Product Design, Manufacturing & Innovation Resources

Home » Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU)

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU)

Ukraine

Address: 60 Volodymyrska St, Kyiv, 01033, Ukraine

Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry

Established in 1834, KNU is a leading classical university in Ukraine. While comprehensive, it has strong faculties in natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology), mathematics, and computer science.

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is the leading classical university of Ukraine. It was founded in 1834 as the Imperial University of Saint Vladimir, and it received the name of the national poet Taras Shevchenko in 1939. It has about 26,000 students and 5,000 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The historic Red Building stands on Volodymyrska Street, in the centre of Kyiv, a classical structure of the 1840s painted in deep red, with a colonnade facing Shevchenko Park.

The university is organised in about fifteen faculties and institutes. They cover physics, mathematics and mechanics, computer science and cybernetics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, history, philology, philosophy, law, economics, journalism, international relations and psychology. The Faculty of Radiophysics, Electronics and Computer Systems and the Faculty of Cybernetics have trained generations of Ukrainian programmers and engineers. The university’s Astronomical Observatory dates from the middle of the nineteenth century.

Kyiv University has a significant role in Ukrainian culture and national life. Its professors and students were active in the national movement of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the university is still a place for debate on history, politics and language. Its botanical garden, founded in 1841, is one of the oldest in Ukraine. The university maintains partnerships with institutions in Europe and North America, and it takes part in Erasmus programmes.

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, teaching has been adapted to wartime conditions, with a mix of online and in-person classes, so check the current situation before applying.

Kyiv is the capital and the most expensive city in the country, but living costs are lower than in Western Europe. Dormitories and rooms are available near the metro.

Domains taught:

Chemistry, Ecology and Sustainability, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Software Engineering

Diplomas*:

Bachelor, Doctor, Master

Status:

Public

Partnerships:

Extensive international network with over 400 partner universities; member of major international university associations.

Research:

Fundamental and applied research in areas like condensed matter physics, organic chemistry, molecular biology, cybersecurity, and materials science.

Famous Alumnis:

Mykhailo Drahomanov, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, Theodosius Dobzhansky

International recognition**:

Number of staff***:

5000

Current students***:

26000

Foreign students***:

10%

Cumulative former students***:

350000

Pros

Most prestigious classical university in Ukraine, strong fundamental science programs, rich history.

Cons

Highly competitive, large institution, some science facilities may need updates.

Best For

Fundamental Sciences and Computer Science

Most Similar Schools Locally

Ivan Franko National University of Lviv overlaps with this university on nanotechnologies, chemistry and ecology and sustainability, so the two are easy to compare, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Where this institution leans on chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics, Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University does the same, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers data analytics as well.
Among national alternatives, Odesa National University stands out for its focus on chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers geotechnics as well.
Both schools build their programmes around chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics, and Cherkasy National University is the one to compare first within the country, since it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Volyn Lesya Ukrainka National University is the closest domestic counterpart for chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers data analytics as well.

Most Similar Schools Abroad

A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics is Yunnan University in China, and it covers data analytics as well, and is slightly larger, at about 31,141 students against roughly 26,000 here.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia, where chemistry, physics and mathematics also form the core, and it covers geotechnics and computer vision as well, and is larger, enrolling about 45,000 students against roughly 26,000 here.
If this university is on your list for nanotechnologies, chemistry and physics, Saint Petersburg State University in Russia deserves a comparison, because it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers data analytics as well.
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, in Germany, takes a similar route through chemistry, physics and mathematics; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
University of Innsbruck in Austria is the nearest foreign match on chemistry, ecology and sustainability and physics; it covers statistics and data analytics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 28,106 students.

*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 Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv?

The main building, the Red Building, is at 60 Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv, Ukraine.

When was it founded?

In 1834, as the Imperial University of Saint Vladimir. It received the name of Taras Shevchenko in 1939.

How large is it?

About 26,000 students and 5,000 staff.

What is the Red Building?

The historic main building of the 1840s, painted deep red, with a colonnade facing Shevchenko Park.

What does it teach?

Physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, biology, geology, history, philology, law, economics, journalism and international relations.

Does it have a botanical garden?

Yes. The garden was founded in 1841 and is one of the oldest in Ukraine.

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 teaching?

Since 2022, teaching has been adapted with a mix of online and in-person classes. Check the current situation before applying.

Biology, Chemistry, Cybersecurity, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, Mathematics, Research and Development, Sustainable Development

> search our World Universities Directory here <

*: 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.

Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university.
We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.

To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.