Minus the middle-man, website helps students study in Ukraine

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- International students, including Malaysians, who are keen on furthering studies in Ukraine can now do away with the services of the middle-man and instead, access the Ukrainian State Center for International Education's website.

The centre’s director, Dr Olena Shapovalova said the government website, www.studyinukraine.gov.ua, enabled prospective students to apply directly to any Ukranian university without the need to engage the services of a third party.

"The entire process to apply costs only US$200 (about RM830) and that is paid through bank transfers. No one in Ukraine or Malaysia should ask you to pay in cash. No middleman or agents are needed," she told Bernama during a visit to the news agency's headquarters here Wednesday.

Shapovalova is part of the delegation from the centre under the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science which participated in the 6th Global Higher Education Forum 2018 from Oct 8-10 in Putrajaya near here.

She said the website, which was established last year, introduced a more transparent system which helped to curb any party from charging exorbitant fees for their services as agents, as well as helped prospective students from being scammed by fake agents or consultant agencies.

According to a media report, a number of Indian national students in Ukraine were scammed by a few private education consultants who arranged fake admissions at various universities for the victims.

Not only were they cheated of their money, their passports and certificates were also confiscated by the so-called agents. 

Shapovalova said some universities allowed prospective students to apply directly through their websites, but the centre provided them with information from over 300 universities and institutions in Ukraine.

Services provided by the centre through the website include assistance with career guidance and information on opportunities and conditions of studying in Ukraine, and consultation on Ukrainian educational system and legislation.

It also provided invitation letter, visa support, arrangement of entry to Ukraine, airport pick up, and consultation services for students during their stay in Ukraine.

The centre, established in 2003 to promote education opportunities in Ukraine for foreign citizens, acts as the official representative of Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science.

Currently, there are 67,000 international students in Ukraine, of which over 10,000 are from India. Less than 50 of the students are from Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA