444 students of excellence and national priority programs will be financially supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Agency for Financing Higher Education through exemption from study fees and at the same time with a minimum salary of 50 thousand lek per month, for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro, at the event where the beneficiary students were provided with the contracts signed between them, the National Agency for Higher Education Financing and higher education institutions, with the participation of the President of the Rectors' Conference, Artan Hoxha, stated that the academic year 2025–2026 marks the culmination of this policy: 444 students benefit from the scheme, while the monthly support amounts to 50,000 lek for each.
"Institutionalized for the first time in 2022, this scheme has become a consolidated instrument of higher education policies. The progressive increase in the number of beneficiaries and the financial fund testifies to a sustainable commitment to supporting young people and increasing academic quality in universities."
The academic year 2025–2026 marks the culmination of this policy: 444 students benefit from the scheme, while monthly support amounts to 50,000 lekë for each. Contracts have been signed between AKFAL and the students, and today you will receive the contracts.
Of these, 166 are excellent students and 278 are pursuing priority programs, reflecting a clear orientation towards key areas for the economic and technological development of the country”, said Minister Kumbaro.
Speaking further about the distribution by university, the Minister of Education said: "The Agricultural University of Tirana has the highest number of students in priority branches. 125 students from UBT are pursuing priority branches and are being supported by the scheme. While the University of Medicine has the highest number of excellent students, 125 students."
On the other hand, the president of the Rectors' Conference, Artan Hoxha, said: "The pact for the university has resonated in financial support for students as a whole. As public universities, we have made our policies by keeping the same or reducing the tuition fees, to ease the living costs of students. Also, students who come with high grades, from grades 9 to 10, have financial support as well as exemption from the tuition fee. Student scholarships for students of excellence and those studying in programs of national interest are covered 100% by the state budget to give these students the opportunity to perform better."
The call for financial support for excellent students and priority programs is covered by the Ministry of Education's budget for higher education, which in 2026 is 185 million euros, the highest in nominal value. Through this budget, scholarships are also covered for 12 thousand students from socially disadvantaged groups, exemption or reduction of fees is provided for 41 thousand students of public higher education institutions, and the student loan scheme is supported, through which the government covers up to 5% of the loan interest rate.
