The subject of the research is the theoretical and practical aspects of researching the factors of competitiveness of higher education institutions of Ukraine during the war and at the stage of post-war recovery. The aim of the research is to determine the main factors of competitiveness of higher education institutions in the post-war period. Research methods. In writing the article, general scientific and special methods of research and management of the competitiveness of higher education institutions were used. Results of the investigation. Іn the course of writing the article, it is determined that the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine has radically changed the conditions of functioning of higher education institutions (HEIs), which has affected their competitiveness. It is determined that one of the key issues in the context of Ukraine's recovery is the issue of ensuring the sustainable functioning of the higher education system, which requires the reconstruction of partially damaged or even destroyed higher education institutions. It is analyzed that as of today, 45 higher education institutions in Ukraine have been completely destroyed and 61 have been damaged. It is emphasized that when addressing the issues of restoring higher education institutions, it is necessary to take into account market conditions and sectoral needs for training specialists for a particular sector of the economy of a particular region. It is determined that the competitiveness of a higher education institution is the ability of a higher education institution to compete effectively in the educational market, providing quality education that meets the needs of higher education students and society, while maintaining sustainable popularity and attractiveness; this is a complex process that requires efforts on the part of the university administration, teachers and students, as well as effective cooperation with society and business. It is proved that in order to ensure competitiveness in the post-war period, higher education institutions must actively adapt to new realities, improve their approaches to teaching and research, introduce new technologies, and cooperate with various sectors of society to achieve success. Scope of the results. Economics, management, higher education in Ukraine. Conclusions. As a result of the article, it is determined that in order to ensure the competitiveness of higher education institutions in the post-war environment, five main conditions must be met, including 1) development of higher education on an innovative basis, which will create a more flexible and efficient educational environment and help higher education students to adapt to the requirements of modern business, while contributing to the high competitiveness of higher education institutions; 2) improving the quality of research by increasing investment in research and, as a result, promoting the development of new technologies, solving global problems and improving the ranking of higher education institutions; 3) cooperation in the international context, which is an important tool for the development of education, science and technology, helping to increase the level of cooperation between countries and provide a deeper understanding of global challenges and opportunities; 4) development of e-education, which involves the use of electronic tools, programs, platforms and resources for learning, regardless of place and time; 5) deepening cooperation between HEIs and business, which creates the basis for training competitive specialists, promotes the development and dissemination of innovations, and provides conditions for the growth of HEIs' competitiveness.