Registration opens 26 August for subsidised student meal

The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) has opened a public call for the subsidised student meal for the 2026/2027 academic year; applications for students already enrolled and those who will register this year run from 26 to 31 August 2026.

Citizens of North Macedonia who are regularly enrolled in first- or second-cycle studies, or integrated study programmes at state or private higher education institutions are eligible. An additional requirement is that the student’s monthly income from any source must not exceed the minimum net wage in the country for the current year.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the MES platform. Candidates are required to complete the application form for acquiring the right to a subsidised student meal and the declaration on the accuracy of submitted data, and to upload the signed documents into the online application. Students who are approved will begin receiving the funds in the month following the month in which they applied.

Monthly windows and exceptions

After the initial call, the application window will be open from 1 to 5 of each month during the academic year starting in October. That monthly window is intended for students who did not obtain the right under the public call, and for those whose right lapsed because they failed to meet a condition but later again fulfil the criteria.

The subsidised student meal is set at 140 denars per day and is intended for purchasing prepared food. The benefit can be used Monday through Saturday; unused amounts accumulated during the week remain available on the account until Saturday. The right cannot be used from 1 July to 1 October, nor on public holidays and other non-working days.

“For the implementation of payments, MES has signed a contract with Sparkasse Bank AD Skopje. Students who obtain the right will have to sign an agreement with the bank to open a special account linked to a dedicated payment card for the subsidised student meal, regardless of whether they were previously clients of the bank,” the ministry said. The deadline and the method for collecting the cards will be announced separately.

Further details on conditions and the application procedure are published in the public call. For questions related to applications, students can contact the Sector for Pupil and Student Standard by e-mail at subvencioniran.obrok@mon.gov.mk.

Photo: press material from the event