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Ukrainian students in Rhineland-Palatinate
Photo: Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa
In July, German universities will make their premises available to Ukrainian youths and young adults: They can then take tests for starting or continuing their studies at Ukrainian universities.
The exams, which are comparable in importance to the German Abitur, are to be conducted online.
"In the coming weeks, young people will be able to graduate from universities in larger cities, and the Ukrainian authorities will test online," Peter-André Alt, President of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), told SPIEGEL.
Slimmed down program
According to SPIEGEL information, the tests have a significantly slimmed-down program in terms of content.
Normally, 13 subjects are offered in the university entrance tests in Ukraine.
However, due to the war, only three subjects are now tested: Ukrainian language, Ukrainian history and mathematics.
More than 5,000 participants have already registered with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education.
The offer will be available in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Cologne and Leipzig, confirmed Alt. The ministries of education in Ukraine and Germany, the Conference of Ministers of Education and the HRK are coordinating the tests.
Those who pass can then start studying at a Ukrainian university.
For the digital tests over the network, it is important that there is a stable data line and sufficient bandwidth, Alt explained: "We can guarantee that, which is why we made this offer to Ukraine."
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In April, the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) had already decided that refugee Ukrainian schoolchildren who were unable to complete secondary school because of the war could still study in Germany.
Prospective students can use it to apply directly to the preparatory college at the university of their choice, where they will be prepared for regular studies.
The background to this is that no regular state final exams will take place in Ukraine this year, said KMK President Karin Prien: "The students concerned should not suffer any disadvantage as a result."
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) expects a total of up to 100,000 students and scientists who could switch from Ukraine to the German university system as a result of the war.
There has been a framework agreement with the Ukrainian universities since 1998 to make it easier to switch between the systems.
In addition, the universities could draw on the experience of 2015, especially when it comes to integrating students who have fled, says HRK President Alt: “Just as there was a special program to prepare students who have fled back then, we now also need additional funds for the people from Ukraine."
In addition, according to the head of the HRK, one should not forget the scientists who fled Russia: "Many who left the country because of Putin are now looking for universities where they can continue their research."
Alt campaigned to see the situation as an opportunity for German universities.
Despite the sanctions imposed on Russia, existing programs to support researchers in exile would have to be expanded.
