Purpose. To assess institutional factors and the results of education reform in Ukraine, considering economic and social development of the country; to specify the main institutional European integration tendencies of Ukraine in the field of education taking into account the factor of human capital. Methodology. The methodological basis of the work proposed involves such universal methods of scientific knowledge as analysis; synthesis; inductive method; deductive method; causal modeling; combined application of complementary approaches and methods based on the principles of general scientific methodology, in particular, competency-based, person-centered, culturological ones. Findings. It is found that the conditions for reforming Ukrainian education taking into account the global educational and European integration trends provide for institutional processes in the socio-economic sphere and radical changes in the content, forms of organization and methods of teaching and education. Namely, this refers to designing the educational process as an institution of successful personal and professional socialization based on EU requirements, which will lead to the growth of national capital through accelerated human accumulation and bring Ukraine closer to complete European integration. Originality. The study identifies key trends in Ukrainian, European and world educational spheres, as well as the reasons that negatively affect the development of education in Ukraine and do not allow it to significantly influence the competitive potential of countries and deliver on European integration opportunities. In contrast to previously suggested investigations, this approach focuses on the institutional and socio-economic factors of the educational trend. Practical value. The results of the research can be used by experts in the formation of institutional requirements for designing the trend of the education system in Ukraine, taking into account the requirements of European integration.