Azerbaijan State University of Economics
Azərbaycan Dövlət İqtisad Universiteti
Azerbaijan's specialist public economics university, teaching business and finance in Azerbaijani, English, Russian and Turkish.
- Students
- 18,000
- Tuition
- AZN 1,900
- From · 2024-25 (latest published fee list)
- Founded
- 1930
- QS World Ranking
- #634
- 2027 edition
About UNEC
The Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) was founded in 1930 as the Trade-Cooperative Institute, separating from Baku State University. It merged back into Baku State and split off again several times before becoming independent for good in 1966, and took its current name in 2000. It is a public university and, in its own words, the only economics-based university in Azerbaijan and one of the largest in the South Caucasus, with more than 18,000 students, 9 faculties and 76 programmes.
UNEC has four teaching campuses in Baku, a branch in Zagatala, and an international branch in Derbent in Russia. Bachelor's programmes cover economics, finance, accounting, business administration, marketing, international trade and logistics and international relations, as well as IT, information security, computer, food and industrial engineering, and design. Depending on the programme, teaching is in Azerbaijani, English, Russian or Turkish. The main building on Istiglaliyyat Street, where the novel Ali and Nino opens, houses a 24-hour library.
UNEC suits students who want an affordable economics or business degree with international links: it runs double degrees with the London School of Economics' International Programmes, Montpellier University, Mykolas Romeris University and UBIS, and its Finance programme is recognised by the CFA Institute and ACCA.
Why students choose UNEC
Double degree options, including the London School of Economics' International Programme, which UNEC joined in 2015 as the first university in Azerbaijan to do so.
Low, flat tuition of AZN 1,900-2,600 a year for full-time bachelor's study, the same for international and Azerbaijani students.
A choice of teaching language (Azerbaijani, English, Russian or Turkish) in many programmes, including Finance and Accounting.
A Finance programme accredited by the CFA Institute, with ACCA exemptions for accounting students.
Admissions
2027-28 academic year (entry September 2027)
Selectivity
Azerbaijani applicants are admitted on the results of the national entrance exams run by the State Examination Center, into state-funded or fee-paying places. UNEC says it is the choice of 75% of Presidential Scholarship winners and 63% of students scoring over 600 points. International students are admitted on their documents, not an entrance exam.
Typical entry requirements
| Azerbaijani school leavers | Admission via State Examination Center exams by specialty group; UNEC offered 25 bachelor's majors in 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| International applicants | Secondary school certificate and transcript, apostilled and with a notarised Azerbaijani translation if issued abroad; passport, 3x4 photo, CV, English proficiency document, at least two recommendation letters, and a medical certificate (negative Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV tests) |
| English language | International applicants must upload an English language proficiency document; no minimum score is published. Teaching is in Azerbaijani, English, Russian or Turkish depending on the programme. |
Deadlines
- International students, 2026/27 intake (extended) Non-binding Passed30 September 2026
Applications via portal.edu.az; classes began 15 September 2026. This is the current-year deadline; the 2027/28 international window has not been announced.
Past/closing (2026 cycle): the international deadline for 2026/27 was extended to 30 September 2026, after classes started on 15 September 2026. UNEC has not yet published dates for 2027/28 entry; watch the announcements page. Azerbaijani applicants follow the State Examination Center's national timetable.
How to apply
International students apply online through Azerbaijan's portal.edu.az (and UNEC's kabinet.unec.edu.az), choosing a specialty and teaching language and uploading their documents. If eligible, they receive an official invitation letter, travel to Azerbaijan on an education visa, submit original documents to UNEC's International Cooperation Department and sign a tuition contract. Azerbaijani students apply through the State Examination Center system.
What admissions looks for
- For Azerbaijani applicants, a high score in the State Examination Center's entrance exams.
- For international applicants, a secondary certificate that is correctly apostilled and translated.
- Evidence that you can study in your chosen language, such as an English proficiency document for English-taught programmes.
- At least two recommendation letters and, if requested, a short phone or video interview.
Tips for applying to UNEC
- 1 Get your school certificate apostilled and translated into Azerbaijani before you start the online application; it is the step that takes longest.
- 2 Choose your teaching language carefully: Finance, Accounting, Economics and Business Administration are offered in English, but some engineering programmes are taught only in Azerbaijani.
- 3 Ask about the double degree tracks (LSE International Programme, Montpellier, Mykolas Romeris, UBIS) early, as they have their own admission calls.
- 4 Plan your visa: you need UNEC's invitation letter to get an education visa and must bring original documents to Baku.
Costs & financial aid
2024-25 (latest published fee list) · figures in AZN
Azerbaijani applicants compete for state-funded (free) places through the national entrance exams; others study on fee-paying places. UNEC says 75% of Presidential Scholarship holders chose it. International students study on a fee-paying contract basis, at the same tuition as local students.
- 75% (UNEC figure)
- Presidential Scholarship winners choosing UNEC
- AZN 1,900-2,600 per year
- Bachelor's tuition, full-time
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (September start)
Finance
UNEC's most expensive bachelor's programme (AZN 2,600), taught in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English or Russian, with CFA Institute recognition.
Accounting
Taught in all four languages, with ACCA exemptions.
Economics (LSE International Programme double degree)
Students follow both UNEC's curriculum and the University of London / LSE programme and graduate with two diplomas.
Business Administration
Offered in Azerbaijani, Russian, Turkish and English (AZN 2,500 a year full-time).
Food Engineering (double degree with Aegean University)
A double-degree programme with Turkey's Aegean University, taught in Azerbaijani and Turkish.
Research
- UNEC won a TEMPUS IV project, funded by the European Commission, to develop university management of international relations (completed 2017).
- An entrepreneurship education project with the University of Siegen, including joint summer and winter schools.
- UNEC runs an Innovative Business Incubator and the Rating 100 system that ranks and rewards its most productive faculty members.
UNEC reports that 91% of graduates feel it prepared them for graduate studies and that every student gets at least one internship during their studies.
Student life
UNEC's main building is in central Baku on Istiglaliyyat (Independence) Street, with a 24-hour library open since 2018. Beyond classes there are student and social clubs, UNEC Radio, a Career Center, an Alumni Association, a Center for Inclusive Education and a business incubator. UNEC also has a sport and leisure complex in the Quba region. Exchange programmes and double degrees with universities such as Siegen and Montpellier give students options to study abroad.
- The UNEC 24/7 Library in the main building is open round the clock.
- UNEC owns a sport and leisure complex in the Quba region.
- UNEC Radio and student clubs are run on campus.
- 72 international exchange programmes and agreements with 92 foreign universities.
Location
Baku is Azerbaijan's capital and largest city, on the Caspian Sea. UNEC's main building is on Istiglaliyyat (Independence) Street, one of the city's most prestigious streets, with other teaching campuses elsewhere in Baku. The university also has a branch in Zagatala in north-western Azerbaijan and an international branch in Derbent, Russia.
Nearest airport: Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD)
Notable alumni
- MJ Mikayil JabbarovMinister of Economy of Azerbaijan; master's degree in economics (2004)
- ER Elman RustamovChairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (1995-2022); studied national economic planning
- AA Avaz AlakbarovMinister of Finance of Azerbaijan (1999-2006); economics graduate (1973)
- FM Fazil MammadovFirst Minister of Taxes of Azerbaijan (2000-2017); finance and credit graduate (1985)
- HA Heydar AsadovFormer Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan; accounting and economics graduate (1983)
- RA Rufat AslanliChairman of Azerbaijan's Financial Markets Supervision Authority; graduated 1993
- IR Ilkin RustamzadeHuman rights activist; studied management (studies interrupted by his arrest in 2013)
Frequently asked questions
How much are tuition fees at UNEC?
Full-time bachelor's fees are AZN 1,900 to 2,600 a year depending on the programme (for example AZN 2,300 for Economics and 2,600 for Finance). UNEC says international and local students pay the same fees.
Can I study in English at UNEC?
Yes, in many programmes. UNEC teaches in Azerbaijani, English, Russian and Turkish; English is available for subjects such as Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration and IT, but not for every major.
How do international students apply to UNEC?
Online through portal.edu.az, uploading an apostilled and translated school certificate, passport, photo, CV, English proficiency document, recommendation letters and a medical certificate. Admitted students receive an invitation letter for an education visa.
Does UNEC require an entrance exam?
Azerbaijani applicants are admitted through the State Examination Center's national exams. International applicants are assessed on their documents, sometimes with a phone or video interview.
What is the UNEC deadline for international students?
For 2026/27 the deadline was extended to 30 September 2026. Dates for September 2027 entry have not been published yet.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- UNEC: International students
- UNEC: Admission of International Students Has Been Extended (17 September 2026)
- UNEC: Admission rules for international students
- UNEC: Admission at the undergraduate level
- UNEC: Admission plan and tuition fees for undergraduate majors
- UNEC: Tuition fees for international students 2024/2025, bachelor's (PDF)
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