Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering, Chemical Technology
Founded in 1885, NTU KhPI is one of the oldest and largest technical universities in Ukraine. It offers a comprehensive range of engineering disciplines and has made significant contributions to science and industry.
The National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, NTU KhPI, is one of the oldest and largest technical universities in Ukraine. It was founded in 1885 as the Kharkiv Technological Institute, at the initiative of the engineers of the Kharkiv region. It has about 20,000 students and 5,000 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The main campus is on Kyrpychova Street, in the centre of Kharkiv, with historic buildings, laboratories, a museum and several residences.
The institute became a base for engineers of the industrial region of eastern Ukraine, in which the city of Kharkiv had a large machine-building sector. Its graduates worked in turbine building, electrical engineering, tank and tractor production, aviation and chemical industries. The Kharkiv region has plants such as Turboatom, which builds turbines for power stations, and design bureaus, and the polytechnic supplied most of their staff.
KhPI is organised in around a dozen institutes and faculties, including mechanical engineering, power machines, electrical engineering, computer science and information technologies, chemical technology, materials science, economics and management, transport, and humanities. Research is carried out in turbine and engine design, energy, materials, welding, automation and information technology. The IT sector of Kharkiv recruits a large share of its graduates.
Ukrainian applicants enter through the national multi-subject test and compete for state-funded places or pay contract fees. Foreign students normally pay a contract fee, and many begin with a preparatory year in Ukrainian. Fees vary by programme, so check the current tariff. Teaching is in Ukrainian, with a number of programmes in English. Since 2022, parts of the campus have been damaged and teaching has combined online and in-person formats, so check the current situation before applying.
Kharkiv is the second-largest city in Ukraine, with a large student population and lower costs than Kyiv. The metro serves the campus.
Domains taught:
Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Collaborates with universities and research centers in over 30 countries; active in international programs and associations.
Research:
Research in areas like new materials, energy technologies, turbomachinery, information technologies, and chemical engineering.
Famous Alumnis:
Lev Landau (taught here), Nikolay Semyonov (taught here), Mikhail Gurevich
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
5000
Current students***:
20000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
200000
Pros
Long-standing reputation, diverse engineering programs, strong research capabilities, significant industrial partnerships.
Cons
Located in a city affected by conflict, some facilities may be older.
The comparison with Odesa National Polytechnic University is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers automation as well.
The comparison with Lviv Polytechnic National University is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and software engineering, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Where this university leans on mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and materials, National Technical University of Ukraine Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute does the same, and it covers aerospace and telecommunications as well, and is slightly larger, at about 25,000 students against roughly 20,000 here.
Dnipro University of Technology shares the core fields of this university, namely mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and materials; it covers geotechnics and ecology and sustainability as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 12,000 students against roughly 20,000 here.
Where this institution leans on mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and materials, National University Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic does the same, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers civil engineering and automation as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Platov South-Russian State Polytechnic University (SRSPU ) offers an international parallel to this institution, with chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics as common ground; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers geotechnics as well.
For thermodynamics, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics outside the home country, Saratov State Technical University in Russia is a natural reference; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers automation as well.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Guangdong University of Technology in China, where chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics also form the core, and it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
If this institution is on your list for mechanical engineering, materials and software engineering, Qingdao University in China deserves a comparison, because it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
TU Wien, in Austria, takes a similar route through mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and software engineering; it is slightly larger, at about 26,654 students against roughly 20,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is KhPI?
At 2 Kyrpychova Street in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
When was it founded?
In 1885, as the Kharkiv Technological Institute.
How large is it?
About 20,000 students and 5,000 staff.
What does it teach?
Mechanical engineering, power machines, electrical engineering, computer science, chemical technology, materials science, economics and transport.
Which industries does it supply?
Turbine building, electrical engineering, machine building, aviation, chemical industries and information technology.
What is Turboatom?
A Kharkiv company that builds turbines for power stations and recruits engineers from the polytechnic.
How do Ukrainian applicants enter?
Through the national multi-subject test, competing for state-funded places or paying contract fees.
How do foreign students enter?
They normally pay a contract fee, and many begin with a preparatory year in Ukrainian. Check the current tariff.
In which language are courses taught?
Mainly in Ukrainian, with a number of programmes in English.
How has the war affected the institute?
Since 2022, parts of the campus have been damaged, and teaching has combined online and in-person formats. Check the current situation before applying.
Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Innovation, Mechanical Engineering, Research and Development, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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