OMM Newsroom
Which rules apply?
Transfers between higher education institutions, as well as changes to a student’s major or mode of study, are governed by rules approved by Decision No. KQ-02 of the Collegium of the Ministry of Science and Education on Feb. 21, 2024. The full title of the rules is “Rules on changing the educational institution, major and mode of study by students at the bachelor’s level (basic (basic higher) medical education) and master’s level of higher education institutions; their expulsion from or reinstatement at an educational institution; and the temporary suspension of students’ studies (granting them academic leave).” The text is published on e-qanun.az. The same decision also approved separate rules for secondary specialized education institutions.
Where and when can students apply?
Transfers take place once a year during the summer break. Applications are submitted and reviewed electronically through portal.edu.az, along with the relevant documents. The Ministry announces the specific dates each year. For example, applications for the 2025/2026 academic year were accepted from 11:00 a.m. on July 15, 2025, until 6:00 p.m. on July 22, while applications for 2024/2025 were accepted from July 25 to 31, 2024. The Ministry announces each year’s application period in its news section.
- Register on portal.edu.az and create a personal account.
- Log in, complete the electronic application form and select the institution or major you want.
- Upload the academic and other documents requested by the system.
- Submit and confirm the application before the announced deadline.
- Track the result through your account and, if accepted, complete the required paperwork.
What is taken into account in the assessment?
There is no automatic right to transfer for all students. The main conditions announced by the Ministry are:
- the student’s previously earned credits are taken into account; students who have not earned at least half of the credits are not eligible to transfer;
- the student’s admission score must be higher than the minimum admission score for the major they are transferring to; for majors requiring special aptitude, the results of both the graduation and aptitude examinations are considered;
- a student may change majors only within the same subject group;
- the language of instruction cannot be changed, except when switching from English to the language in which the student received general education, or vice versa;
- the mode of study can be changed only if admission to that mode is offered for the relevant major;
- students who transfer continue their studies on a fee-paying basis; an exception applies to students studying at public expense who change institutions or modes of study within the same major;
- students who have studied beyond the standard duration of their program cannot transfer; students admitted as sub-bachelors may change only their mode of study;
- at master’s level, students may change only their educational institution and cannot change their major or specialization;
- winners of international and national Olympiads, international competitions and contests, and graduates of internationally accredited programs may transfer only to selected majors;
- a student at a specialized higher education institution may transfer only if the institution’s charter provides for it.
Applicants transferring from abroad must meet one of the following criteria:
| Criterion | Minimum requirement (bachelor’s level) |
|---|---|
| SAT (new scale) | at least 1,200 points, including at least 650 in mathematics |
| YÖS | at least 75 percent |
| ЕГЭ | 300 points (at least 75 points in each subject) |
| AP | 3 or 4 |
| IB diploma | 25–35 |
| A-Level | C or B |
| ACT | 27 points |
| University ranking | ranked among the top 500 in at least one of the THE, QS or Shanghai (ARWU) rankings in the year of admission |
Citizens studying abroad under a state program may transfer to a higher education institution in Azerbaijan only if their studies under that program have been terminated. Applicants transferring from abroad may need to have their documents recognized; see the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education page for details. If a portal decision conflicts with informal verbal information from a university, rely on the Ministry’s written explanation. Questions can also be directed to the Ministry’s 146 Call Center.
Verified: October 14, 2026.
