Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF

Agent perspectives on the changing Ukrainian market

Editor's note: We are updating our video channels and the videos linked below are temporarily unavailable.

Our most recent update on Ukraine focused on an ambitious package of higher education reforms as well as how the country’s education system is operating under the current political and military crisis. Today, we add another perspective via video excerpts from two recent interviews with agents with long experience in the market. Our first video segment below is with Oksana Almanova, the Director of Bell Group. As Ms Almanova points out, with the onset of what is essentially an undeclared military conflict with Russia in early 2014, the study abroad market in Ukraine shifted abruptly. In particular, students began to demonstrate a distinct preference for more affordable destinations, especially those in Europe. Countries like Poland and the Czech Republic have emerged as more popular destinations, partly for reasons of price but also because of the relative ease with which Ukrainian students can acquire study visas. "Parents want their kids to get a better future," she says, but that future becomes more uncertain under the current political situation. Therefore, "the numbers [of students] are increasing, but the destinations, they change." Ms Almanova’s points are echoed in our second video segment below, this time with the Director of Alekom-tour, Mariya Lunyak. Alekom-tour is more focused on the youth market, and on summer programmes in particular. "We still send lots of groups to the UK, the US, and Canada," she says. "This year, we had more inquiries for summer schools that will have opportunity to show clients universities…colleges…to show them opportunities to study further abroad. Parents are more focused on that because the situation in the Ukraine is very unstable and parents are not sure what will be tomorrow." Ms Lunyak describes as well as general increase in interest for study abroad at all levels, including boarding schools and higher education. And she notes an increase in inquiries for some destinations, such as Canada, that offer stronger prospects for post-study work or even migration after graduation. At the end of the day, Ms Lunyak sees this as a moment for educators to step up their recruiting efforts in the Ukraine. The demand is there first and foremost, she notes, and the market is open to new marketing strategies and especially for those institutions that are able to handle inquiries and student files quickly and efficiently.

Most Recent

  • UK transnational education enrolments poised to surpass onshore students this decade Read More
  • Trump administration’s proposed deal with select US colleges includes a cap on international undergraduate enrolment Read More
  • Australia introduces new integrity measures through proposed amendments to the ESOS Act Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

UK transnational education enrolments poised to surpass onshore students this decade The latest available numbers from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) tell us that there were 732,285 international...
Read more
Trump administration’s proposed deal with select US colleges includes a cap on international undergraduate enrolment The White House has sent a draft “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to nine US colleges...
Read more
Australia introduces new integrity measures through proposed amendments to the ESOS Act Australian Minister of Education Jason Clare tabled the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 in...
Read more
Australia: With ELICOS under pressure, peak bodies push for reduction in “extortionate” visa fees The latest data from the Department of Education reveals that enrolments in Australia’s ELICOS sector (English Language Intensive...
Read more
South Korea hits its 300,000 student target two years ahead of schedule In 2023, the South Korean government announced a plan to attract 300,000 international students by 2027: 220,000 in...
Read more
Canada: Study permit numbers are in steep decline in 2025 In 2024, the first year under Canada’s current cap on new international student enrolments, the total number of...
Read more
UK confirms levy on international student fees as new analysis argues that government is “drastically underestimating” the impact of the move Updated for 30 September 2025: On 29 September, the Department of Education announced that it would reinstate “means-tested...
Read more
US administration’s new H-1B policies create uncertainty around post-study work rights The H-1B programme is a key policy mechanism for international students in the United States. Aside from the...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links