National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) (Ukrainian: ???????????? ??????????? «?????-??????????? ????????» (??????), Natsional'nyi universytet "Kyyevo-Mohylians'ka akademiya") is a national, coeducational research university located in Kiev, Ukraine. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the school's predecessor, was established in 1615. The NaUKMA is located on the Academy's grounds in the ancient Podil neighbourhood. In 1991, it was re-organized, and teaching began the following year. NaUKMA has the highest level of accreditation as outlined by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and is one of the thirteen educational institutions in Ukraine having a status of research and autonomous university. NaUKMA takes part in numerous international university collaborations, such as the European University Association. The university is bilingual in Ukrainian and English. It is one of Ukraine’s few universities with internationally recognized diplomas.

With around 3000 students, NaUKMA is one of the smallest universities in Ukraine. Alumni of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy played a formative role in the intellectual and church life of Ukraine and Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the most notable alumni were hetman Ivan Mazepa and philosopher Hryhori Skovoroda. The university is known as pro-Western and served as headquarters for Orange Revolution activists.

The predecessor of the today's National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy was one of the oldest academic and theological schools amongst the Orthodox Christian countries of Eastern Europe. The Academy was first opened in 1615 as the school of the Kyiv bratstvo ("brotherhood").When, in 1632, the Kiev Pechersk Laura school and Kiev Brotherhood School merged they formed Kyiv's, and by extension Ukraine's, first institution of higher education. The newly formed 'collegium', then located in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was given the Polish name 'Mohyla?ska' (Latin: Collegium Kijovense Mohileanum, in honour of Petro Mohyla), a key figure in bringing about the institution's foundation and proponent of modern Western educational standards at the academy.

Admission to NaUKMA is open to both Ukrainian and international applicants. Admission is granted based on entrance examination scores. Entrance exams are administered as multiple choice tests covering several subjects including Ukrainian, English, law, mathematics, history of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, humanities (literature or history) and natural science, with the tests being machine scored. The admissions procedure was introduced in order to stem alleged corruption in the admission process. Admission tests are considered challenging and cover a broader range of subjects than the typical entrance examinations held at the majority of other universities in Ukraine.

The university occupies the grounds of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in the Podil neighbourhood, from Kontraktova Square to the Dnieper River. The campus of NaUKMA is composed of a number of buildings constructed in the times of its predecessor institutions.

The oldest buildings date from the 17th century and include the Halshka Hulevychivna house and the old academic building also called the Mazepa building in honour of its financier Hetman Ivan Mazepa.

The Mazepa building contains the congregation hall for ceremonial events, the Center for Contemporary Art and the research library. Following reestablishment, the NaUKMA academic community has attempted to restore the traditions of its predecessor.

However, during NaUKMA's reincarnation, several new traditions have been founded. Every year on 15 October the school celebrates Academy day and NaUKMA students wash the monument of the noted Kyiv-Mohyla alumnus philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda.

Despite the relatively small number of NaUKMA students (about 3000 in 2006), there are a number of extracurricular activities on campus. NaUKMA students are also known for their activism, which is also supported by the university administration. Notable among the student organizations on campus are the Student Council, the Christian Students Union, Mohyla Intellectual Club, the Student Brotherhood, the ecological club Zelena Hvylya, and the Youth Center for Humanities. The NaUKMA student portal Bo.Net.Ua is an online platform for student and alumni communication.