First-year students at universities across Azerbaijan are voicing frustration over automatic monthly deductions of 3 manats from their scholarships—without prior consent. The withheld funds are reportedly being transferred to student trade union committees, which many say they were enrolled in without their knowledge.
“I never agreed to give part of my scholarship to a union,” one student said. “No one asked my permission. For some students, those 3 manats really matter.”
According to official data, over 180,000 students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions across the country. Of those, around 70,000 are state-funded, with 35,000 receiving monthly scholarships. At 3 manats per student, more than 100,000 manats (approx. $60,000) are collected each month.
Education expert Ramin Nuraliev criticized the practice, stating that student union membership should be entirely voluntary.
“If a student was included without consent, they have every right to submit a withdrawal request,” Nuraliev said. “Automatic enrollment is unacceptable.”
The controversy has sparked calls for greater transparency and student rights protections within Azerbaijani higher education institutions.
