In the first few weeks after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it quickly became apparent that comprehensive support for Ukrainians was needed. While Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) froze its institutional contacts with Russian partners, it specifically expanded its support for Ukrainian students, prospective students and academics. In order to meet and coordinate the high demand for advice, HU hired two Ukrainian students already enrolled at HU as advisors in April 2022.
Since then, around 4,500 refugee students have received individual support at HU. The advisory service is often the first point of contact – for example, for questions about admission requirements, application procedures or starting a degree programme in Germany.
"The counselling is very enriching," says Yuliia Levytska, a student employee. "Many start out feeling uncertain and gradually gain confidence. It is particularly inspiring to see how they gain new hope and later study with confidence and enjoy their university life."
Temporary enrolment and language courses
HU introduced a simplified procedure for admitting Ukrainian students as early as the 2022 summer semester. Refugees who are registered in Berlin, were studying at a Ukrainian university at the time of their flight and have a good knowledge of German or English can enrol for up to four months. As exchange students, they attend courses and prepare for regular studies. So far, 270 people have taken advantage of this offer.
In addition, the university offers language courses up to level C1 with funding from the Berlin Senate. These have enabled 220 refugees to date to meet the formal requirements for a regular application. Many of them subsequently successfully applied for a degree programme.
More exchange with partners and tests for school pupils
Humboldt-Universität has also strengthened its partnerships with Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv and Ivan Franko University in Lviv to enable students and visiting scholars to study and conduct research in Berlin. A Ukrainian language department has been established in the Slavic Studies programme.
In addition, HU supports the Ukrainian Ministry of Education by providing rooms and infrastructure for the Ukrainian multi-subject test. The text gives pupils access to Ukrainian universities, which thus maintain their connection to the Ukrainian education system.
Support for researchers
Humboldt-Universität is also committed to helping Ukrainian researchers who have fled their country to continue their work in Germany. A combination of donations and third-party funding from the EU and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has been used to finance short-term bridging grants for researchers who have fled their country and who had academic prospects and an academic partner at HU in Germany. These gave around 15 researchers the security they needed to apply for regular funding in the medium term. Many of them have found follow-up funding.