We are looking for people who:

• have significant professional achievements in politics, journalism, public service, military service, law and in civic, scientific, creative and entrepreneurial activities;
• take an active civic position and are able to apply acquired knowledge in their daily activities;
• are citizens of Ukraine under the age of 45 who have the appropriate educational level for the chosen field;
• knowledge of foreign languages is an additional advantage during the selection.

However, we encourage all those who share School’s values to apply for the USPS programme. USPS community unites people from different cultural and professional backgrounds who have a mission to develop the democratic state of Ukraine.

1. Selected participants should be able to participate in all three training sessions of the School.
2. From the beginning of their studies, participants of the programme have an opportunity to attend other events of the School (in particular, within the Alumni Club).
3. Participation costs (accommodation, meals, training, handouts, etc., except for travel within the territory of Ukraine) are covered by the School and its partners.
4. USPS, at its sole discretion, sets a registration fee for participation in the Annual programme, which is directed to development of its institutional activities. There is also a possibility of getting a scholarship to study in the School. It is provided by USPS alumni if there are proper justification and motivation.

Since 2019, USPS is providing Kateryna Handziuk Annual scholarship for civic position. USPS choses a scholarship holder together with the family of Kateryna Handziuk, public activists and experts.

Selection for the USPS programme takes place in two rounds.

1. Filling out an application for the Annual programme of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies
   To apply for participation in the programme, you should fill out an application form before a deadline. Dates may vary each year. Applying for USPS consists of two parts: an application form and a virtual interview. Applications, submitted after a specified deadline, will not be accepted for consideration. Information you provide in the application is confidential and is not subject to dissemination.
   Within three business days after filling out the application form, you will get a confirmation that we received it. If you don’t get a confirmation after submitting the application form, please inform us by email info@usps.org.ua or on USPS Facebook page.
2. Processing of applications and reporting about results of the 1st round
   After acceptance of applications for USPS is completed, our Selection committee begins reviewing them. The School’s Selection committee consists of competent representatives of main target groups of USPS. The Committee’s decision is a collective one. USPS reserves the right not to provide explanations regarding decisions taken by members of the Committee. Before a certain deadline, the Committee selects candidates who meet criteria for participants of USPS. After that, all applicants will be notified about results of the first round of selection.
3. The 2nd round of selection, formation of a USPS group
   To clarify more details, candidates may be assigned an interview. USPS experts conduct the interview by phone. Candidates, who are assigned an interview, have the same chance of admission like candidates who are not assigned an interview. After interviews, the Selection committee forms a final list of participants who will take part in the programme of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies in that year.

In order to diversify composition of groups and allow more people to get into the programme, we adhere to a regional and gender balance – a group should equally have men and women. At least 50% of the programme participants should be from different regions of Ukraine. Not more than half of the group can be from Kyiv and Kyiv region.

Professional quotas are taken into account during the selection process. USPS programme includes representatives of various industries – leaders from political sphere, public administration, military service, business environment, media, civic sector, academia, legal community and creative professions.

USPS has a different programme every year and new experts are invited to train. The main programme of sessions always includes:

• foundations of democracy, human rights, political processes and public administration,
• discussion of issues related to local self-government, regional politics,
• analysis of public policy in Ukraine and abroad,
• overview of relevant matters of political theory, economics, philosophy and law,
• meetings with government representatives.