Ukraine has a moderate English proficiency score, and English speakers are more common in big cities like Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv. While there’s a high demand for English education, most opportunities come through volunteering online due to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Read on for The TEFL Org’s guide to teaching English in Ukraine, from online teaching opportunities to teaching refugees in nearby countries.

Key Takeaways

• The ongoing Russia–Ukraine war means that in-country teaching opportunities are rare, and traveling to Ukraine poses high risks.
• Teachers can also find opportunities online or in other European countries like Georgia, Poland, Romania, and Moldova.
• Popular jobs and volunteering platforms for teaching online to Ukrainian students include ENGin, Svitlo School, Balakun, GoGlobal NGO, and the Peace Corps.
• Most volunteer online teaching opportunities don’t require experience or a bachelor’s degree.

Note on the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine

With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, many areas are considered high risk. Generally speaking, the further east you go towards the Russian border, the more dangerous it is. But cities further from the border (like Kyiv) are still at risk. Life in western cities like Lviv is safer (statistically and geographically), but it’s still at risk of air raids.

We can’t advise readers on where is and isn’t safe. Not everywhere is off-limits for tourists or teachers in Ukraine, but please look out for your country’s official travel advice before deciding to visit Ukraine.

You can also use ACLED’s risk map to get a clearer picture of the risk levels across different areas in Ukraine. But ultimately, in-person teaching positions are very rare at the moment, and most teaching opportunities come online.

Requirements for Teaching English in Ukraine

Ukraine ranks at around ~45th globally with a moderate English proficiency score, but as in many other European countries, younger students generally have a better grasp of English than the older generation.

Many Ukrainian students want to learn English but can only afford to learn online. There’s a shortage of teachers, so the requirements for teaching Ukrainian students are more flexible in some aspects.

Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach English in Ukraine?

Typically, you need a TEFL certificate for teaching in Ukraine. By completing a TEFL course like the 120-hour TEFL course, you’ll learn how to manage large classrooms, cater to different learning styles, teach complex grammar rules, and so much more.

In 2026, there’s plenty of opportunities to teach Ukrainian students online as a volunteer, and you don’t always need a TEFL certificate to qualify. But it’s important to remember that a TEFL certificate isn’t just a requirement, you’ll develop plenty of skills that make a lasting impact on your students’ language learning.

Can I teach English without a degree in Ukraine?

It’s possible to teach English without a degree in Ukraine (especially if you have a TEFL certificate), but most employers prefer teachers with a university degree. If you don’t have a degree, your job opportunities and salary potential will be limited.

But again, you can teach English without a degree as a volunteer online. Most online platforms just want teachers who can speak English fluently and commit to enough hours per month.

Do I need teaching experience to teach in Ukraine?

It’s possible to teach English without experience in Ukraine, but much like having a degree, employers prefer teachers who have experience.

If you don’t have experience, you can teach English online on platforms like ENGin or Svitlo School.

Can I teach in Ukraine as a non-native speaker?

Non-native speakers can teach English in Ukraine, but you’ll need to prove that you have English proficiency. You can do this if you’ve got a certificate like IELTS, TOEFL, CEFR, or a degree from an English-speaking country.

Visa requirements for teaching English in Ukraine

To teach English in Ukraine legally, you’ll need to get the right visa and work permit. But first, you’ll need to find a job or a volunteer role.

If you find a teaching position in Ukraine, your employer or host organisation will sponsor your long-term D type visa. Then, you can apply for a temporary residence permit in Ukraine.

Some nationalities (like the UK or the US) can visit Ukraine visa-free for 90 days, which is convenient if you’re looking to volunteer short-term – but you’ll still need an invitation letter from a host organization to volunteer legally. But if you’re looking to volunteer for 90+ days, you’ll need the long-term (D type) visas.

To qualify for the visa, you’ll need the following:

• A valid passport with at least 3 months validity after your expected exit
• Completed visa application form
• Proof of health insurance (minimum of €30,000 / $34,790 / £25,700 coverage)
• Invitation letter from a relevant Ukraine’s state authority
• Proof of signed job contract with Ukrainian employer or volunteer organisation

Salary and Cost of Living

Since Ukraine is relying on foreign aid, experiencing infrastructure damage, inflation, and other issues due to the war, it’s difficult to get a full picture of the teacher salary and cost of living in Ukraine.

However, if you’re interested in comparing the salaries and cost of living in different TEFL locations across Europe and the rest of the world, check out The TEFL Org’s Salary Guide.

English teaching opportunities in Ukraine

Most English teaching jobs in Ukraine have been paused, so in-country teaching options are currently limited. But some organisations welcome foreigners who have their heart set on helping those in need.

Volunteer programmes

What to expect as a volunteer in Ukraine:

• Teaching English as one small aspect of a larger mission
• Flexible schedule and timeline
• Teaching English classes to refugees
• Unpaid, but may receive benefits like accommodation and meals

Summer camps

Popular organisation like GoCamps and Teach for Ukraine help students socialise and learn English over the summer as a language camp. Unlike classroom teaching, summer camps are high-energy, include adventure and team-building activities, and focus more on conversational English and developing confidence.

What to expect at a summer camp in Ukraine:

• Playful and informal learning environment
• Teaching large groups of students
• Low pay or stipend, but benefits like meals and free accommodation

Teaching English to Ukrainian refugees

While there are many ways to help refugees in your home country, from volunteering to house refugees to teaching English, you can also help in-country.

In-person volunteer opportunities are limited, but you can still teach English to Ukrainian refugees with these organisations:

Local grassroots organisations

You can find grassroots NGO organisation on platforms like Volunteering Ukraine or Worldpackers. “Grassroots” refers to smaller programmes or organisations led by community members, so these usually have less visibility online and can be difficult to find.

From teaching English at nonprofit schools and language centres to community projects like Repair Together you can help others in need across the country.

Global Camp NGO

Global Camp NGO is a Ukrainian educational programme that runs summer camps (like their Global Dream Camp) in safer regions of Ukraine and the Carpathian Mountains. These camps focus on language immersion and other forms of support like psychological support for refugees.

They also have online opportunities where you teach Ukrainian students with a Ukrainian co-teacher. To be an online teacher, you need to sign up for at least 6 hours of teaching per month, but you can keep flexibly pause or stop after each monthly cycle.

Kosciuszko Foundation

With the Kosciuszko Foundation’s Teach English in Poland (TEIP) programme, you can teach Ukrainian refugees in its neighbouring country. This programme organises summer camps for both Polish students and Ukrainian refugees to socialise and learn English.

Global Volunteers

Alternatives to teaching English in Ukraine

You don’t necessarily need to be in the country to teach English to students and refugees from Ukraine – there are plenty of organisations that support students and refugees online and in nearby countries. We’ve gathered some of the best organisations for you.

Online teaching opportunities

Did you know that you can help change lives from the comfort of your own home? Here are some of the best online teaching opportunities below if you want to make a difference in Ukraine from afar:

ENGin

ENGin is a nonprofit organisation offering free English lessons to Ukrainian refugees and students around the world. As an ENGin teacher, you’ll host weekly lessons with Ukrainians looking to improve their conversational English skills.

You’ll have a selected Ukrainian “buddy” to teach and mentor, so you can build consistency in your lessons and develop a strong connection. The only requirements are fluency in English, and a commitment of 1 hour per week for 10 weeks – you don’t need any experience!

Svitlo School

Svitlo School encourages students, teachers, retirees, and people of other professions to join and contribute to a great cause regardless of their experience. All that’s required is a commitment of 1 hour a week for at least 6 weeks.

You can teach younger students (10–13 years old) or older students (14–18 years old), and each lesson lasts 45 minutes. You’ll teach English on Zoom premium, and Svitlo offers teacher training so you’ve got both the skills and the lesson materials to use in class.

Many volunteer teachers repeat their lessons in the next semester to the new group of students, so you don’t need to worry about changing your lesson plans.

Balakun

Balakun, which means “chatterbox” in Ukrainian, is where Ukrainian students can improve their career prospects through English education. While they offer 1–1 and group classes for general English or specific subjects like medical or business English, their philosophy of “connection before curriculum" caters to teachers who want to develop a strong rapport with their students.

They have teachers from 84+ countries, so don’t worry if you’re not a native English speaker! To quality, you’ll need to:

• Be 18+ years old
• Have fluency in English (or German, Spanish, Ukrainian)
• Be available to teach for 1 hour per week

Peace Corps

If you’re from the US, you can join the Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot programme. As a Virtual Service Participant (VSP), you’ll help teach Ukrainian teachers and students in English to promote not just English language development but also cultural exchange.

These projects last 3–6 months and require 5–15 hours of work per week, and you need to be a US citizen to qualify.

Other European countries for TEFL teachers

If you want to teach English, earn a salary, and live in a foreign country, consider these nearby European countries instead:

Poland

From its interesting history, low living costs, and variety of options for English teachers, there’s plenty to embrace inside and outside the classroom as a teacher in Poland.

Georgia

Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) is a popular programme that places English language assistants in schools across the country, where you’ll work alongside another teacher (which is great for gaining experience). Teachers also live with a host family, which is great if you’re after cultural immersion.

If you’re an online English teacher, you can enter and work in Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days. Consider volunteering for an NGO that teaches English to Ukrainians alongside your current online job.

Moldova

While Moldova is more culturally similar to Romania, it shares many things in common to Ukraine, like its Soviet history, Brutalist architecture, and natural borders like the Dniester river.

Bordering Ukraine, Moldova has welcomed around ~139,000 refugees, with volunteer programmes like United Planet where you can help. Although some of these programme’s initiatives don’t specialise in teaching English, education is a strong component.

Romania

Romania isn’t just a wonderful looking country with its rolling green hills and medieval fortresses. The country has welcomed 210,000+ Ukrainian refugees into the country, many of these have integrated into public and private schools in Romania.

But if you’re open to paid teaching opportunities in Romania, you’ll find most luck at its summer camps or English language schools.

Lithuania

With gothic architecture, UNESCO world heritage sites, and medieval castles, Lithuania creates an idyllic spot for English teachers. But there’s also a significant demand for foreign teachers. Today, younger students leans more towards English education – as opposed to the older Russian-speaking generation.

TEFL jobs exist in public and private education, and when it comes to teaching English to Ukrainians, you can volunteer with organisations like IOM Lithuania.

Teaching English in Major Cities

While in-person opportunities are currently rare for TEFL teachers, here are the top two destinations for English teachers historically.

Teach English in Kyiv (Kiev)

Teach English in Lviv

Located in closer to the Polish border, Lviv is western Ukraine’s largest city. It’s also a cultural and historical hub, with a multicultural population, cute coffee houses, and a UNESCO-listed old town that combines gothic and renaissance architecture.

Having resisted Russian imperial control until 1939, it had more time to develop its own cultural identity within Ukraine. With a higher percentage of Ukrainian speakers than Kyiv, a UNESCO City of Literature title, and its own culinary identity, there are plenty of reasons why people choose the smaller city of Lviv over the capital.

Ready to start teaching? Don’t Forget Your TEFL Certificate

Most teaching English abroad jobs require a TEFL certificate, and while many volunteer roles don’t require training or previous teaching experience, studying a TEFL course will benefit your in-class or online experience so much more.

Even if your teaching job or volunteer opportunity doesn’t list a TEFL certification as a requirement, it’ll make you feel more confident in your skills and your students will take more away from your lessons. From explaining complex grammar structures, developing classroom management skills, lesson planning, and more, you’ll become a more competent and skilled teacher by studying a TEFL course.

Why not get started today with our 120-hour TEFL course to launch your career teaching abroad.