Advice for international students currently in Ukraine

As an organisation, QS is deeply concerned by the unfolding events in Ukraine and surrounding regions, where the safety and welfare of those most affected is our utmost priority. If you’re one of the thousands of international students currently in Ukraine, here is some useful information that may be of assistance. 

If possible, contact your local embassy 

Local embassies are attempting to evacuate foreign nationals from Ukraine and are a source of up-to-date information for access to transport out of Ukraine and across the border. It’s also worth checking with embassies in neighbouring countries (Romania, Poland, Hungary) as they will also be involved in coordinating evacuation efforts. 

Use Telegram for access to latest information 

If you’re able to download and access Telegram, a bot has been set up to answer questions and provide useful information. Search for @saveua_bot. Be aware that all information provided within Telegram is not necessarily verifiable.  

For broader and more reliable updates, international news organisations such as the BBC will provide more verified information than social media. 

Support for PhD students and academics 

Universities in Germany and elsewhere have started to offer emergency support for researchers and PhD students who have had to leave their work in Ukraine. Find out more information on specific schemes.

Organisations that can help 

If you require assistance, there are several charitable organisations on the ground in Ukraine working to assist refugees and foreign nationals still in Ukraine.  

• People in Need is providing food packages, emergency shelter, safe access to drinking water, hygiene items, and coal for heating. 

• Ukraine Now is providing assistance in finding routes out of the country, organising people with the same destination into sharing cars. Their website is in Ukrainian but you can use Google Translate to view it in another language. 

• Ukrainian Red Cross is providing food, water, first aid, medicines, warm clothes and shelter. They’re also teaching first aid to those sheltering in metro stations within the cities. 

Photo by Diana Vyshniakova on Unsplash