The National Academic Contact Point Ukraine of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides consolidated information and offers of support for students and researchers at www.daad-ukraine.org/en/.

The Contact Point website compiles information for students and researchers about residence, admission to university, studies, research and life in Germany. Information is available in German and English. Information in Ukrainian is currently being added. The website is meant to provide Ukrainian students with orientation in Germany’s higher education system. It is also a platform for Germany’s higher education and research community to compile and structure announcements about the many support offers available. Based on the DAAD's advisory services, the National Academic Contact Point Ukraine also offers targeted answers to individual enquiries. See here for the contact form: www.daad-ukraine.org

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has information about the possibilities of staying in Germany for the purpose of study: www.bamf.de

Since 27 April 2022, young refugees from Ukraine have been able to take advantage of government-funded German language courses through the 'Garantiefonds Hochschule' (Guarantee Fund for Higher Education) provided they have a residence title under Section 24 of the Residence Act. The programme is now also open to young refugees from other countries who have this residence title. The 'Guarantee Fund for Higher Education' supports young people up to the age of 30 who wish to take up or continue a degree course in Germany. Support is based on the integration language courses and provided in the form of tailored educational counselling and a scholarship. In addition to costs for living expenses and accommodation, the programme supports participation in: 

• intensive German language courses with the aim of completing the course at level C1,
• intensive English language courses without prior knowledge of English with the aim of completing the course at level B1/B2,
• subject-specific preparatory courses for Studienkolleg and university studies,
• special courses and
• Studienkolleg courses.

Interested persons can contact the educational counselling centres of the Guarantee Fund (Bildungsberatungsstellen Garantiefonds Hochschule, GF-H). Here you will receive qualified advice on all questions regarding the admission, continuation and recognition of your studies. An individual education plan will be drawn up together with you. You can make an appointment online or directly at one of the regional educational counselling centres Contact List GF-H counselling centres. Admission to the programme is only possible in connection with counselling and educational planning.

Ukrainians who have fled their country can take up employment immediately in one of several hundred occupations if they have been granted a residence permit in accordance with section 24 Residence Act or a provisional residence document which also grants the right to work (statement “Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt”). This applies to the so-called non-regulated professions, for example office manager, or for academic professions such as biologist, chemist or mathematician.

However, recognition is mandatory for employment in a regulated profession. Regulated professions are protected by law, for example in the care and healthcare sectors and in education. They include healthcare professions such as medical doctor and nurse as well as teachers and educators. The regulated professions also include legally protected professional titles (e.g. engineer), certificates and proof of expertise in a few self-employment contexts and advanced qualifications such as the German Meister or Fachwirt. 

You can find out whether a recognition procedure is required, what your path to recognition looks like, what documents are needed and what other options are available on the Federal Government's official Recognition in Germany portal (in 11 languages). The new chatbot Aidy will answer your individual questions. You can type them also in Ukrainian and the chatbot will answer in English.

Should you have gone through professional work training in Ukraine, then the BQ-Portal will help you with sorting out your degree. Further, you will be provided with a detailed description of your work degree which you can use for the acknowledgement procedure.

Counselling and support is provided free of charge, for example at the advisory offices of the funding programme “Integration through Qualification”. Go to Counselling search on the “Recognition in Germany” website to find an advisory office near you. The “Working and Living in Germany” hotline provides answers to questions about entry into the country, residence, job search and German language classes. It also provides an initial consultation about the recognition of professional qualifications. The hotline can be reached Monday – Thursday from 9.00 to 16.00 (CET)  and Friday from 9.00 to 12.00 (CET) on: +49 30 1815 – 1111.

A Statement of Comparability can be helpful for holders of a foreign university degree when applying for a job in a non-regulated profession. The Statement of Comparability is an official document certifying the quality of your higher education qualification. It describes your degree and the possibilities of using it for professional and academic purposes. Applications for a Statement of Comparability can be submitted to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of Länder Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK). Information about the application process for a Statement of Comparability is available in German, English and Ukrainian.

At European level, the BMBF works closely with the European Commission and the Member States to provide support for people who have fled Ukraine. The European School Education Platform (access to learning materials in the Ukrainian language, online courses for teaching staff), the eTwinning Portal (joint platform for schools in Europe and beyond) and ERA4Ukraine (information portal for researchers) provide European platforms that bundle support services. Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, also provides European funding for Ukrainian research institutions participating in joint projects or financial assistance to Ukrainian researchers who have been forced to flee so that they can continue their work at a European host institution. Information and support services for students and participants in the Erasmus+ programme is here.

Further information can be found here.