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)
The gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes in Myanmar was last measured in 2018 at 20.37%. That same year, the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was measured at 16.39%.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is not tuition-free in Myanmar.
Governance
The Ministry of Education operates the formal state school system in Myanmar. Before 2021, the Ministry of Education, through the Department of Higher Education, administered 134 higher education institutions, while seven other ministries administered their respective higher education institutions. These include the MOTC, MOBA, MORAC, MOALI, MOCRD, MONREC, MOST and MOH. These nine ministries manage 128 universities, 29 degree-colleges, and 8 colleges.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Financing flows in Myanmar remain centralised. According to the constitution, the union government is responsible for higher education sector. As such, the ministries directly fund their respective higher education institutions and there is no subnational funding mechanism.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The government of Myanmar does not fund private universities.
Myanmar enacted the Private Education law in 2023. Under the law, private higher education institutions are allowed to register. In Myanmar, public higher education institutions cover the whole country; private institutions have business purposes.
Allocation and equity
Under the Ministry of Education, funds are directly allocated to universities from the central government. Budgeting is based on the needs and requirements of the institution.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
The Ministry of Education has no specific restrictions for vulnerable groups.
Departments of higher education accept students regardless of race or religion who meet the rules and regulations in the university admissions guidebook. Financial support is not provided for the admission of vulnerable groups.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
No restrictions for vulnerable groups. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 45 Bengali students who were eligible to attend the Sittwe University Day Course were awarded a four-year scholarship at the rate of US $200 per month by the Center for Diversity and National Harmony (CDNH). Out of the 45 Bengali students who received the (CDNH) scholarship, 7 students who are enrolled in the 2025-2026 academic year are continuing their studies at East Yangon University. (1 student in the third year, 1 in the fourth year, 4 in the third-year honors, and 1 in the master’s degree program).
Financial assistance is provided to 10% of the students (poor students) admitted to regular undergraduate day courses in (49) universities/degree colleges in the form of stipend amounting to 30,000 kyats per month, totaling 300,000 kyats per year.
Outstanding students who have gained admission (recipients of Arts Excellence Awards, Science Excellence Awards, and Economics Excellence Awards) are provided with a monthly scholarship of 100,000 kyats.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
There is no support for student transportation costs in higher education institutions.
Accommodation
Dormitories have been constructed at all universities and degree colleges in higher education for students’ accommodation, and students are allowed to reside there upon payment of reasonable hostel fees.
Students permitted to live in the hostel from two Universities of Education (Yangon, Saging) are provided with a monthly allowance of 60,000 kyats, 480,000 kyats per year.
Textbooks
There is no support for textbooks in higher education.
