BAKU, August 4, 2025 — Azerbaijan’s government continues its ambitious efforts to provide talented youth with access to world-class education. This year, 500 students have been selected to study abroad as part of the “2022–2028 State Program for Education in Prestigious Foreign Universities.”
According to Turan Topalova, head of the program’s management group, the 2025 cohort includes 125 undergraduate, 356 master’s, and 19 doctoral students. Notably, 160 of those admitted have secured places at universities ranked in the global top 10 by QS, Times Higher Education, or the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
“The number of applicants this year exceeded previous records,” Topalova told reporters. “Candidates who were not selected can reapply in the coming years.”
The Ministry of Science and Education is expected to release an updated list of eligible universities and academic fields later this year to guide applicants for the next cycle.
UK, US, and Turkey Remain Top Destinations — Australia and China Join the List
The most popular destinations among applicants remain the United Kingdom, the United States, and Turkey. For the first time, Australia and China have also been added to the list of host countries. Fields of study in highest demand include information technology, engineering, data analytics, statistics, and the natural sciences.
The program evaluates applicants through a two-stage process. Those who submit complete and accurate documentation are invited to interviews, where candidates are assessed by a panel of three experts based on their academic background, communication skills, and subject-specific knowledge. For PhD candidates, research potential is also taken into account.
New Doctoral Track and Expanded Quotas
Unlike 2024, which offered placements only at the undergraduate and master’s levels and admitted 400 students, this year’s program includes doctoral studies and increased the quota to 500 following a presidential decree. “Comparing this year’s results with last year’s would not be accurate given these changes,” Topalova explained.
She emphasized that while candidates’ final scores are not publicly disclosed, admissions decisions are made based on a ranked evaluation system: “Applicants are sorted top to bottom based on their overall scores, and admissions are granted accordingly.”
Topalova also confirmed that reserve lists have been prepared for both undergraduate and master’s levels, allowing alternate candidates to be considered if selected students decline their spots.
The list of accepted students is publicly available on the official website of the State Program.
