Government tightens rules on private university licensing

The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution titled “Additional Measures to Improve the Quality of Private Education Services in the Republic.”

According to the resolution, the following additional licensing conditions are now required:

• The applicant must submit a comprehensive concept for the proposed higher education institution. This concept must outline:
• The name of the institution;
• Its legal status;
• Governance system and staffing;
• Primary academic and research areas;
• Admission parameters;
• System and tools for ensuring educational quality;
• Tuition fees and calculation methodology;
• A five-year strategic development plan;
• Other important aspects related to the institution's operations.
• The applicant must form an initial charter capital of at least $2 million equivalent, covering the educational infrastructure and software needed for the academic process. This capital must be increased proportionally as the number of enrolled students grows.
• An amount of $350,000 equivalent must be placed in reserve in a commercial bank deposit account.
• The physical premises designated for the educational process must cover at least 5,000 square meters. Ownership of the property is not required; the institution may operate under a lease or free-use agreement for a minimum of five years.
• From the time of establishment, at least 80% of the university’s net annual profit during the first five years, and at least 50% in subsequent years, must be reinvested into the core development of the institution.

Entrepreneurial entities that obtained their licenses before this resolution came into force must align their operations with the new licensing requirements and conditions by January 1, 2026.