Ukraine University Demanding $4000 ‘fee’ To Release My Degree After I Passed All Exams, Is This Legal?

I was studying in Ukraine for 5 years (Dentistry course) and completed all my classes, passed Krok 1 & 2. 1 year before my supposed graduation, the war occured and caused us to travel back to our home countries. We did the rest of our courses online and i wrote the Krok 2 in Dubai online, and passed.

After that it was time to request for the printing out of my degree paper (they dont do it automatically, you have to request). Upon request they told me to pay a certain fee (which i did, it was around UAH 1000) After paying, they made us wait and then boom told us we need to give our original high school certificates with the required stamps from the Ukrainian embassy in our country or our country's embassy in Ukraine. However i didnt have a Ukrainian embassy in my home country so i had to travel to South Africa. I had already done this process when I initially applied to the university with my acceptance letter, so why are they asking me for this again?

Nevertheless, life happened and i found it hard to travel to SA from Dubai and ended up living there for almost 2 years . (My plan was to make money and be able to afford the trip to SA and complete what was necessary to get my degree.)

After almost 2 years, I contacted the uni and they gave me a whole NEW reasoning. They said:

The Department for the Recognition of Foreign Educational Documents has received your electronic application.

According to the South African education system, the minimum requirements for secondary education qualifications that allow the holder to study in the Republic of South Africa are: • For bachelor’s degree programs: native or foreign language (with a result of at least 30%) and four subjects (with a result of at least 50%); • For other programs: native or foreign language (with a result of at least 30%) and four subjects (with a result of at least 40%).

This email was sent from: Naric

(Note: I completed South African curriculum in my home country, hence them using SA. I didn't school in SA. I got 2 subjects in 40% )

What I dont understand is:

• If Ukraine university admitted me in 2018, that means they accepted my South African NSC at that time according to their admission rules, not South African ones.
• I completed the degree under Ukrainian higher education regulations. Meaning I met their academic requirements.
• Logically, the university has no right to retroactively deny my qualification because of my high school marks now. Especially if they were already approved when I was admitted.
• Also isnt each grading system different around the world, a higher level C can be equivalent to a B in another curriculum. Im not saying I have higher degree but i feel juked because why did i study 5 years (passed all my classes organically. Passed Krok 1 & 2 in my first tries) Just for them to tell me oh sorry love you need to rewrite your grade 12 and its YOUR problem even though we accepted you initially.

This has been STRESSING me out as i havent been able to get a proper job equivalent to my degree.

Ive been speaking to some agents to help out. The agent at my University (yes we have agents for universities in Ukraine, they're basically middlemen and hard to do things aside from them. Especially payments. Perhaps not, but they made us believe that) Anyways the agent told me he can get me my degree if i just pay him $4000. I asked how because they literally said i need to improve my grades. He said they tell that to all students so we have to pay.

I need urgent help. I dont have close to $4000 and why should i pay that amount if I have already worked hard and completed my course. I have my admission, I have my transcript, I have proof I passed my Krok. I do not want to be exploited and taken advantage of. Its my right to collect my degree. I need help. Do they have the right to change their admission? As of now I havent contacted the ministry, idk how part of this they are. I also cant go to Ukraine to sort it out. I was advised not to go legal as it would cost me roughly same amount and because of the ongoing war they might delay and prolong.

I've been going through it mentally. Ive had a horrible 2 years and this being one of my serious problems has made me want to give up. Its been a struggle and I genuinely need help from someone. Im open to suggestions.

Location: Ukraine