AMENDMENT TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

#128Amendment to the Higher Education Act

On 1.9.2024, an amendment to the Higher Education Act came into force, which brings various benefits for university students. The primary objective of this amendment is to provide support for pregnant students and students who are permanently caring for a child who is under three years of age or a child under five years of age in the case of a child with a disability.

In order to be considered as student with permanent care for a child, the student must meet the following conditions. The student must:

1. Personally care for your own minor child, including alternating personal custody or;
2. Personally care for a minor child entrusted to foster care on the basis of a court decision, and at the same time;
3. Prove in writing to the university that he/she permanently cares for the child.

From the day when the student meets the above conditions and proves in writing that he/she permanently cares for the child, he/she is considered a student permanently caring for the child according to this amendment. Such a student is also obliged to notify the university in writing of the termination of permanent care, without undue delay.

The amendment creates an obligation for higher education institutions to create appropriate conditions for study for students who meet the above conditions, without reducing the requirements for their study performance. On the basis of this amendment, the higher education institution is obliged to take into account the needs of such students, especially when:

1. Creation of a study plan;
2. Authorising interruption of study;
3. Determining the longest total period of interruption of study.

At the same time, the Rector is obliged to waive tuition fees for the first academic year of exceeding the standard length of study, if the obligation to pay tuition fees arose due to pregnancy or due to permanent care for a child under three years of age and a child with a disability who is younger than five years of age.