Student Recruitment for Philological Majors: Gender Balance and Key Trends 2020–2025

The Faculty of Philology consistently enjoys popularity among applicants; however, the recruitment patterns over the past six years reveal interesting shifts and specific dynamics. An analysis of enrollment lists for the 2020–2025 period indicates a steady interest in traditional majors, such as “Ukrainian Language and Literature.” At the same time, there is a noticeable increase in interest in educational programs with a foreign component and shortened durations of study.

The faculty offers several primary tracks of study: “Secondary Education” with Ukrainian and English languages, and “Philology” with various specializations, including literature and records management. Intensive courses with shortened terms of study are also available. Each year, the number of groups per specialization varied from one to three, with group sizes ranging from 10 to 30 students.

Stable interest in classical programs is confirmed by statistical data: every year, an average of 25 students per group were enrolled in the “Ukrainian Language and Literature” major. Meanwhile, highly specialized tracks within the “Philology” program attracted smaller groups—ranging from 8 to 12 people—reflecting a focus on a more specific audience and a growing student interest in narrow specialization. The introduction of shortened terms of study in 2023 allowed the faculty to attract more applicants by offering new combinations of programs, such as “Foreign Literature” paired with “English.”

The gender balance at the faculty remains consistently female-dominated: over 80% of students are women. Men typically prefer tracks related to the study of the English language and foreign literature. Each year, only 1–2 men enroll in philological programs, while the number of women ranges from 30 to 70. Over the past six years, the structure of gender distribution has remained virtually unchanged, indicating the stable nature of this trend.

Recruitment dynamics were also influenced by external factors. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a slight decrease in the number of enrolled students due to introduced university attendance restrictions. In 2022, the enrollment campaign even saw a slight increase following the onset of military actions.

The implementation of accelerated courses deserves special attention. Such initiatives not only expand the faculty’s target audience but also meet the current demands of students seeking to combine studies with work or other commitments. The increase in the number of groups for foreign literature and English confirms the growing interest of students in international education and the improvement of language skills.