THEORETICAL AND LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF FINANCING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Abstract

This article provides a systematic analysis of the theoretical and legal foundations of higher education financing in foreign countries. The study aims to identify the legal design of combining key funding sources, including state budgets, tuition-based contracts, grants, and philanthropic endowments, and to comparatively assess institutions that shape efficient financing. The methodology applies institutional analysis, content analysis of regulatory and legal acts, and a comparative approach using indicators from the OECD and the European Higher Education Area. The scientific novelty lies in interpreting financing models through a three-layer framework: the architecture of legal sources, allocation mechanisms, and accountability and transparency instruments. The results show how legal norms in different jurisdictions connect performance-based budgeting, student-centered voucher funding, and mixed grant–tuition schemes, thereby influencing autonomy, equity, and quality assurance in higher education systems