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 2024, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes was 70.11%. The country has seen a slow decrease in enrolment since the highest enrolment ratio of 95.5% in 2013. The initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 30.59% in 2024. That same year, the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 1.54%.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is not tuition-free in the Republic of Belarus. The state does finance a set number of students per year on a competitive basis. State-funded places at public HEIs are free of charge for students who pass competitive entrance exams, while the remaining students pay comparatively low tuition fees.
Governance
Belarus’ Ministry of Education is in charge of all levels of education. The Republican Institute for Higher Education and the Office of Higher Education provide additional support for the higher education system.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Belarus are primarily funded by the state. The majority of HEIs are founded by the state. Funds are paid directly to state institutions from the national budget. As a result, there are no sub-national equity-weighted allocation mechanisms, such as quotas or targeted grants for disadvantaged regions, at the higher education level. Equity considerations are instead built into student-level support mechanisms (see Section 3).
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Out of the 51 total higher education institutions in the Republic of Belarus, only 9 are private. According to the 2011 Education Code (amended in 2025), private education institutions do not receive funds from the state.
Allocation and equity
Article 29 of the 2011 Education Code (amended in 2025) states that state educational institutions receive funds from the state budget, local budget, funds of the founders, funds from income-generating activities, sponsorship of legal entities or individual entrepreneurs. Financing takes into account the state programme of education, regional measures ensuring the implementation of state programes, state minimum social standards in the field of education, and standards of expenditures per student.
In 2020, the government launched a modernisation project in higher education financed by the World Bank.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
According to the 2022 Rules for Admission of Persons to Obtain General Higher and Special Higher Education, certain groups may be entitled to benefits when enrolling in higher education institutions. These include winners and participants of various international competitions such as the Olympiad, participants of the Olympics, veterans, or previous winners of the national competitions.
Outside of those admitted on the basis of merit, applicants are admitted to the places remaining based on a total number of points. Additional points may be given to marginalised populations such as those with disabilities, children of veterans who have passed or become disabled during their military service, and those affected by radiation accidents. Notably, orphans and children left without parental care are enrolled outside of competition (i.e., they are guaranteed a place without needing to compete against other applicants).
According to the above mentioned 2022 Admission rules, children of military personnel, internal affairs officers, or rescuers who died or became disabled in the line of duty also receive preferential admission. Children with disabilities (Group I and II) have the right to participate in the competition for state-funded places in part-time (zaochnaya) programmes, provided there are no medical contraindications, with a preferential right to enrolment where points are equal (except where the disability arose as a result of illegal actions).
Under Article 5 of the Education Code (2011, amended in 2025), refugees and stateless persons granted shelter in Belarus have the right to education on equal terms with Belarusian citizens, unless otherwise established by applicable legal acts or international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
According to the 2011 Education Code (amended in 2025), students have the right to scholarships, loans, a place to live, and other monetary payments (Art 40, 42, 43, 44).
The education code describes several scholarship programmes which are funded by the Republic. While several are merit-based, social scholarships are reserved for specific groups such as: orphans and children left without parental care (including those who lost their last parent during their studies); persons with disabilities; pregnant women; student-parents; persons in a difficult financial situation; those affected by the Chernobyl disaster or other radiation accidents; persons with tuberculosis; and military personnel who became disabled in the performance of military service duties. Social scholarship amounts are set by the President of the Republic of Belarus, and conditions for their award are determined by the Government..
The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to students at state HEIs for excellent academic performance throughout their studies, outstanding achievements in research and creative work, and exemplary conduct; it is also awarded on a competitive basis to postgraduate students. This represents the highest-tier nationally recognised merit award. Named scholarships commemorate distinguished figures in science, culture and other fields and are awarded to top-achieving students; university councils also award personal scholarships for outstanding achievement in specific disciplines or scientific-technical work.
Foreign students enrolled under international agreements may receive scholarships under the same terms as Belarusian students per Decree No. 398 (2011) and Resolution No. 410 (2022) of the Ministry of Education. The deduction also covers tuition paid for close relatives.
Belarusian taxpayers can claim a “social tax deduction” under Article 210 of the Tax Code for the cost of education for a first higher education programme in Belarus. The deduction also applies to repayments of education loans.
Under Presidential Decree No. 126 of 28 February 2006 "On fee-based higher and secondary special education" and Council of Ministers Resolution No. 665 of 26 May 2006 "On the provision of discounts on formed tuition costs to students and pupils", heads of state higher education institutions may grant tuition discounts to eligible fee-paying students. All social-category discounts are subject to the student having received no grade below 6 out of 10 in all subjects across both intermediate attestations of the current academic year, and are available from the second year of study onward.
A discount of 40% of the annual tuition cost applies to students who fall into any of the following categories: (a) members of low-income families; (b) orphans, children without parental care, and persons aged 18–23 who lost their last parent during their studies; (c) children of certain categories of military, police, emergency services, and financial investigation personnel killed or disabled in the line of duty, as specified in sub-clauses 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, clause 10, and sub-clauses 12.2–12.3 of Article 3 of the Law on State Social Benefits for Certain Categories of Citizens (No. 239-Z, 2007); (d) students who are themselves persons with disabilities of Group I, II, or III, or child-invalids under 18 years of age; (e) Chernobyl and radiation-accident victims and their children (under 23, without their own family) as defined under the Law on Social Protection of Chernobyl Victims (No. 9-Z, 2009); (f) students from families raising three or more minor children; and (g) veterans of compulsory military service recommended by their units. A higher discount of 60% applies to students who achieved outstanding results in Olympic, Paralympic, or Deaflympic Games, or world and European championships or World University Games.
A separate, higher discount of up to 60% (sliding scale based on grade average) is available for students who achieved high results in academic, research, and public activity.
Under Council of Ministers Resolution No. 39 of 18 January 2023 "On the regulation of matters in the field of education, the provision of subsidies, and the financing of organisational expenditures", a preferential-rate credit is available from Belarusbank for full-time fee-paying Belarusian citizens pursuing their first higher education degree at state universities, as well as at consumer cooperative and Federation of Trade Unions universities. Eligibility is subject to an income means test: the average monthly per-capita income of each family member over the 12 months preceding the application must not exceed 350% of the approved subsistence budget per capita. The credit is provided at 50% of the National Bank's refinancing rate, with each annual disbursement capped at 70% of the tuition cost for that year. Repayment commences the month following graduation and is completed within five years. The measure is of particular benefit to students from lower-income families who cannot self-finance.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
According to the 2011 Education Code (amended in 2025), the government does provide transport support as a part of social protection measures for students.
Accommodation
Under Article 44 of the Education Code of the Republic of Belarus (2011, amended in 2025), students at state educational institutions may be provided with dormitory accommodation during their period of study. Accommodation is provided free of charge for the following categories: orphans and children without parental care (Article 44(3.1)); persons with disabilities of Group I or II and child-invalids under 18, except where the disability resulted from the student's own illegal conduct or intoxication (Article 44(3.2)); persons with oncological diseases or tuberculosis (Article 44(3.3)); children of certain military, security, and financial investigation personnel killed or disabled in service, as specified in the Law on State Social Benefits for Certain Categories of Citizens (Article 44(3.4)); and students enrolled in designated specialised institutions, including Suvorov schools, cadet schools, special educational schools, Olympic reserve schools, and the Minsk Higher Aviation College (Article 44(3.5)). If a dormitory place cannot be provided to a non-local full-time budget-funded student, or to an orphan receiving state provision, the student is entitled to reimbursement of private rental costs in the procedure and amount established by the Council of Ministers (Article 44(5)).
Measures of social protection for students also include provision of meals (Article 40) and clothing, footwear, and other essential items (Article 43), both of which apply primarily to orphans and children without parental care.
Priority in the allocation of paid dormitory places among other students is governed by individual institutions' internal regulations and the Council of Ministers' framework on dormitory use, under which priority is typically given to students from large families, single-parent households, and students with disabilities. These arrangements are set at the institutional rather than the legislative level and may vary by institution.
Textbooks
Article 39 (3) of the 2011 Education Code (amended in 2025), states that students enrolled in vocational, secondary special, or higher education programmes are provided with all textbooks free of charge as a universal entitlement.
Other material assistance for educational programmes may be provided by either the state government, local governments, or the educational institution (Article 38).
This profile was reviewed by Ms Hanna Siarova
