AMMAN — The new mechanism for distributing partial grants and loans to students at public universities “strikes a balance” between fixed quotas for districts and applicant population density, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Spokesperson Muhannad Khatib said on Monday.

 

The Cabinet has recently approved amendments to the Student Support Fund Bylaw, aimed at enhancing fairness and equal opportunities in the allocation of financial aid, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 

Khatib said that each district will be allocated a fixed share of 550 partial grants and loans, including 250 loans and 150 grants for bachelor’s students, in addition to 150 grants for community college students enrolled in vocational and applied specialisations.

 

He added that this fixed allocation represents 50 per cent of the total support, while the remaining 50 per cent will be distributed based on the relative weight of each district, determined by the number of eligible applicants annually.

 

Khatib noted that students in densely populated districts are expected to benefit from increased opportunities under the new bylaw, due to a larger share of grants and loans.

 

He said that the revised mechanism will take effect starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, stressing that the amendments will not affect the legal status of students who had previously applied to benefit from the fund.

 

The changes aim to institutionalise the distribution process in line with annual fluctuations in student numbers, while boosting the student social protection system and directing support towards technical and vocational fields aligned with labour market needs and the Economic Modernisation Vision, he added.

 

The Student Support Fund remains the government’s main tool for enabling Jordanian students to pursue higher education through a competitive system that takes into account families’ economic conditions across the Kingdom.