Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
Gross enrolment for both sexes in the tertiary sector was 66.73% in 2023. Initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 24.82% in 2022. Initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 2.95% in 2022.
Tuition-free status
The 1992 Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms mandates free public higher education.
Governance
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS, MŠMT in Czech) is responsible for the public administration of Higher Education and for administering the funding formula for Higher Education Institutions.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Subnational funding mechanims
There are no subnational funding mechanisms for higher education; funding is provided directly to the university.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
According to the 1998 Act regarding Higher Education, private universities are permitted and are expected to finance their own activities. The ministry may offer state funding, such as scholarships and bursaries, including those related to equity, dependent on the strategic plan of the private higher education institution. This funding is not related to the absence of public institutions.
Allocation and equity
Government subsidies are given to universities in the form of research grants, and also according to a formula divided into four sections. The majority (around 80%) of the budget is “institutional”; around four-fifths of this is based on student numbers and the cost of the courses and the remaining fifth is based on performance-related factors such as the graduation rate and the results of research. 10% of the budget is dedicated to the social affairs of students, including scholarships and accommodation grants and meals, and 5% is earmarked for the development of the institutions. The remaining 5% is dedicated to international cooperation agreements and support for some marginalised groups.
Annexe 3 of the Ministry of Education’s 2024 rules regarding the funding formula outlines the process by which students with specific needs are categorised and provided with extra funding. Sensory impairment, physical disability, learning disabilities and other conditions are covered, and a set of standard adjustments, such as interpreters, is outlined. For example, the university is provided with 50,000 CZK for a student with autism spectrum disorder, and 150,000 CZK for a sign language user.
Equity is further supported by the provision of grants. Institutions apply directly to the Ministry for these grants. Ukrainian refugees are supported by the Policy Fund to Support Ukrainian Students in 2025. This was budgeted at CZK 135,000,000 in 2025. Grants also exist for the support of Belarusian students.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
The Ministry of Education mandates that those with special needs have the right for their circumstances to be taken into account regarding the admission and completion of education. Universities issue their own directives on how to accommodate the admission of those with special needs, e.g. Masaryk University offers those with special needs a customised admissions procedure.
Under the 2022 law responding to the conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian refugees are entitled to a special admissions process, including exemption from written Czech university entrance exams.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
According to the Czech Government’s Citizen Portal (2025), students in a “difficult social situation”, or those entitled to a child benefit, are entitled to a social scholarship. The amount is set at ¼ of the minimum wage and is paid for 10 months of the year. The eligibility for the scholarship is decided by the social security office and then administered by the university.
No other government grants or loans for specific groups in higher education were found. The non-governmental organisation Romea offers scholarships for Roma students, providing 100 in 2025. While the scholarships are funded by private sector donations, Romea receives regular grants from the government for its range of activities.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
According to the Ministry of Transport (2022), students up to their 26th birthday are entitled to discounted public transport, paid for by a subsidy from the government. This changed from a 75% discount to a 50% discount in 2022. In 2024, CZK 4,909,000,000 was allocated for all transport subsidies, of which 40% was allocated to students.
Accommodation
Accommodation stipends are available to all students studying away from home. The Ministry of Education in 2019 set out a formula by which these accommodation stipends are calculated and distributed to the universities. The exact amount can vary between universities; the Anglo American University, for example, provides CZK 615 per month. This does not cover the full cost of accommodation. These payments can be in addition to the social stipend.
Textbooks
No programmes were found for assistance in buying textbooks.
