The Education Ministry plans to impose a new certification fee on foreign universities operating branches in the country, drawing criticism from private institutions already licensed.
Under the provision, which is part of a Culture Ministry draft law now under public consultation, foreign university branches, officially known as NPPE, would pay the National Authority for Higher Education €15,000 to certify their internal quality assurance systems, plus €12,000 for each in-person degree program and €6,000 for each distance-learning program.
The fee will not apply retroactively. Executives at four private universities licensed since last year called the measure a “charge,” noting they already paid €600,000 in application fees.
Separately, evaluations for 2026-2027 licenses were completed in June, with seven or eight applicants – including Iowa State, Georgetown and Deree – receiving positive recommendations.
