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 the statistics released by the State Examination Center, a total of 58,947 people were admitted to higher education institutions this year. Of these, 28,108 were admitted through state orders, 317 at the state’s expense, and 30,522 on a paid basis.
“Elchi” reports that, according to Modern.az, not all students admitted on a paid basis are required to pay their tuition fees from their personal funds during registration. Legislation provides for the coverage of tuition fees for students belonging to certain social categories by the state budget.
So, who are the individuals who will not pay their own tuition fees even if they are admitted to the university on a paid basis?
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 by the state budget.
Thus, this exemption is applied to persons with the status of a martyr’s family within the conditions provided for 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 exemption is not limited to state universities; it applies to state, municipal, and private higher education institutions.
Children of martyrs and persons with disabilities related to the war
The tuition fees of children of persons who have been determined to have a disability in connection with the defense of the territorial integrity, independence, and constitutional order of Azerbaijan are also paid by the state.
The same exemption 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 studying on a paid basis in higher education institutions who have been determined to have a disability due to a 61-100 percent impairment of body functions, as well as persons with disabilities under the age of 18, are paid from the state budget. This exemption also covers state, municipal, and private higher education institutions.
Persons deprived of parental care
Legislation also provides special provisions for children deprived of parental care and persons among them.
According to current legislation, this category may include, among other cases, children whose one parent has died and the other parent has been determined to have a 61-100 percent impairment of body functions, as well as children whose both parents have died, are unknown, have been deprived of parental rights, are missing, or are in other cases specified by law.
Tuition fees for persons under the age of 23 from this category who are studying full-time in higher, secondary specialized, and vocational education institutions are also paid by the state in the manner established by law.
Those with internally displaced person (IDP) status
When Azerbaijani citizens with IDP 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 some other exemption categories, this rule for IDPs applies specifically to state universities.
New exemption from 2026 – children of deceased deminers
This year, the list of persons eligible for exemptions has been expanded to include another category. Thus, under the law adopted on April 27, 2026, it was determined that the tuition fees of children of deminers who died or lost their lives due to injuries sustained as a result of the detonation of explosive ordnance during demining activities will be paid by the state budget. The new privilege will be applied from September 15, 2026, and will also extend to children of deminers who lost their lives as a result of such incidents before the law came into force.
For information, students who do not fall into an exemption category but are unable to pay their tuition fees in a lump sum can apply for an Education Student Loan. The Education Student Loan is a credit mechanism provided under certain conditions, not a tuition fee waiver.