University, higher education, and financial aid
In Luxembourg, recent high school graduates can choose between continuing their higher education in Luxembourg or studying abroad. Here you will find information on higher education options in Luxembourg, whether at universities or other institutions.
It is important to note that, regardless of the choice made, students may be eligible for scholarships from the Luxembourg government. Below you will find the requirements for obtaining them.
Higher Education in Luxembourg
Higher education in Luxembourg is now a priority for the Luxembourg government. It should be noted that public higher education is very recent in Luxembourg.
In fact, university education has only truly existed since the early 2000s, with the creation of the University of Luxembourg in 2003 on the redeveloped site of the former industrial wasteland in Belval.
Studying at the University of Luxembourg
The University of Luxembourg is currently ranked 4th globally for the international opportunities it offers its students. It is also ranked among the top 250 universities in the world and among the 20 newest universities according to the Times Higher Education Rankings. The prestigious QS World University Rankings place the University of Luxembourg just outside the top quarter of universities worldwide.
The University of Luxembourg offers an international and multilingual study environment, with over 7,000 students, 60% of whom are non-Luxembourgish.
Want to discover the University of Luxembourg? Attend its Open House.
The University of Luxembourg has all the necessary resources to grow and offer a diverse range of academic programs
The University offers several bachelor’s and master’s degrees, continuing education programs, and doctoral programs. More than 14,000 graduates have passed through its doors, about half of whom remain in Luxembourg to work.
The Faculty of Law, Economics, and Finance has over 2,300 students.
Just over 2,100 students are enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences.
The Faculty of Science, Technology, and Medicine has nearly 2,000 students.
Want to strengthen your knowledge in science subjects? Corps Enseignant Luxembourg offers tutoring in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science.
Did you know that as a student at the University of Luxembourg, you can apply for a part-time job on a fixed-term contract during the academic year?
Preparing for French Business Schools in Luxembourg
Since 2013, the Lycée Classique d’Echternach has offered, in partnership with the Lycée Georges de la Tour in Metz, a preparatory class for French business schools.
Pursuing higher business studies in Luxembourg
Enrolling at ESSCA School of Management, France’s second-ranked post-baccalaureate business school
Since the start of the 2023 academic year, the ESSCA School of Management, a French post-baccalaureate business school, has also been present in Luxembourg. Read our interview with Antoine Rech, Director of ESSCA Luxembourg, here.
Interview with the Director of ESSCA School of Management in Luxembourg
Master’s in Management at the Luxembourg School of Business
The Luxembourg School of Business offers a two-year Master’s in Management. Classes are taught in English. The first year consists of general theoretical courses in the fields of business and management. The second year is divided into two parts: a semester of specialization and a semester of mandatory, paid internship.
In the second year, students can specialize in various fields in high demand in Luxembourg: financial management, international taxation, or accounting, auditing, and control. It is worth noting that Luxembourg has made these sectors a key strength of its job market.
Classes are held three days a week. This allows students to hold a part-time job at the same time.
Upon completion of the program, students possess all the necessary qualifications and skills—and, most importantly, proven experience—to apply for jobs in Luxembourg or elsewhere. Over 80% of interns are offered a paid position upon completion of their internship.
Other Master’s Programs at the Luxembourg School of Business
The LSB offers its students other Master’s programs in various fields:
- business administration,
- finance,
- international trade,
- financial industry management,
as well as specialized and customized programs tailored to the needs of businesses.
LSB holds AAC international accreditation
Earning a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur in Luxembourg
Luxembourg also offers two-yearBTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur) programs. These programs provide a professional qualification in a specific field and facilitate entry into the job market.
This is particularly the case at the following Luxembourg high schools:
- Lycée Technique des Arts et Métiers (LTAM)
- Lycée Josy Barthel (LJBM)
- Technical High School for Business and Management (LTECG)
- Technical High School for Health Professions (LTPS)
The LuxembourgSchool of Business and Management also offers three BTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur) programs in the fields of business and marketing, accounting and tax management, and executive assistant/secretarial studies.
Budget for Higher Education in Luxembourg
According to a study by the University of Luxembourg, the average budget required to pursue higher education in Luxembourg is at least 1,500 euros per month, covering:
- monthly rent (at least €450 per month for a dormitory, at least €750 for a shared apartment )
- food expenses. Allow for a minimum of €500 per month.
- utility and phone bills (€40 per month)
- Other expenses (approximately €150). Note that public transportation is free in Luxembourg.
Note that a minimum budget of 2,500 euros should be set aside initially to cover initial costs:
- University registration fees (400 euros per semester) or fees for the selected institution
- Health insurance and rent insurance
- housing deposit (2 months’ rent)
- other supplies (books, furniture, and miscellaneous items...
To cover these costs, at least in part, you can apply for financial aid through scholarships.
Scholarships and financial aid for higher education
Scholarship for higher education funding: AideFi
The Luxembourg government strongly encourages its residents to pursue higher education, whether in Luxembourg or abroad, by providing financial assistance.
Young people can thus receive financial aid to pursue higher education, regardless of their parents’ income or wishes. After their application is reviewed, they may be eligible for scholarships and loans to finance their studies in Luxembourg or abroad.
Are you a student? Calculate your higher education grant, AideFi
Eligibility for higher education grants in Luxembourg or abroad
You are eligible for Luxembourg financial aid for your higher education if:
- you are a full-time or part-time student in higher education in Luxembourg or another European country, AND upon completion of these studies you will obtain a higher education diploma, degree, or title
- you are a resident of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the child of a cross-border worker in Luxembourg, or a cross-border worker yourself.
Higher Education Scholarships for Luxembourg Residents
A student who is a resident of Luxembourg and wishes to apply for a grant for their higher education must:
- Be a Luxembourg national or a family member of a Luxembourg national
- Or be a national of a member state of the European Union, a country of the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation,
- Or have political refugee status in Luxembourg,
- Or be a national of a third country or stateless and
- Have resided in Luxembourg for at least five years,
- Hold a Luxembourg secondary school diploma or certificate, or a qualification recognized as equivalent to a Luxembourg diploma.
Scholarships for non-residents and cross-border workers
Non-residents—who are nationals of Luxembourg, the European Union, an EEA country, or the Swiss Confederation—may also apply for a higher education scholarship, provided they meet the following criteria:
- Be employed or working in Luxembourg at the time of application,
- Or be a recipient of a Luxembourg orphan’s pension,
- Or be the child of a worker employed or working in Luxembourg at the time of the student’s application. The worker in question must continue to contribute to the student’s support. They must also have worked in Luxembourg for at least 5 years at the time of the application, within a 10-year reference period.
Important! For non-residents, this grant is a substitute aid. Before applying, students must have completed all necessary procedures in their country of residence.
Learn more about financial aid for higher education in Luxembourg or abroad.
Procedure for receiving a Luxembourg student grant
The government disburses scholarships on a semester basis. To receive one, applications must be submitted each semester for the following semester.
To obtain a Luxembourg higher education scholarship, you must submit your application:
- between August 1 and November 30 for the winter semester,
- between January 1 and April 30 for the summer semester.
Application form for Luxembourg state aid for higher education.
Eligible non-resident students (see above) must submit their application in their country of residence to the relevant authorities. French students should contact the CROUS-Lorraine; Belgian students should contact the Student Financial Aid Office; and German students should contact the Bafög.
Financial aid from the City of Luxembourg for resident students
The City of Luxembourg grants its residents pursuing secondary or higher education a special supplementary financial allowance.
To be eligible, you must have resided within the City of Luxembourg since at least October 1 of the current year. Interested students must also be enrolled in secondary or higher education: university, general or classical high school, or a full-time educational institution.
Application forms for the City of Luxembourg’s financial aid for students are available online on the City of Luxembourg’s website from September 15 through October 31. The amount of the grant varies depending on parents’ income, the number of dependent children in the household, and academic performance.
Bank loans in Luxembourg for students
Postgraduate students can benefit from student loans on particularly favorable terms from financial institutions approved by the Luxembourg government, including those abroad.
State guarantee of up to €10,345 per academic year
The state guarantees student loans up to €6,500 per academic year (€3,250 per semester). Additional increases may be granted for registration fees (up to €1,850) or social criteria (up to an additional €1,995).
Capped interest rates on bank loans for students
Students pay a maximum interest rate of 2% on the amount borrowed. The government covers the difference between this and market rates.
Interest is payable by the student at the end of each calendar semester (June 30 and December 31).
Deferred repayment of student loans
Students have two years after the end of their studies to begin repaying their student loan. They then have a maximum of 10 years to repay the full amount borrowed.
This assistance is paid in two semi-annual installments per academic year.
Are you looking for student accommodation in Luxembourg? Find all our advice here.
Articles de la catégorie Education – Higher education in Luxembourg
Information about schools and education
Are you an expat or future expat in Luxembourg? Would you like to find out more about the education systems available in Luxembourg so you can enroll your children? Are you the spouse of an expat and interested in adult education yourself?
Reception and academic support for foreign children
Has your family recently moved to Luxembourg or are you about to do so? To help newly arrived students (less than 24 months) integrate, the Ministry of Education offers a comprehensive school welcome and integration program for parents and students.
High schools and secondary education in Luxembourg
At age 12, after completing primary school, students in the Luxembourg education system move on to secondary school, where they are required to continue their education until age 18 or until they obtain a diploma or certificate of completion.