This year, more than 6,000 high school graduates in Tajikistan have applied for 1,670 presidential quotas for free education in universities and institutes. Currently, the third stage of the competition for quotas is ongoing, and those who pass will be admitted for free and without exams to 18 universities across the country.
At a meeting in the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan on May 19, the head of the department, Rahim Saidzoda, announced that compared to last year, in the upcoming academic year (2026–2027), the number of presidential quotas will increase by 401. He added that most quotas are allocated for pedagogical, exact, and natural sciences. It is still unknown how many quotas are allocated for each direction. The department promised Asia-Plus to provide this information later.
According to the Ministry of Education and Science, the third stage of the competition for admitting applicants to universities under the presidential quota is currently ongoing in the country.
A source reported that for the third stage of the competition, more than 6,000 candidates from 61 cities and districts of the country have been nominated to receive quotas, having won the city and district stages.
It is noteworthy that applicants from various parts of Tajikistan, admitted to universities through the presidential quota, are provided free education, accommodation, and a scholarship. Students admitted by quota must choose a profession needed in their region.
The presidential quota was established by Emomali Rahmon in 1997 to attract mainly girls from remote areas to higher education.
Every year, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan approves the “Plan for the admission of students to higher professional education institutions in the country under the presidential quota” based on proposals from relevant ministries and departments and the needs of city and district governments, in agreement with the government.
