Funding

Higher education funding in Montenegro is regulated by the Law on Higher Education (hereafter: the Law). 

In accordance with the Law, an institution may be funded from the following sources:           
• Founder’s funds 
• Tuition fees and other fees paid by students 
• Intellectual and other services 
• Donations, gifts and legates 
• Property income (lease)
• Projects and agreements with international, state or private subjects with the purpose of promoting teaching process, research and consulting activities and 
• Other sources in accordance with the law.

The public institution acquires funds from the Budget of Montenegro based on norms and standards for the financing of public institutions, taking into account the number of students specified in the license, the cost per student for a specific study program, and the quality assessment of the institution's work from the external evaluation report.

As a rule, the activities of a public institution are non-profit. In accordance with the Law, a public institution may promote and utilize educational and research activities on the market to generate income for the realization of higher education goals, which shall be used to improve teaching and scientific research activities, in line with its financial plan.

The institution is obliged to obtain prior consent from the Government of Montenegro (hereafter: the Government) when such activity involves or could involve the use of any significant intellectual property rights in any literary, artistic, or scientific works, scientific discoveries, projects, inventions, goods, or services that are, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, also funded by the Budget of Montenegro.

The Government may prescribe specific conditions for the use of funds allocated to a public institution for teaching and research, relating to:
• the acquisition, use, and disposal of land, buildings, and equipment;
• the amount and use of tuition fees and other charges prescribed for students;
• the transfer of funds allocated to study programs.

The Founder shall provide funds to the public institution for:
• material costs, current and investment maintenance;
• salaries of employees in accordance with the law, the collective agreement, and the act on the organization and systematization of jobs;
• equipment and library funds;
• scientific research projects and innovation activities;
• scientific and professional development of employees;
• databases and the information system;
• the work of the Student Parliament and extracurricular student activities;
• the establishment of equal study conditions for all students (unhindered access, stay, and work);
• other purposes in accordance with the law.

Norms and standards for funding of public institutions shall be adopted by the Government.

The funds allocated in the Budget of Montenegro for the University of Montenegro (hereafter: the University) show an increase in investment in higher education, and specifically at the University of Montenegro. The 2026 budget has allocated 40,469,500.00 EUR for the University, which represents an increase of approximately 1 million 250 thousand EUR compared to 2025.

Financial autonomy and control

The management body of the institution is responsible for the lawful and purposeful use of funds provided in accordance with the Law. In the operations of a public institution, independent internal and external financial control is ensured. Internal financial control of the public institution is performed once a year by the internal audit unit, which is functionally and organizationally independent, in accordance with the Law, the statute, and international standards for internal financial control.

The Government shall request a refund of allocated funds from any public institution acquiring funds from the Budget of Montenegro, if the findings of an internal or external financial control establish unlawful or non-purposeful use of funds.

In exercising external financial control in accordance with a special Law, the governing body of the public institution is obliged to ensure cooperation.

Fees within public higher education

In accordance with the Law, students of undergraduate and postgraduate studies at public institutions do not pay tuition fees. By way of exception, undergraduate and postgraduate students shall pay tuition fees for study programs conducted in a foreign language. Additionally, students simultaneously enrolled in two undergraduate or postgraduate study programs shall pay tuition fees for one of those programs.

Doctoral students at public institutions pay tuition fees, however, as an exception, a public institution may exempt doctoral students who hold the status of teaching assistants from paying tuition fees.

The amount of the fee paid by undergraduate and postgraduate students at public institutions who fail to achieve 45 ECTS credits shall be determined by the governing body, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (hereafter: the Ministry). 

The fee amount may vary depending on the implementation costs of the study program.

Students with disabilities and students from the Roma and Egyptian population of undergraduate and postgraduate studies, who are enrolled according to the principle of affirmative action at public institutions in numbers exceeding those established by the enrollment decision, shall also be exempt from paying fees at private institutions.

A foreign citizen has the right to enroll in study programs in Montenegro under the same conditions as Montenegrin citizens, in accordance with the Law and the institution's statute.

Financial support for learners' families

There are no funds committed as financial support for learners' families.

Financial support for learners

 A student is entitled to:

• dormitory accommodation and meals;
• students loan;
• scholarships for best students;
• transport allowance concerning suburban and intercity traffic;
• health care in compliance with special law;
• establish sport associations in accordance with law.

The criteria, manner, conditions and the amount of fees for exercising these rights are prescribed by the Ministry with special bylaw acts, the Rulebook on exercising the right to a student loan and scholarship for the best students, the Rulebook on the criteria, method, conditions and amount of compensation for exercising the right to accommodation and food in dormitories and the Rulebook on the criteria, method, conditions and amount of compensation for exercising the right to participate in the transportation of pupils and students. 

In accordance with the criteria prescribed by the Call, the Ministry co-finances fees to candidates of master and doctoral studies in country and abroad as well as travel expenses for academic stays abroad. The Public Call is published annually in daily newspapers and on the web site of the Ministry.

Student Loans

In accordance with the Rulebook on exercising the right to a student loan and scholarship for the best students, higher education students who enrolled a semester of the relevant year for the first time and who have not changed their study programme are entitled to a student loan. The criteria for granting loans is the performance accomplished in the previous study year. Under equal conditions with regard to the performance, advantage is given to students whose parents or guardians exercise the right to social security in line with regulations on social protection.

The loan is given in monthly installments, not less than 25% of minimum wages in Montenegro. The minimum monthly loan is 150 EUR and the average loan is 172 EUR per month, which is paid in ten monthly installments.

The loan beneficiary is obliged to start repaying the loan within one year from the day when, according to the statute of the higher education institution, the student was obliged to complete the studies, and 18 months the latest. A student who completes their studies within the regular duration of the study programme, as defined by a higher education institution’s Statute, with the average grade ranging from 9.00 to 10, is granted full loan remission.

Students with disabilities, regardless of their performance and the length of study, are granted full loan remission.

Each year, on the basis of a special competition, the Ministry grants 3,400 student loans.

The Ministry announced a Call for the allocation of student loans for the academic year 2024/2025 and 3,400 loans were granted. Loans range from 150EUR to 215EUR per month, which covers the costs incurred by the student when paying for food and accommodation in student dormitories in Montenegro.

Grants

There are no need-based grants in Montenegro. Grants are awarded in accordance with the Rulebook on exercising the right to a student loan and scholarship for the best students, to the best performing students in the second and the succeeding years of studies, who enrolled a semester of a study year for the first time, and who have not failed any year during the studies, or to students who have shown particular interest in science or art in certain scientific disciplines and have won awards at international and national competitions. Grants are awarded in line with the criteria of the Call announced by the Ministry at least one month before the beginning of academic year.

The Ministry announced a Call for awarding scholarships to the best students for the academic year 2024/2025, whereby 450 scholarships were awarded. The maximum amount of grant is 300 EUR per month paid in 10 monthly instalments. Grants are awarded solely to the first-cycle students.

Besides grants, in accordance with criteria prescribed by the annual call for co-financing tuition fees at master and doctoral studies in the country and abroad, and travel expenses for study periods abroad, the Ministry co-finances tuition fees to master study candidates in the amount of 750 EUR, and to doctoral students in the amount of 1,500 EUR. 

A Call has been announced for co-financing scholarships for master's and doctoral studies in the country and abroad and travel expenses for study stays abroad, which will co-finance tuition fees for candidates enrolled in the first year of master's studies and candidates enrolled in the first year of doctoral studies in the country and abroad. A total of 13 candidates applied for co-financing of master's studies, out of which 8 candidates received tuition fees, while 32 candidates applied for doctoral studies, out of which 28 were entitled to tuition fees. 

For students with disabilities, the Ministry has established a special quota for awarding grants starting from 2018/19 academic year. 30 scholarships were awarded for the academic year 2024/2025. In accordance with the established criteria, 1.5% of students use grants.

Accommodation in Dormitories

Students educated outside their place of residence, who have enrolled a certain grade of the ongoing school year for the first time, as well as higher education students educated outside their place of residence, who have enrolled a semester of the relevant year of studies for the first time and have not changed their study programme, as well as students attending one of the secondary schools in Montenegro, are entitled to dormitory accommodation.

Students of post-graduate master's and doctoral studies, who are unemployed and studying outside their place of residence, and who have enrolled for the first semester of the corresponding year of study and have not changed their study program, may also obtain the right to dormitory accommodation.

Concerning accommodation, dormitories purposefully designate up to 7% of its capacities for accommodating students from the most vulnerable groups of society and social security beneficiaries in line with the social welfare regulations. Students with disabilities are entitled to accommodation, with consideration of their special needs.

In line with the established criteria of the Call, 1750 students exercise their right to accommodation and meals in student dormitories in Podgorica, Nikšić, Cetinje and Kotor. 2200 students have meals at subsidized prices. The price of accommodation and meals in dormitory amounts to 117.80 EUR, of which 88.40 EUR is state-subsidized, whereas the price of meals amounts to 92.70 EUR, of which 69.60 EUR is state-subsidized.

A student is entitled to financial contribution in transportation in the amount of 20% of the price of the monthly ticket. A student whose parents or guardians are beneficiaries of the right to material security in accordance with the Law regulating social and child protection, is entitled to financial contribution in transportation in the amount of  50% of the price of the monthly ticket. A student with disability is entitled to financial contribution in transportation in the amount of 100% of the monthly ticket price.

Private education

Students of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies at private institutions pay tuition fees in the amount established by the institution's governing body. Tuition fees for undergraduate studies range from 2,200 EUR to 2,700 EUR per year, and for master's studies from 2,000 EUR to 2,200 EUR per year.

Funds for students with disabilities and students from the Roma and Egyptian population at private higher education institutions are provided from the Budget of Montenegro, based on the unit cost per student at a public institution for a specific study program.