Spotlight on Belarus: Students risk exclusion from European higher education

Amid continuous turmoil in Europe and the wider world, some crises are overlooked. This is unfortunately the case of the highly concerning situation that many students from Belarus currently experience.

Belarussian nationals who currently study abroad or intend to do so face increased bureaucratic obstacles by engaging with their national authorities. This not only disrupts their study, but may lead to loss of residence status and risk of detainment on return to Belarus, unless they apply for asylum. In Europe, only a few higher education institutions and countries have yet noticed the problem and taken measures.

What has changed?

In 2023, the Lukashenka regime issued Decree No. 278, which complicates the process for Belarusians to obtain documents proving their identity and their qualifications. In particular, the decree mandates that citizens must appear in-person to obtain such documents from the Belarussian authorities. For anyone who is politically persecuted or suspected, this comes with the risk of detainment.

Belarussians who live abroad may grant power of attorney to a representative, usually a family member or a friend. However, this not really an option for those that cannot return, as for any person over the age of 18, their representative requires an official authorisation, which must be applied for within Belarus.

This decree significantly impacts Belarusian exiles' access to European higher education, in three principal ways:

• Loss of identity documents: Many Belarusians already studying abroad face the expiration of their passports, and study visas and residence rights require valid identity documents. Without them, Belarusian students may instead be forced to seek asylum. This is a lengthy and uncertain process, which also affects their formal status and social situation (i.e. no right to work). In addition, asylum procedures are mentally challenging, and may result in affected students abandoning their studies.
• Access to qualifications: Many Belarusians cannot access their transcript of records, and similar documents. In addition, their high school diplomas are usually withheld by Belarusian higher education institutions to prevent multiple enrolments (as this is forbidden by law). The absence of digital documentation complicates matters further. Without proof of qualifications, enrolling in European institutions becomes challenging, especially since alternative recognition methods are not universally implemented, despite their stipulation in Article VII of the Lisbon Recognition Convention and the related Recommendation on the Recognition of Refugees’ Qualifications.
• Delays in apostille processes: European higher education institutions sometimes require apostilles (i.e. confirmation of a document’s authenticity). Belarusian authorities are currently intentionally delaying these processes, preventing many high school graduates from acquiring the necessary documents to apply and enrol in European higher education institutions. For those already abroad, obtaining these apostilles necessitates travel to Belarus, posing risks of detainment.

What can European universities and authorities do to help?

As shown, Decree No. 278 puts up substantial barriers for exiled Belarusians seeking to continue their education in Europe. The good news is that these are primarily bureaucratic issues that can be addressed:

• Higher education institutions, jointly with the respective public authorities and the support of the national information centre that deals with recognition (ENIC-NARIC) should exhibit flexibility in document requirements for Belarusian applicants, adopt alternative recognition procedures in line with the Lisbon Recognition Convention, and accommodate delays in obtaining apostilled documents.
• National authorities can issue alternative identity documents for exiled Belarusians, as seen for example in Norway, Poland and Germany. It must also be ensured that these documents are valid for enrolment in higher education institutions.

Finding flexible and long-term solutions to these problems is in everyone's interest. Supporting exiled Belarusians in completing their education will provide them with better future prospects and prevent their academic journeys from being interrupted or ending prematurely. However, this requires awareness and action from both higher education leadership and the public authorities at national level.