A very special course of study for extraordinary times: with the dual degree from the Universities of Ulm and the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, students from Ukraine receive a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science. The Ukrainian-German programme combines online and on-site courses. It can be studied from Germany and offers excellent career prospects.
The Karazin Kharkiv National University is one of the most important universities in the country. However, studying on site is currently not possible because the teaching buildings have been severely damaged due to the war and the city is in a state of emergency. The university is now offering a bachelor's degree programme with a double degree in (pure or applied) mathematics and computer science in partnership with Ulm University, which can be completed from Germany.
According to the curriculum, students can attend the first three semesters in online classes at Karazin University and learn German during this time. The fourth and fifth semesters then take place on-site at Ulm University, and in the sixth and seventh semesters, the Ukrainian side will again offer the course material online. For the bachelor's thesis, students then have the opportunity to come to Ulm and complete their final thesis at Ulm University – if desired, also in collaboration with local industrial companies. "The double degree programme currently offers a bachelor's degree from Ulm University in mathematics as well as a bachelor's degree from the Karazin Kharkiv National University in pure or applied mathematics as well as in computer science," explains Professor Irene Bouw. The mathematician from Ulm's Institute for Algebra and Number Theory is supervising this special study programme together with Dr. Jan Liebezeit and other colleagues from the field of mathematics. "In Germany, double-degree programmes like this are actually only offered at the master's level. This German-Ukrainian cooperation is therefore something quite extraordinary and is intended to enable Ukrainian students to continue or even start their studies from a safe location," says Bouw. Ukrainian students who pursue such a double degree are entitled to BAföG and are exempt from tuition fees for non-EU foreigners.
The war in Ukraine poses major challenges for Ukrainian students. The psychological strain is high, and financial problems often arise as well. "We therefore considered how we could find a way for students to not get isolated at their computers at home, but to also be able to complete a solid mathematical offline course of study in Ulm together," explains Professor Evgeny Spodarev, who heads the Institute of Stochastics at the University of Ulm. The German-Russian mathematician is the initiator of this Ukrainian-German double degree programme. There is very close cooperation with the cultural centre GOROD in Munich. This is because many students from Kharkiv, as well as some teachers, are currently living in the Bavarian capital and southern Germany. GOROD has now ensured that the distance learning programme at the Karazin University of Kharkiv can be completed locally from Munich and that some courses are also offered there in person. In addition, students learn German at the cultural centre and prepare for the corresponding language exams.
The dual degree programme deepens Ukrainian-German cooperation
"According to international rankings, the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University is one of the top three Ukrainian universities. Today, the university has more than twelve double-degree programmes with European universities. In view of the situation in Ukraine and the large number of Ukrainian citizens living in Germany, the university is interested in strengthening cooperation with German colleagues. The double degree programme with the University of Ulm will enable us to deepen cooperation and exchange in research and teaching. This is a new beginning for Ukrainian-German cooperation," said Prorector Professor Anatoliy Babichev of Karazin Kharkiv National University. The double degree programme was developed on the Ukrainian side by Professor Ievgen Menialov and Professor Maryna Vladymyrova from the Department of Theoretical and Applied Informatics.
In the winter semester 24/25, five men and one woman are already studying in this programme at Ulm University. They came to the university during the summer semester through the EU's Erasmus programme; the new study programme was not yet officially established at that time The Ukrainian students are supervised by lecturers in mathematics, by the International Office and by mathematics students who not only provide academic support as student tutors, but also know their way around the university and the city. Incidentally, the career prospects for graduates with this double degree are excellent, whether in areas such as data science, AI or computer technology. In addition, there are many opportunities for entry into related master's programmes, whether in Germany or Ukraine. "The young Ukrainians lose less time in their professional training and can support their country in its reconstruction as highly trained specialists," says Spodarev.
Further information
Prof. Dr. Evgeny Spodarev, Institute of Stochastics, Ulm University, email: evgeny.spodarev(at)uni-ulm.de
Text and media contact: Andrea Weber-Tuckerman
Translation: DeepL