Financing for equity in higher education

Introduction

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)

No information is available regarding the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes, nor the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita in 2023 was 1.89%.

Tuition-free status

Monaco's laws do not guarantee free education, and the only university in the principality is a private one.

Governance

The Ministry of the Interior oversees higher education through the Directorate of National Education, Youth, and Sports (DENJS), which manages primary, secondary, vocational, and higher education.

 

1. Education resources to subnational governments

No funding mechanisms for transferring resources from the central government to local governments for public higher education have been identified.

 

2. Education resources to institutions


Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions

No funding for private universities when no public university is available has been identified.

Allocation and equity

No subsidies have been identified.

 

3. Education resources to students


Admission for vulnerable groups

No specific admission criteria for vulnerable groups nor financial support for their admission has been identified.

Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups

Since 1994, Monaco has operated a scholarship programme offering financial assistance to students according to academic performance, family situation, and socio-economic criteria. The amount of support is determined by the costs associated with the student’s field of study, the location of the educational institution, and individual needs, taking into account household resources and employment status. Fixed reference amounts for travel, accommodation, and enrolment fees are set by the Government Council, which applies a percentage to establish the final grant. Eligibility extends to Monegasque nationals, foreign nationals married to Monegasque citizens, students with a Monegasque parent, residents of Monaco or nearby French départements, as well as dependents or orphans of long-serving State or Commune employees and foreign students who have lived in Monaco for at least ten years. Scholarships may be awarded at different educational levels, including primary and secondary education under special circumstances, vocational education, level 3 (CAP) and level 4 (Baccalauréat) diplomas from non-French ministries, and higher education studies.

Young Monegasques under 30 can request state-supported loans alongside study grants. Eligible students must be enrolled in higher education programs. The Monegasque State guarantees the loans and covers interest and costs, so graduates only repay the borrowed capital.

 

4. Support for students’ living costs

Transportation

A free transportation service is provided seven days a week to people with reduced mobility to access educational institutions.

Accommodation

Scholarships take student housing into account when calculating costs.

Textbooks

No support for purchasing student textbooks has been identified.

Last modified:

Tue, 24/02/2026 - 12:10

Themes