More than half of the students admitted to higher education institutions for the 2026/2027 academic year will study on a paid basis.
According to statistics released by the State Examination Center, a total of 58,947 people were admitted to higher education institutions this year. Of them, 28,108 were admitted on state order, 317 on state account, and 30,522 on a paid basis.
According to Modern.az, during the registration of those admitted on a paid basis, not all of them are required to pay tuition fees from their personal funds. Legislation provides for the coverage of tuition fees from the state budget for students belonging to certain social categories.
So, who are the individuals who will not pay their own tuition fees, even if admitted to a paid university?
Members of martyr families
According to the Law "On Education", the tuition fees of members of martyr families studying on a paid basis in state, municipal, and private higher education institutions are paid from the state budget.
Thus, this concession applies to persons with the status of a martyr family within the conditions stipulated in the relevant legislation.
War veterans
Persons who have received the title of "War Veteran" for participating in combat operations for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan also have their tuition fees covered by the state budget when admitted to a university on a paid basis.
This concession is not limited to state universities but applies to state, municipal, and private higher education institutions.
Children of martyrs and persons with disabilities related to war
The tuition fees of children of persons with disabilities determined in connection with the defense of the territorial integrity, independence, and constitutional structure of Azerbaijan are also paid by the state.
The same concession applies to the children of persons who died for the freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, went missing in connection with military operations, and were declared dead by a court.
Persons with disabilities
The tuition fees of persons with disabilities determined due to 61-100 percent impairment of p functions, as well as persons with disabilities under 18 years of age, studying on a paid basis in higher education institutions, are paid from the state budget. This concession also covers state, municipal, and private higher education institutions.
Persons deprived of parental care
Legislation also provides special guarantees for children deprived of parental care and persons from among them.
According to current legislation, this category may include, among other cases, children whose one parent has died and the other parent has a disability determined due to 61-100 percent impairment of p functions, as well as children whose both parents have died, are unknown, have been deprived of parental rights, are missing without a trace, and in other cases specified in the law.
The tuition fees of persons under 23 years of age from this category who study full-time in higher, secondary specialized, and vocational education institutions are also paid by the state in accordance with the procedure established by law.
Those with refugee status
If Azerbaijani citizens with refugee status study on a paid basis in state higher education institutions, their tuition fees are covered by the state budget. An important difference here is that, unlike a number of other concession categories, this norm for refugees applies to state universities for higher education.
New concession from 2026 - children of deceased deminers
This year, the list of persons to whom concessions apply has been expanded by one more category. Thus, with the law adopted on April 27, 2026, it was determined that the tuition fees of children of deminers who died as a result of the explosion of ammunition during demining activities or lost their lives due to injuries received will also be paid from the state budget. The new privilege will be applied from September 15, 2026, and will also apply to the children of deminers who lost their lives as a result of such incidents before the law came into force.
For information, students who are not included in the concession category but are unable to pay tuition fees in a lump sum can apply for an Education Student Loan. However, ESL is not an exemption from tuition fees, but a credit mechanism provided under certain conditions.
