Every child has access to education in the Republic of Moldova
All Ukrainian children can be enrolled in school in Moldova
If the parent/carer and/or children do not have Temporary Protection status in the country, can they be enrolled in a school?
All Ukrainian children can enroll in school in Moldova, whether they or their parents/guardians have Temporary Protection or not.
Dear parents from Ukraine residing in Moldova!
The Ministry of Education and Research has published an Instruction on the enrollment of Ukrainian children in Moldovan schools
The Instruction translated into Russian, is available here
Documents required for school enrollment:
✅ National identity card of the parent/guardian.
✅ Child's identity card or birth certificate.
✅ Child's medical card issued in Ukraine or a medical certificate issued by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova.
✅School documents of the child (electronic copies are accepted without wet stamp. Scanned personal files with academic records or electronic confirmations from educational institutions in Ukraine. (instruction II (d))).
You can enroll your child in an educational institution by submitting the Application and the mentioned documents to the local school.
If there are no available slots in the local school, you should apply to another nearby school with vacancies. Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year.
In case one or more of the aforementioned documents cannot be presented, the parents/legal representatives will submit a statement under their own responsibility, committing to present the document(s) later.
📲 For more detailed information, please call the hotline at 0 800 80011.
Education is the key to success!
Do the documents confirming the student’s previous education need to be notarised or revalidated?
In case of difficulties with submitting documents, we recommend:
✅ Referring to the "Instruction on the Integration of Children from Refugee Families from Ukraine into General Education Institutions of the Republic of Moldova," updated according to Order No. 126 of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, dated 08.08.2024. It confirms your right not to notarize documents, not to translate them into Romanian (point 4-D), and includes other simplifications for enrollment.
🔗You can download the instruction via the following link.
What are the steps that I need to take as a parent/ legal guardian to enroll a child in a school?
- Fill out an application form.
c. General Education (Ukrainian)
d. General Education (Russian)
The application includes the following information:
- general data about the child (name, surname; date and place of birth);
- general data about one of the parents/legal representatives/legal guardians (name, surname; date and place of birth);
- Information on the status of the parent/guardian (Temporary Protection, Residence Permit, etc.)
- data with reference to the form of enrolment/educational services requested;
- request regarding the language of instruction/communication;
- address of the domicile/temporary residence/place of temporary stay on the territory of the Republic of Moldova
- contact details (telephone, email address) of a parent/legal representative/legal guardian of the child.
2. Gather the required documents (see below)
3. Submit the application form and required documents to the local school you would like your child to attend.
What documents need to be submitted to enroll a child in school?
An application form (see above)
National identity card of a parent/legal representative/legal guardian
The child’s birth certificate/national identity card
The child’s medical records from the country of origin (Ukraine) or the child’s medical certificate issued by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, which allows the child to be integrated into the educational environment.
Documents confirming the student’s studies, if available (electronic copies, including copies without official stamps, are accepted).
Note: A child can still enroll in school in Moldova even if they do not have previous school documents.
Are documents confirming previous education in Ukraine required?
Yes, documents confirming the student’s education are required to enroll in school.
If documents confirming the student’s previous education cannot be provided at the time of enrolment but will eventually be available, parents/ legal guardians may submit an affidavit confirming they will submit the missing document(s) within a “reasonable time.” If the documents are not available at all, the school should be informed, and the school committee will determine in which grade to place the child.
For children entering 10th grade, who have not taken the Moldovan 9th grade exams or do not have documentation showing that they have:
If they have a certificate from Ukraine showing that they have completed gymnasium, they will automatically be admitted to high school in Moldova, with no additional documents required.
If they have completed gymnasium in Ukraine but do not have the completion certificate at this time, they can still enroll in 10th grade, and provide the gymnasium certificate at a later time.
If they do not have the ability to provide a gymnasium completion certificate, they have until the end of 12th grade to take the Moldovan 9th grade exams. Students entering 10th grade can begin school, and at the end of 10th and/or 11th grade, during the regular examination period, can take the 9th grade exams. They are required to submit proof of passing the 9th grade exams before finishing 12th grade, in order to graduate from high school.
Where and from what date can an application for a child enrolment in school be filed?
- Applications for the enrolment of Ukrainian children may be submitted at any time during the academic year. If a school has reached capacity, they will refer prospective students to another nearby school.
- While Ukrainian children can enroll in any school in the Republic of Moldova which has space, the following schools have been identified with available spaces to welcome refugee students: here (RO, RU)
If there are problems with enrolling a child in the school, who should parents/legal representatives contact?
- If there are any problems with enrolling a child in the school, it is recommended for parents to contact their local Department of Education:
- List of contacts for Chișinău: [RO || RU]
- The list of contacts for other districts can be found here: [RO || RU]
If all the measures mentioned above did not help, please contact the Head of the Interethnic Relations Policy Service of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, Dr. Ivan Duminica, via email: [email protected].
If a child is already attending a school in Moldova, is it necessary to submit another application for the new school year?
Students who are already studying in an educational institution in the Republic of Moldova and have been enrolled with student status, do not need to submit an additional application.
Can a student enroll as an auditor at a Moldovan school?
No. Auditor status no longer exists. Students can choose to either fully enroll in a Moldovan school, or continue studying the Ukrainian curriculum online, ideally in a school-based setting.
I am a Ukrainian student and I want to continue studying the Ukrainian online curriculum, but I want to do so from inside a Moldovan school. Is this possible?
It is possible for children from Ukraine to study online at their Ukrainian schools while being in the environment of Moldovan schools under the professional supervision of a facilitator. EduTechLab are technically equipped classrooms that have been opened in 80 schools across Moldova.
How to register - read here
! Please note: a simplified document submission procedure applies for enrolling refugee children from Ukraine in Moldovan schools. When applying to a school, refer to the Instruction from the Ministry of Education and Research of Moldova
The school administration is obliged to follow this Instruction when enrolling a refugee child.
Will children studying in Moldova receive an official certificate issued by the Ministry of Education and Research, like Moldovan students, confirming that they attended an educational institution in the Republic of Moldova?
- Children in primary school who completed the school year will receive a document confirming that they have completed the grade level.
- Secondary school graduates who have passed the national secondary school graduation examinations will receive a certificate of secondary education.
- Upper-secondary graduates may request to take the national baccalaureate examination. After passing the examination, the graduate will be issued a baccalaureate diploma, which confers the right to be enrolled in higher education and post-secondary non-tertiary technical vocational education.
- The educational institution will issue a certificate of secondary education, which entitles students who have not applied for the national baccalaureate examination, or candidates who have not passed the national baccalaureate examination but have completed the entire secondary school course, to follow vocational training programs in secondary technical and post-secondary technical vocational education institutions.
Where can students attend Romanian language courses?
The Ministry of Education and Research launched this year the National Program for the Study of the Romanian Language, which is open to all those who wish to learn Romanian, including refugees from Ukraine. The courses are free of charge, run for one year and are available in all regions of Moldova. To register for the program, you can submit an online application
- Romanian classes are offered at many community locations, in addition to three universities in Moldova Bălți State University, Chișinău State University of Moldova, and Comrat State University, as well as at two community centers in Chisinau str. 31 august 1989 151, and Causeni. Alexei Mateyevicha Str., 7
If a young person attends college in Ukraine and wants to transfer to Moldova, is it possible?
The application must be submitted to MER and each application will be considered individually. Please note that only a few colleges have study programs in Russian.
The dates of the admissions committees will be updated later!
According to the 2024 admission calendar, the first round of admissions will take place:
#from July 15 to August 3 for colleges and centers of excellence;
#from July 15 to August 10 for vocational schools and centers of excellence.
The second round of admissions will take place:
# from August 7 to August 17 for colleges and centers of excellence;
# from August 14 to August 24 for vocational schools and centers of excellence.
You can find the list of colleges at the following link
Can refugees enroll in a Moldovan university?
- Yes. Refugees, including Ukrainians, can enroll in a Moldovan university.
The dates of the admissions committees will be updated later! - Submission of applications to universities for the 2024-2025 academic year was open from 22 July 2024.
The 2024 admission schedule can be found at the following link - A list of public and private universities in Moldova can be found here
- Admission information and required documentation are available on each university's website.
- The documents submitted for enrolment must be translated to a language understandable in the Republic of Moldova (Romanian, Russian, English) and be notarised.
- Students can check with the university if they can send a photo ID if their passport is not available.
- As a rule, students can submit copies of their documents at the first submission, either online on the university website or in person at the university. But later, after enrolment, they must provide the original documents.
- Most universities have Russian language courses, but students can take a one-year introductory Romanian language course if necessary. Other universities offer courses in English. Please check with each university for details.
Ukrainian students will pay the same tuition fees at State and Private universities as Moldovan students.
The person in charge from MER is Tatiana Pasa. E-mail: [email protected]and phone number: 0 22 233 652.
Are scholarships available for students from Ukraine?
- For the 2024-2025 academic year, 106 state-funded places have been allocated for foreign students at state universities in the country – 76 at bachelor's and 30 at master's level. In recent years, priority for these places has been given to Ukrainian citizens.
Scholarships for foreigners are reserved and cannot be redistributed to Moldovan citizens. - No scholarships are available at private universities. However, if students need financial assistance, their situation can be considered on an individual basis. To do so, students need to apply to the Rector of the university, describing their situation. Each case will be considered individually, depending on the social situation and school performance of the student.
Where can Ukrainian students live while studying at university?
- Public and private universities have a limited number of places in dormitories. Fees for accommodation in dormitories are charged separately from tuition fees. Please check with each individual university for more information on this issue.
- Dormitory fees are not part of the scholarship and must be paid.
EDUTech Labs
Did you know that every 7th refugee in Moldova worked in the education sector in Ukraine? According to a survey conducted among refugees, this is the most common profession.
EDUTech Labs:
- Allow Ukrainian children to connect to the online learning platform they use.
- Help Ukrainian children integrate into the Moldovan education system.
- Allow Ukrainian students to communicate with their peers, learn Romanian, study through the STEAM system, and acquire essential social skills.
- Assist in the employment of Ukrainian teachers.
- Education without borders - we support children's education wherever they are.
- With the support of UNICEF, EDUTech Labs in schools and youth centers enable Ukrainian children to integrate into the Moldovan education system.
Moldovan children and teenagers can also attend EDUTech Labs, which will improve the efficiency of educational institutions and speed up the transition to digital education according to the National Education Plan by 2030.
Under the guidance and mentorship of Ukrainian teachers, EDUTech Labs will ensure access to the online learning platforms of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education for Ukrainian children.
Why are EDUTech Labs necessary?
Two out of three Ukrainian parents prefer their children to continue online education in Ukrainian schools.
EDUTech Labs will be equipped with necessary electronic devices, stable internet connection, and furniture. They will also provide access to additional learning devices.
Who will manage EDUTech Labs?
Daily activities will be managed by Moldovan teachers together with Ukrainian refugee teachers, who will be provided with jobs to coordinate lab activities in schools and educational centers. Teachers will undergo joint training in online learning management and mentorship.
Ukrainian teachers will be provided with jobs and necessary training to ensure career growth and facilitate their integration into Moldovan society. School management committees will be created in schools, including Ukrainian teachers, parents of Moldovan and Ukrainian children, and community representatives.
How will EDUTech Labs be used?
Students will have the opportunity to learn Romanian, attend math, science, and foreign language classes. The labs will help foster friendly relationships between Ukrainian and Moldovan students. This approach will help unite refugees and the local community.
In addition to the above, EDUTech Labs will offer:
- STEAM education for girls after school hours
- Information about Child Protection and hotlines for preventing gender-based violence, as well as the Youth Clinics' green line
- Tools to prevent and protect children from bullying, online violence, and sexual exploitation
- Access to information and services on sexual and reproductive health
- Services and information on referral mechanisms for implementing child protection policies in schools
EDUTech List is here.