For most eleventh-graders, the last school bell marks not just the end of classes but one of the biggest decisions of their lives: where to study next. Graduates from the Bucha community are no exception — every year, hundreds of students choose between a Ukrainian university and studying abroad.

This is according to a report by Thebuchacity.

Journalist Maria Karpenko spoke with 50 Bucha graduates, asking where they plan to enroll, what shaped their choice, and whether they want to return to Ukraine afterward. The most common argument was an international diploma and broader career prospects, especially in IT, engineering, and international business. "My goal is to work for an international company, so I'm choosing a European education," one respondent said.

Other reasons included a more hands-on teaching style — internships and real projects from the first years — and the chance to stay and work in the country where they studied. At the same time, many graduates deliberately choose Ukrainian universities: staying close to family, support during the first years of independence, or simply applying to several countries at once as a middle-ground approach. Poland, Germany, Czechia, and the Netherlands remain the most popular destinations among Bucha graduates.

Nota bene

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