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Kyiv

By Sabrina Collier

Updated December 3, 2020 Updated December 3, 2020

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 118^th

Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, and an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Eastern Europe.

Kyiv is known for its beautiful religious architecture, reflecting its heritage as a holy center for Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Saint Sophia Cathedral and Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, each feature gold-domed churches and are significant religious and historical sites. Kyiv’s history goes back at least 1,400 years and it is now a city where old and new coexist, with a large range of museums (including a History of Toilets museum).

The city has changed significantly since Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, with new Western-style residential complexes, classy restaurants and modern nightclubs opening in the city center. As well as its noted architectural and historical landmarks, Kyiv is considered one of the greenest cities in Europe, with two botanical gardens and various large and small parks.

Kyiv also has a diverse cultural scene and nightlife, with an impressive range of theaters to suit all tastes, plus cinemas and exhibition centers. As one student, commenting in our student survey, told us: “It's a big city and you can find a lot of things to do here. As it's the capital of Ukraine, it's the center of cultural, sport and art events.”

Kyiv is home to a large number of higher education institutions, including the second-highest ranked in Ukraine, Taras Schevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The city is ranked 20^th in the affordability category of the Best Student Cities index, with much lower living costs than many other European cities. English-taught courses are available, but you’ll still need to practice your Ukrainian in order to navigate daily life in the city!

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Internationally ranked universities in Kyiv

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute"

More about Kyiv

Number of universities ranked by QS	2
Highest-ranked institution	Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (ranked 541-550)
Population	3,375,000
Average international fees (at ranked unis)	US$2,900
Desirability rank	128^th
Employer Activity rank	92^nd
Affordability rank	20^th
Student View rank	89^th

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

This article was originally published in February 2017 . It was last updated in December 2020

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Written by

Sabrina Collier

The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.