The NBU announces the launchof the traditional student championship Monetary Policy: NBU University Challenge (NBU University Challenge 2025). The central bank invites young people from all over Ukraine to participate in this event.
About the Championship
The NBU University Challenge is a competition between student teams from Ukrainian universities. Participants must analyze the economic situation in the country and provide a reasoned answer to the key question of the competition: "What should the NBU Board’s decisions be regarding interest rates, the exchange rate, and FX restrictions during the war, and why?"
Participation in the NBU University Challenge is a unique opportunity to look behind the scenes of the NBU’s activities: to learn about the work of the Monetary Policy Committee, to understand the specifics of monetary policy in wartime, to communicate with practitioners, and to understand how the central bank maintains macrofinancial stability in the country. Participants will have a great opportunity to supplement and diversify their theoretical education at universities with useful practical experience.
By participating in the competition, students will deepen their understanding of the peculiarities of monetary policy and improve the skills of modern macroeconomic analysis, analytical thinking, economic and mathematical modeling, teamwork, and public speaking. All of this is important for effective academic studies and further professional development.
The NBU has been holding the NBU University Challenge annually since 2019. Last year, more than 90 students from 14 Ukrainian universities took part in the championship (representing 7 oblasts of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv). Overall, teams from 46 universities from 21 oblasts of Ukraine have engaged in the competition over the six years of holding the event.
The Championship’s Participation Conditions
Teams from any higher educational institution of Ukraine can take part in the competition. A team must consist of three to five students from the same faculty. The team is coordinated by one consultant professor.
Students who were members of teams that reached the finals in previous championships, as well as current or former interns and employees of the NBU, are not eligible to participate in the championship.
Main Stages of the NBU University Challenge 2025
The first step is to register teams to participate in the championship by filling out the form at this link by 23 September (inclusive).
An orientation online session for registered teams will take place on 26 September. Participants will learn about central bank instruments, specifics of macroeconomic modeling and forecasting, and the analysis of indicators and risks for making monetary policy decisions.
The teams will need to prepare and submit their presentations for the competition until 22 October (inclusive).
NBU Monetary Policy Committee members and invited experts will evaluate the participants’ presentations.
The names of the short-listed teams will be announced on 3 November, and the championship final will take place on 20 November (offline).
Prizes for Winners
Finalists will receive diplomas and will be invited for an internship at the NBU. The winning team will be awarded with the NBU Governor Cup and other valuable prizes.
Detailed information about the terms of participation and the main stages of the championship is provided at the link.
See you at the NBU University Challenge!