Mobilization is ongoing in Ukraine, but the law provides for categories of citizens who can receive a deferment and not be subject to conscription right now. One of the most sensitive groups is students. Below are the key conditions for student deferment as of the end of October 2025, taking into account the digital changes of the Ministry of Defense.
Which students are entitled to a deferral?
• Full-time or dual form of study. It is full-time and dual forms that are protected by law. Part-time/evening forms do not entitle you to a deferral.
• This must be higher education “at the next level.” That is, you obtain education sequentially: first a bachelor's degree, then a master's degree, then a postgraduate/doctoral degree.
• This education must not be your second. If it is your second or third higher education, there is no automatic deferral.
• You have not completed full-time military service before and have not graduated from a military department as a reserve officer (because then the state considers you to be a trained cadre).
Separately: interns (medical and pharmaceutical specialties) and doctoral students are also included in the category that can receive a deferral. This is directly mentioned by the Ministry of Defense among the types of deferrals that are already available in "Reserve+".
When a student risks being mobilized
There is a vulnerable “window” that many people are not aware of. It occurs between the completion of one level of education and official enrollment in the next. The most typical situation:
– you have received a bachelor's degree;
– vacations / the admission campaign is still ongoing;
– there is no order for enrollment in the master's program yet.
During this period, the postponement is not formally valid, and the CCC has the legal right to serve a summons. This especially applies to men aged 25+. That is, during the vacation period "between grades" the protection is weaker.
They can also be mobilized if:
– the deferral is not issued or is overdue;
– the student is expelled;
– the form of study is not full-time;
– the person is not studying at a higher level for the first time;
– the reason for the deferral has disappeared (for example, they stopped studying or their status was not confirmed).
What has changed since November 2025?
The Ministry of Defense is converting deferrals to digital format. Key points:
- Registration and extension - through "Reserve+" or through the ASC
Starting November 1, 2025, the CCCs will no longer serve as the "window for submitting" documents for deferment. Applications are submitted either online in the "Reserve+" application, or offline through the ASC (the ASC administrator scans the documents and transfers them to the relevant CCC for a decision).
For full-time/dual study students, interns, and doctoral students, deferment has already been introduced into "Reserve+" as a separate category. That is, you don't need to "run to the military registration and enlistment office," you just need to confirm your status in the digital system.
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Automatic extension of deferral
If the reason for the deferral is permanent and confirmed in state registers (you are officially studying full-time; you are an intern; you are a doctoral student), the system will extend it automatically.
The Ministry of Defense announces that starting November 5, 2025 (the date of the next extension of mobilization/martial law), students who have a valid deferment will have it extended without additional applications — and a notification will be sent to "Reserve+". Similarly, interns and doctoral students.
If the system cannot confirm your reason (for example, there is no current university data in the registers, or you have already been expelled), there will be no automatic extension. In this case, you will have to update your data or apply through the ASC.
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Paper certificates with a wet seal are being phased out
Starting in November, a certificate of deferment does not need to be carried as laminated paper with a CCC seal. The official confirmation of status is an electronic military registration document in "Reserve+" with a QR code.
– Show the QR — the CCC or patrol can check the validity of the deferment in real time.
– If you don't have a smartphone: you can download and print the document from "Reserve+", from the "Diya" portal, or get a printout from the Central Central Service Center. Such paper with a QR code has the same legal force.
What's changing for future doctors and pharmacists
In July 2025, a regulation was adopted that makes military training mandatory for medical and pharmaceutical students. After completing this training, such students will receive the status of reserve officers. This means that they can be called up even during further studies, and not only after graduation. This will come into effect from January 2026. The list of specialties and the number of students will be determined by the Ministry of Defense.
This is an important clarification: for some medical and pharmaceutical specialties, the deferral as "I'm a student, you can't touch me" will become less guaranteed - the state is actually forming a reserve of medical officers.
Summary for a student in the 2025–2026 academic year
• If you are a day student and this is your next level of education, you have the right to a deferral.
• If it is now the holidays between levels and you are not yet enrolled, formally you are already without protection, and this is the riskiest moment.
• You no longer need to “knock out” a deferral in the CCC: you apply through “Reserve+” or the Central Administrative Center.
• The status is confirmed by an electronic document with a QR code, a paper “wet seal” is no longer required.
• The system promises to automatically extend the deferral from November 5, 2025 to everyone whose reason is stable and reflected in the registers (including students, interns, doctoral students).
