Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University (reviews)

I spent one year at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, and unfortunately, it was one of the most disappointing educational experiences I’ve had.

Despite the university’s reputation and rankings, I found the curriculum to be extremely outdated. Many courses felt like they hadn’t been meaningfully updated in decades, and even some lecturers acknowledged that the program was no longer aligned with modern industry requirements. However, I saw little willingness to improve it.

The learning environment was also poor. The classroom furniture was incredibly uncomfortable, especially during long days with four or five consecutive classes. Spending hours sitting in those chairs often left me with back pain, which made it difficult to focus.

Communication and organization were inconsistent, and I often felt that bureaucracy mattered more than education. Attendance and student engagement didn’t seem to be taken seriously in many cases, which created an atmosphere where motivation to actually learn was low.

To be fair, the university administration helped me transfer into the second year without additional tuition-related issues, and I appreciate that support. However, this was one of the very few positive aspects of my experience.

Overall, I would not recommend this university to students looking for a modern, well-organized, and student-focused education. My year there felt like wasted time, and if I had the chance to choose again, I would study somewhere else.

The university provides a classical education in the fundamental sciences. The teaching process and materials are excellent, but modern teaching methods and techniques are somewhat lacking. I would also like to see a more modern teaching staff.