Paying for higher education in Tunisia: public loan, grants and credit
In Tunisia, the main student loan is the public university loan paid by the university services offices: 600 dinars a year at bachelor level and 800 dinars afterwards. It cannot be combined with a grant, and bank loans to students remain marginal.
University loan paid by the university services offices
Three regional offices, for the North, the Centre and the South, manage grants and university loans. A student enrolled in Tunis, Sousse, Monastir, Sfax or Gabes applies to the office responsible for their institution.
Amounts: 600 then 800 dinars a year
The university loan amounts to 600 dinars a year for the first three years and 800 dinars for the fourth and fifth years. It helps cover housing, transport and supplies, without claiming to pay for all of a student's expenses.
Academic progress required for renewal
Renewal requires moving up to the next year. A student repeating a year can keep the loan after validating 40 credits or obtaining an average of at least 8 out of 20, provided most of the loan has not already been paid out.
A grant or a loan, but not both
The university loan cannot be combined with a grant, another university loan or a paid student job. Families on modest incomes first aim for the grant, which does not have to be repaid, before applying for the loan.
A specific loan for children of education staff
The Idaraty government portal describes a university loan procedure reserved for students whose parents work in education. The conditions and the paying body are specific to this scheme and should be checked every year.
Bank loans to students: a tiny portfolio
In June 2026, outstanding bank loans to individuals for education reached only 13.8 million dinars, down over six months. Banks almost always require a salaried parent to act as borrower or guarantor.
Private universities and tuition fees
Private engineering, business and dental schools in Tunis and Sousse charge high annual fees. Some accept payment in instalments, and parents often take out a personal loan domiciled on their own salary to cover the bill.
Studying in France or Germany: foreign currency transfers
For a student enrolled abroad, parents transfer funds in foreign currency through a Tunisian bank on proof of enrolment, under exchange control rules. The visa often requires a blocked account or a guarantee of sufficient resources.
The start of the academic year and family budgets
Registration, accommodation in a hall or shared flat and a computer weigh on the September budget. Our page on school loans in Tunisia describes the solutions parents use to spread these back-to-school costs.
Graduates looking for a first job
After graduation, repaying a loan without a stable job is tricky. Our guide to a loan without a job in Tunisia presents the ANETI agency, BTS Bank and the honour loans open to people with a project.
Beware of fake student loans online
Facebook adverts offer fast student loans or foreign scholarships in return for application fees. The university offices never charge anything to submit an application, and genuine scholarships are always awarded through official channels.
Financing studies in Morocco
Morocco combines public grants with bank student loans backed by a state guarantee, a model quite different from the Tunisian university loan paid by the offices. See our page on a student loan in Morocco to compare the two systems.
Applying for the university loan in Tunisia
- Check that you receive neither a grant nor a paid student job that is incompatible with the loan.
- Obtain the current year's enrolment certificate from your institution, not just a payment receipt.
- Gather the transcript with the annual average or the pass notice for the previous year.
- Print and complete the application or renewal form of the office responsible for your institution.
- Submit the file within the deadlines set by the North, Centre or South office and follow its progress.
Sources of funding for studies in Tunisia
| Source | Amount | Specific feature |
|---|---|---|
| University loan, years 1 to 3 | 600 TND a year (indicative) | Repayable, cannot be combined with a grant |
| University loan, years 4 and 5 | 800 TND a year (indicative) | Subject to academic success |
| University grant | According to the scale | Not repayable, subject to income conditions |
| Bank loan to parents | Variable | Average consumer APR 11.23% in H1 2026 (indicative) |
| Honour loan for individuals | Up to 5,000 TND at 0% | Open since October 2026, criteria to be checked |
University loan application file in Tunisia
- Printed and completed application or renewal form
- Copy of the university enrolment certificate
- Transcript or pass notice for the previous year
- Copy of the student's national ID card
- For a bank loan, payslips of the parent acting as guarantor
Common missteps when funding studies in Tunisia
- Supplying an enrolment receipt instead of the required certificate, which holds up the university loan file.
- Combining a grant with a university loan, which is forbidden and may mean repaying the sums wrongly received.
- Paying an agency that promises a foreign scholarship or a guaranteed student loan without any official document.
- Leaving to study abroad without anticipating the foreign currency transfer deadlines required for the visa.
University loans and studying in Tunisia: answers
How much is the Tunisian university loan worth?
It amounts to 600 dinars a year for the first three years of study and 800 dinars a year for the fourth and fifth years. The amount is set by regulation and paid by the university services office responsible for the student's institution.
Can a student repeating a year keep the university loan?
Yes, under conditions: having validated at least 40 credits in the LMD system or obtained an average of at least 8 out of 20, and not having already received 80% of the loan. Otherwise, renewal is refused.
Do Tunisian banks lend directly to students?
Very little. Outstanding education loans represented only 13.8 million dinars in June 2026. In practice, the salaried parent borrows, with salary domiciliation, to pay the fees of a private school or a period of study abroad.
Can you finance studies abroad from Tunisia?
Yes. Parents can transfer foreign currency through their bank on presentation of the student's enrolment, in line with exchange control rules. The funding itself comes from family savings, a personal bank loan or a scholarship.