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 2023, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes was 45.5%. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is 31.47% as of 2021. The initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 7.41%.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is not tuition-free in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the Minister of the Government proposes the tuition fees for all study programmes in public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Students are also expected to pay registration fees.
There are two types of students for the first cycle (undergraduate studies), budget-financed and self-financed. Budget-financed students are selected based on their good performance in secondary school. There is a quota set for the number of students who may enrol under this category. The Ministry of Education is responsible for the tuition fees. Students need only to pay for administrative and other fees, which range from BAM 94-500 (USD 56-300). The majority of students are self-financed and must pay tuition fees. Fees range from BAM 440-1500 (USD 265-900). All students pay tuition fees from the second cycle (Master's) onwards, except for the Republika of Srpska, which also covers the tuition of the second study cycle. These fees are determined by the government. In the Brčko District, tuition fees are also determined by the government.
Governance
Bosnia and Herzegovina is comprised of two entities (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Republika Srpska, and the Brčko District. The FBiH is further split into ten cantons, each with their own education systems. In total, there are twelve administrative units. Each administrative unit—the ten cantons, Republika Srpska, and Brčko District—maintains its own Ministry of Education, which manages the education system under its own laws, policies, and budgets. The Federal Ministry of Education and Science serves a coordinating role among the ten cantons in the Federation, while the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH oversees education activities at the national level. The national technical bodies responsible for tertiary level education include the Agency for the Development of Higher Education and the Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education.
Public HEIs are financed by the relevant educational authorities, which are the entity, canton and district units. As such, there are thirteen separate education budgets.
The Republika Srpska manages tertiary level education through the Ministry of Science and Technology Development, Higher Education and Information Society. The other canton and district-level educational authorities manage tertiary education under their respective departments or Ministries of Education.
The 2007 Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (amended 2009) provides guidelines at the national level. However, standards and guidelines are generally outlined at the entity, district and cantonal level.
The relevant Higher Education Laws are highlighted below:
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Federal level |
2007 Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (amended 2009) |
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Brko District |
2009 Law on Higher Education in Brÿko District BiH (amended 2020) |
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Republika Srpska |
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Sarajevo Canton |
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Una-Sana Canton |
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Posavina Canton |
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Tuzla Canton |
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Zenica-Doboj Canton |
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Bosnian-Podrinj Canton |
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Central Bosnian Canton |
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Herzegovina-Neretva Canton |
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West Herzegovina Canton |
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Kanton 10 |
N/A |
As of March 2026, there are 27 accredited universities in the country. 8 of which are funded through the budgets of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Government of Republika Srpska. Not every canton has a public university. The list prepared by the Agency for the Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found here.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The contribution of state-level funding to the education budgets of the thirteen educational authorities (the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the ten cantons, Republika Srpska, and Brčko District) is very small.
The Entity governments (FBiH and the Republika Srpska) allocate education funds to the Cantons (within the FBiH) or municipalities (within Republika Srpska).
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Private universities may receive funds on a project basis.
In the Brčko District, a higher education institution in which the District has expressed public interest may be co-financed from the district budget. The funding is regulated by a special contract between the government and the higher education institution. The Republika Srpska does not provide funds to private higher education institutions.
The Una-Sana canton provides fund from the cantonal budget to higher education institutions through a public competition.
Allocation and equity
The relevant educational authorities, from the separate budgets of the 13 education ministries, finance specific needs from universities, such as equipment and facilities for students with disabilities, materials and services, research and scientific work, international exchange, and student organization projects. The university covers the rest of the costs from student tuition and fees, local self-government funds, donations and research sources.
In the Republika Srpska, funds for higher education institution may come from the following sources: the budget of the Republic, the HEI’s own income, the budget of local self-government units, donations, and other sources. The funds of the budget of the Republic are used to finance salaries and remunerations of employees. Other costs are co-financed with the other funding sources.
In the Brko district, the Education Assembly provides part of the funds for higher education directly to the HE institutions. Funds may also come from the institution’s own revenue, collected tuition fees, and other sources.
In the Sarajevo Canton, funds for the performance of basic activities at public higher education institutions are provided from the Budget of the Sarajevo Canton. The funds primarily cover the salaries and remunerations of employees. They also cover all costs related to providing teaching, artistic, professional, scientific research, artistic research and research work, i.e.: equipment, library materials, IT equipment, ... The public funds co-finance other needs such as materials, programmes, and international exchanges.
Una-sana's Higher Education law states that public higher education institutions from the canton’s budget, its own revenue, donation, and others. The canton’s budget finances salaries and remunerations of employees and co-finances scientific and research activities; and materials and services. Private institutions do not receive cantonal funds.
In Posavina, Herzegovina-Neretva, West Herzegovina, and the Bosnian Podrinje Canton, the Higher Education Laws state that funds for institutions come from the founder, the Fund’s resources, donations, tuition fees, and its own revenue. Founders may be private or public: established by a municipality, county, or a combination of the two.
Because not all cantons host a public university, cantonal governments may fund the nearest public university. The Central Bosnian Canton, according to the Higher Education Law, will “continue to finance the activities of the Universit of Tuzla and the University of Mostar” which have special agreements with the Government of the Canton.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Generally, the rules and procedures for the admission and enrollment of students is determined by the higher education institution.
According to the Republika Srpska’s Law on Higher Education, a higher education institution may also establish special criteria for the enrollment. Higher education institution should also adopt a Program of Affirmative Measures for the Enrollment of Candidates with Malignant Diseases and Disabilities.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The Federal Ministry of Education and Science provides funds to support the education of Roma students and students with disabilities.
Responsible ministries of education implement and award merit-based public grants to students in public universities. Often these programmes also consider need-based elements such as the parents’ income, employment status, and whether or not they are war veterans. These may have enrolment quotas. Grants range from BAM 100-800 and are available monthly for ten months a year. Local governments also may provide some form of state-funded grants.
According to the Law of Higher Education in the Republika Srpska, the Ministry shall provide “incentives” for full-time students below 35 years old who are enrolled in the third cycle of steidies, and full-time students of the first cycle of studies. These funds are awarded in a public competition procedure.
In the Sarajevo Canton, students with disabilities are exempt from tuition fees. In the Bosnian Podranje, scholarships are provided from the Canton Budget to full-time students with disabilities.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
No information was found.
Accommodation
In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, funds help to cover student centers and dormitories. The federation helps to subsidize the accommodation and meals of students for students coming from less developed cantons (Posavina, Bosnia-Podrinje, Canto 10) and Republika Srpska.
In the Republika Srpska, all costs for student accommodation in student-standard institutions are borne by the Government. KM 2.6 million per year will be provided by the budget of the Republika Srpska to finance accommodation. The Republic will also pay KM 3.5 per student per day to provide them with school meals.
Textbooks
No information was found.
This profile was reviewed by Dr. Hatidza Jahic, Associate Professor.
