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)
In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, between 2009 and 2018, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education fluctuated ranging from 30.13% to 26.72%. The data on initial government funding per tertiary student and on initial household funding are not available.
Tuition-free status
According to the 2015 National Education law, all education in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including higher education, is tuition-free. The Law stipulates that “all education in the DPRK is free, and educational institutions may not receive any fees from students or their parents or guardians for admission, classes, practical training, or field investigations.”
Governance
According to the Higher Education Law, the country’s higher education sector is managed and supervised under a centralised framework led by the Cabinet (내각). Article 64 stipulates that the “guidance of higher education affairs shall be conducted under the unified leadership of the Cabinet by central education guidance organs (중앙교육지도기관), local people’s committees, and relevant institutions,” which are responsible for regularly assessing higher education activities and ensuring the faithful implementation of national education policies. Furthermore, Article 66 provides that the “supervision and control of higher education affairs shall be carried out by the central education guidance organ and the relevant supervisory body,” emphasizing strict monitoring of policy execution.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There is no evidence of decentralised funding for higher education. All financial allocations are made under the centralised control of the Cabinet, with no mention of equity-based or regional transfer mechanisms.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
There is no provision for public funding of private universities. All higher education institutions are state-established and operated under the unified guidance of the Cabinet, as stipulated in the Higher Education Law.
Allocation and equity
No evidence was found of any equity-based or formula-driven mechanisms guiding government subsidy allocations to public higher education institutions.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
According to the Higher Education Law, students are selected from among citizens with excellent academic ability and conduct, based on entrance examinations organized by each institution. The law specifies that admission procedures follow state-defined regulations but does not include any provisions for vulnerable groups or financial support during admission.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
All university students are reported to receive a general state scholarship, while those with outstanding academic performance may be granted an additional merit-based scholarship. The law also specifies that scholarships are provided to students from schools for the visually impaired, schools for the hearing impaired, and to students from remote island areas who move inland to pursue their studies.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
No evidence was found of transportation support to public higher education institutions.
Accommodation
According to Article 43 of the Education Law, local government organs and relevant institutions are required to provide educational institutions with essential service facilities such as dormitories, cafeterias, and clinics, and may assign logistical support units to assist those operating dormitories. While this article guarantees the provision of student housing, no publicly available information exists on how dormitories are allocated, managed, or financed in practice.
Textbooks
According to Article 41 of the Education Law and Article 57 of the Higher Education Law, the central education guidance institution is responsible for ensuring the timely supply of textbooks, reference books, supplementary reading materials, and educational audiovisual resources so that educational activities are not disrupted. This means that the State centrally manages and finances textbook production and distribution, and students are not required to pay for learning materials.
