Law on Academic Integrity takes effect in Ukraine

On July 31, Ukraine enacted the Law "On Academic Integrity." The document establishes uniform rules of integrity in education and science, defines types of violations, procedures for their consideration, and possible sanctions.

The law applies to pupils, students, entrants, teachers, educators, researchers, educational institutions, and research institutions. Its provisions also apply during admission examinations, olympiads, competitions, scientific peer review, and evaluation of educational and scientific works.

What is considered a violation

Violations of academic integrity include plagiarism and self-plagiarism, fabrication and falsification of data, misattribution of authorship, non-independent completion of tasks, unauthorized assistance, dishonest assessment, academic sabotage, and coercion of others to commit violations.

Separately, the law regulates the use of artificial intelligence. It is considered dishonest to submit AI-generated texts, images, models, or data as one's own work without appropriate acknowledgment.

When using AI-generated materials, the author must disclose this in the work and, depending on the rules established by the institution, indicate the program or generation methodology.

What liability is provided

Pupils and students may be subject to an oral or written warning, mandatory completion of academic integrity classes, re-completion of assignments, and other sanctions defined by law and the institution's internal rules. In certain cases, a higher education student may be expelled.

Academic liability may be imposed on individuals who were 14 years old at the time of the violation. When handling cases of minors aged 14 to 18, their parents or legal representatives may be invited.

For teachers and researchers, reprimands, dismissal, removal from academic councils, restriction on participation in attestation, and deprivation of academic degrees, academic ranks, or pedagogical titles are provided in cases stipulated by law.

Each educational institution and research institution must approve its own system for ensuring academic integrity. This system must define the procedure for submitting and reviewing reports of violations, applying sanctions, and appealing decisions made.

Law No. 4742-IX was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 18, 2025.

Sources: Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, State Service of Education Quality of Ukraine