The Refugees Proclamation, under article 24 (2), states that refugees may have access to higher education, technical and vocational education and training, and adult and non-formal education within available resources and subject to the education policy of Ethiopia that also apply for Ethiopian nationals. Further, the Refugees Proclamation, under article 24 (3), accords refugees to receive the most favorable treatment as provided to foreign nationals in respect to education other than primary education as regards access to studies, the recognition of foreign school certificates, diplomas and degrees, the remission of fees and charges and the award of scholar ships. The standard of treatment used however has not been explained by the Proclamation or other subsidiary laws.

The education policy of Ethiopia is not averse to refugee inclusion into tertiary education and other pose secondary education provided resource is available. In that regard, the Education Sector Development of Ethiopia VI (ESDP VI) guarantees equitable and inclusive education for all refugees by expanding refugee education at all levels including tertiary, vocational and other post-secondary education.

In practice, there is no challenge to enroll in tertiary education if refugees meet the basic admission requirements applicable to nationals. In this regard, the Ministry of Education (MoE) issued circulars to all regional Education Bureaus allowing refugees to join higher education using three pathways: taking placement examination; using certificates from their country of origin; and sitting for the national examination administered by the MoE. Refugee students completing secondary education who are eligible to join tertiary education are automatically placed in public universities regardless of their status. 

At present, there are two categories of scholarship opportunities available for refugees attending tertiary education in Ethiopia. The first category encompasses the government of Ethiopia's scholarship, which is open to refugees enrolling in higher learning institutions. This scholarship covers their tuition and living expenses through a cost-sharing arrangement. The second category comprises the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship program, which is financed by UNHCR. This program offers financial assistance to eligible refugees attending higher educational institutions in the form of a subsistence allowance.