Cabinet Proposes Cap of 20% on Fee Increases in Paid Education.

The Council of Ministers has published for public consultation a draft decision approving amendments to the Higher Education Act. The proposed changes are aimed at limiting tuition fees, reducing administrative burden and refining regulations in the sector.

One of the main changes provides that increases in tuition fees for students studying on a paid basis will be limited to no more than 20% for the entire period of study compared with the fee amount in the first year.

The draft also proposes reducing the statutory minimum for paid tuition fees from 60% to 50% of the cost of education. According to the motives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the change is intended to provide predictability for both students and higher education institutions, as well as to prevent sharp increases in fees that could make it difficult for students to complete their studies.

Application fees at state higher education institutions will be approved by their academic leaderships, rather than by the Council of Ministers, as is currently the case.

The draft also provides for the register for academic recognition of higher education acquired abroad and of the doctoral degree to be included in the general information system for higher education, maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science through NACID.

A fully official verification of data on completed higher and secondary education, as well as recognised foreign diplomas, will be introduced. This is expected to significantly speed up administrative services for citizens.

At the same time, the draft explicitly regulates that only full-time students and doctoral candidates whose places are state-subsidised will be entitled to scholarships from the state budget.

A key reason for the urgency of the changes is the upcoming start of the application campaign for the 2026/2027 academic year, for which higher education institutions must set and announce the new fees in good time. The Education Ministry also points to the need to quickly introduce the planned administrative relief measures in practice.

The Ministry of Education and Science proposes that the public consultation period for the changes be shortened.