Study in Laos

Who this applies to

Students at Lao universities. Lao medium (+ French legacy & growing English; regional languages at border universities). 5 public universities.

Governing authority

Ministry of Education and Sports (Lao PDR).

Degree system

Associate · Bachelor 4–5 yrs · Master · (limited) PhD. Small post-socialist system; NUOL dominant, plus regional public universities.

Admission

How

National secondary-school completion + university entrance; quotas/scholarships for civil-service & regional students; international students apply directly.

Language

Lao (some English/French; partner programs).

Tuition

Public

Low/subsidized at public universities (state quotas).

Private

Few private colleges, fee-paying.

Note

Only a small proportion of Lao people enroll in university; heavy reliance on regional scholarships (Thailand/Vietnam/China) for study abroad.

Student visa & residence permit

Student visa for non-nationals.

Scholarships

Government & donor/regional scholarships.

Sources & references

• system — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_University_of_Laos (2026-06-12)
• 5 universities — https://www.unirank.org/la/uni/national-university-of-laos/ (2026-06-12)