IT STEP University | ІТ СТЕП Університет

What IT STEP University | ІТ СТЕП Університет does

IT STEP University (ІТ СТЕП Університет) is a private higher education institution headquartered in Lviv, Ukraine, founded in 2016 as the first IT-focused university in the country. It delivers bachelor's programs in Computer Science and Marketing, and a master's program in Applied Computer Science, serving Ukrainian high school graduates and bachelor's-degree holders seeking industry-aligned IT and digital education. The institution operates under a Major&Minor educational model, allowing students to combine a primary degree with secondary qualifications in Digital Design, Management, Digital Economy, or Fintech. Programs are accredited by Ukraine's National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAZYA VO), with bachelor's and master's CS programs holding certificates issued in December 2023 and July 2025.

The university's core academic differentiators are its dual education model — combining classroom instruction with mandatory internships at 20+ IT company partners including SoftServe, EPAM, ELEKS, Grid Dynamics, and Sigma Software — and its AI-focused initiatives. The curriculum spans generative AI, machine learning, computer vision, NLP, data engineering, software development, and digital marketing, delivered by 40+ practitioner-instructors drawn from leading Ukrainian IT firms. The institution also operates a Generative AI Center, led by a SoftServe Competence Manager, and an AI Club for applied student projects. International academic exchanges are in place with the University of Toronto (Canada) and West Finland University of Applied Sciences (Finland).

Revenue is generated almost entirely through tuition fees, structured as per-semester payments before each term begins. The 2025 master's program cohort is priced at 75,000 UAH per semester (approximately $1,875 at ~40 UAH/USD), implying a full master's tuition of ~300,000 UAH (~$7,500) across four semesters; bachelor's tuition is not publicly disclosed. The institution also offers employer-sponsored enrollment and targets the dual-degree segment through its Major&Minor format. With 83 employees and a single Lviv campus, IT STEP University operates at the scale of a niche private specialist institution within the broader Ukrainian higher education market.

Name

IT STEP University | ІТ СТЕП Університет

Legal name

ПЗВО «ІТ СТЕП Університет»

Website

https://itstep.edu.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IT STEP University (ІТ СТЕП Університет) is a private IT-focused university in Lviv, Ukraine, founded in 2016, offering bachelor's and master's programs in Computer Science and Marketing under a dual-education model with 20+ IT company partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus (EDAHAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Sector-Specific Internship Programs (e.g., STEM, Business, Health, Arts) (EDAIAFAI), Systems Administration & IT Operations (Windows/Linux, Monitoring, ITSM) (EDABAFAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Computer science programs
• Dual education model
• Generative AI training
• Professional IT training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lviv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Master's Program: Students pay tuition per semester for the master's program in Applied Computer Science. The program costs 75,000 UAH per semester for the 2025 cohort. Payment is made before each semester begins. Employers may also cover tuition costs for their employees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IT STEP University is a private higher education institution in Lviv, Ukraine that offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in computer science, marketing, and management. It combines academic study with industry internships through a dual education model in which 60% of students study while interning at IT companies, and it operates a Major&Minor system that lets students add secondary specializations in digital design, management, digital economy, or fintech. The university also runs an AI Club and Generative AI Center providing practical AI training and industry collaboration.

Product overview

IT STEP University is Ukraine's first specialized IT university offering higher education in computer science and related fields. The core product portfolio consists of two bachelor's programs — Computer Science (122 "Комп'ютерні науки") and Marketing (075 "Маркетинг") — and one master's program in Applied Computer Science (122 "Комп'ютерні науки"). The university operates a Major&Minor educational model where students earn a primary degree while pursuing supplementary specializations including Digital Design and New Media, Management, Digital Economy, and Fintech. A significant component of the offering is the AI Club and Generative AI Center, which provide extracurricular AI education, research, and industry collaboration. All programs feature dual education partnerships with leading IT companies enabling student internships. The institution is accredited by NAZYA VO and licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AI Club (Клуб Штучного інтелекту): An AI-focused community and innovation hub at IT STEP University that brings together experts from various fields to exchange experience on AI implementation and technologies.

Products and services

• Bachelor's Program in Computer Science (Бакалаврська програма «Комп'ютерні науки») A four-year undergraduate program (240 credits) preparing specialists in computer science with specialization in web programming, data science, business analysis, and artificial intelligence. Features a dual education model combining university study with industry internships at leading IT companies.
• Bachelor's Program in Marketing (Бакалаврська програма «Маркетинг») A four-year undergraduate program in Marketing (specialty D5) jointly developed with industry partners, preparing modern marketing professionals with practical skills in brand management, digital marketing, and strategic communications.
• Master's Program in Applied Computer Science (Магістерська програма «Прикладні комп'ютерні науки») A two-year master's program (90 credits) focusing on applied computer science including advanced machine learning, computer vision, generative AI, data engineering, and software development methodologies. Tuition is 75,000 UAH per semester.
• Digital Design and New Media Minor Program (Minor-програма «Дизайн та нові медіа») A supplementary specialization for Computer Science students covering digital graphics design, UX/UI design, mobile app design, 3D graphics, motion graphics, digital illustration, and social media content creation.
• Management Minor Program (Minor-програма «Менеджмент») A supplementary specialization for Computer Science students covering project management, team leadership, stakeholder management, risk management, brand management, and personal development for IT management careers.
• Digital Economy Minor Program (Minor-програма «Цифрова економіка») A supplementary specialization for Computer Science students covering digital economics, cyber security, fintech, e-commerce, internet trading, and digital business transformation.
• Fintech Minor Program (Minor-програма «Fintech») A supplementary specialization for Applied Computer Science master's students covering fintech company management, financial compliance, AI in finance, payment systems, e-commerce, RegTech and SupTech.
• AI Club (Клуб Штучного інтелекту) An interdisciplinary community at IT STEP University connecting business, science, and technology, providing a platform for knowledge exchange among experts on AI implementation, featuring strategic sessions, workshops, expert interviews, and student initiatives in AI literacy and applications.
• Generative AI Center (Центр генеративного ШІ) A research and educational center that conducts generative AI training, workshops, and practical projects for students and industry professionals, led by SoftServe Competence Manager Vyacheslav Koldovsky.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of students study through internships at leading IT companies monthly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability15 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SoftServecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Ukrainian IT company and primary educational partner. SoftServe professionals teach at the university, mentor student projects, provide feedback on curriculum, and offer internship and employment opportunities. Vyacheslav Koldovsky, Competence Manager at SoftServe, leads the university's Generative AI Center.
• ELEKScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerELEKS provides feedback on educational programs, mentors student project work, and offers internships to university students. Company representative Yulia Melnyk provides general supervision of student project works.
• EPAM SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPAM provides feedback on bachelor's educational programs and participates in curriculum design reviews. Major employer of university graduates.
• Sigma SoftwarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigma Software provides feedback on both bachelor's and master's programs and recruits graduates for employment.
• Grid DynamicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrid Dynamics provides feedback on master's program; Technical Trainer from Grid Dynamics lectures at the university, contributing to Applied Computer Science curriculum.
• Raiffeisen Bank (Райффайзен Банк)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaiffeisen Bank participates in the AI Club through Viktor Klyoba (Chief Manager of Innovation Implementation), contributing to AI curriculum and industry perspectives on AI in banking.
• Star CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoftware engineers from Star company lecture at the university. Oleksiy Maksymiv, Software Engineer at Star, is a university lecturer.
• University of TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exchange partner. Student Bohdan Borysey was selected for a summer study and project program at the University of Toronto.
• Lviv IT ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLviv IT Cluster provides feedback on the Computer Science bachelor's program and supports the university's educational cluster initiatives.
• Japan Desk LvivminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal initiative at Lviv City Council that supports Japanese companies in Lviv. Students learn about Ukraine-Japan business cooperation, Japanese management methodologies (5S, Kaizen), and international business practices.
• StayInno AI ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Andriy Bilous (Microsoft MVP in AI). Participates in AI Club activities and shares AI consulting expertise with students.
• UBOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI platform company (UBOS) collaborates with the university on AI education. CBDO Yuriy Kostyuchenko participates in AI Club sessions and shares AI agent development expertise.
• West Finland University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange partner. Students participated in a 10-day intensive English language course at the West Finland University of Applied Sciences.
• Lviv City Council (Львівська міська рада)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents visited Lviv City Council to learn about international cooperation practices and participate in an acceleration program for municipal employees run by the AI Club.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prometheus: Major Ukrainian online education platform offering open courses and partnerships with Ukrainian universities — competes for the same Ukrainian student audience and partners with universities on digital curricula, adjacent to IT STEP's offerings.
• Mate Academy: Ukrainian IT training/bootcamp provider focused on web development, data science, and QA — targets the same Ukrainian applicant pool seeking practical, industry-oriented tech education, and competes directly with IT STEP's dual-education positioning.
• GoIT: Ukrainian-headquartered IT education company running bootcamps and corporate training in software development, QA, and design — overlaps with IT STEP's practitioner-led, employer-aligned IT training model.
• Logos IT Academy (Lviv): Lviv-based IT academy delivering practical programming and IT courses with strong industry ties — operates in IT STEP's home city and competes for the same Western Ukrainian applicant pool.
• Beetroot Academy: Ukrainian-founded IT training school offering short-form programs in web development, data, and design — directly comparable in audience (career switchers and entry-level IT learners) and in the Ukrainian/Eastern European market.
• Hillel IT School: Largest network of IT training centers in Ukraine offering practical courses in programming, QA, and design — closely comparable model (industry-aligned, multi-city) and overlapping Ukrainian student market.
• BrainBasket Foundation: Non-profit running Tech Talent Pipeline / IT Generation programs in Ukraine aimed at teaching modern IT skills to broad cohorts — comparable in mission (practical, market-aligned IT education) and partially in target audience, though non-degree and grant-funded.
• Projector Institute: Kyiv-based creative/tech education institution offering project-based courses in design, engineering, and AI — comparable practitioner-led, project-driven model with overlapping design/tech student audience in Ukraine.
• SoftServe IT Academy: Training arm of SoftServe — IT STEP's primary partner — offering practical IT courses and junior training pipelines. Operates an adjacent IT education model in Ukraine and is partly a competitor and partly a feeder/channeller for IT STEP's programs.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global online learning platform partnering with universities to offer degrees, certificates, and specializations in CS and AI — addresses the same IT upskilling demand as IT STEP but at global scale and through partner institutions rather than own operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/it-step-university

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IT STEP University | ІТ СТЕП Університет