities. In addition, the study programme can conduct a short interview to test the language proficiency of the applicant when language certificates are not available or when doubts remain regarding the certificates provided.

Do applicants need to have temporary protection status in Luxembourg?

Applications for admission can be made by candidates with or without the Luxembourg temporary protection status.

Do admitted candidates have priority in the University’s student housing?

No. Ukrainian nationals and foreign students from Ukrainian universities can apply for accommodation in the University’s student residencies, but a room is not guaranteed. Applicants with temporary protection status have accommodation made available by the Luxembourg authorities.

Can applicants from Ukraine apply to bi-, or tri-national programmes?

Yes. However, the applicants with temporary protection status may not be able to leave the Luxembourg territory for international travel.

Can applicants who currently finish their 11th grade from a secondary school in Ukraine be admitted to study programmes at the University of Luxembourg?

No. These applicants must contact Service de la scolarisation des enfants étrangers (SECAM), and they will be advised on the options to pursue an EU-wide accreditation to access a higher education programme.

Can applicants who currently follow bridging secondary school programmes in other European countries apply for admission at the University of Luxembourg?

It depends. Without a graduation from a bridging programme allowing for an EU-wide accreditation, admission cannot be pursued at the University of Luxembourg.

Is there an automatic admission of Ukrainian and foreign nationals from a Ukrainian university to study programmes at the University of Luxembourg?

No. Study programmes have to assess applicants from Ukraine similarly to other applicants with respect to the academic quality and language requirements. If an applicant does not fulfil the academic and language criteria for admission, the applicant will not be admitted.