The Croatian higher education system has a long educational tradition preserved primarily through the work of its public universities.
Croatia has a binary higher education system, meaning that prospective students can choose between two types of higher education studies:
The Croatian higher education system is now structured according to three cycles (undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate) and higher education studies in Croatia are organised according to the system of transferable credits, thus making it easier for international students (from Europe and beyond) to study in Croatia and have their studies recognised in their home countries.
You don't need to rob a bank in order to study in Croatia. Most Bachelor's programmes cost between 800 and 4,000 EUR per academic year. Tuition fees for Master's programmes vary more, but they are still more affordable than what you'd pay at a Western university.
The same thing is true for living costs, which will take 400–700 EUR out of your pocket every month.
You shouldn't face any language barriers while in Croatia, especially in popular places like Zagreb, Rijeka, and Istria. Statistically speaking, around 80% of Croatians speak multiple languages, with English being the most widely spoken.
While Croatian universities don't usually provide any funding, the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education does. It comes in the form of bilateral agreements, Erasmus Plus programmes, or other mobility opportunities. Learn how to apply for a scholarship in Croatia.
In their spare time, students can have fun by visiting the most beautiful Croatian sites. With a rich cultural heritage and large area of unspoiled natural land, there are many options available.
We recommend visiting: the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Krka National Park, Diocletian's Palace, the Walls of Dubrovnik, the Golder Horn, the Kvarner Gulf, Stradun, etc.
Croatia has both public and private higher education institutions.
Most Croatian universities are public institutions. However, private university education has recently started to develop in Croatia with the establishment of three private universities and numerous colleges of applied sciences.
Almost all polytechnics are public institutions, while most colleges of applied sciences are private institutions. Both polytechnics and colleges of applied sciences provide first and second cycle professional study programmes – these institutions differ only in the number of study programmes they provide, not in the type of programmes.
Prospective students who apply to undergraduate study programmes as degree-seeking students and who have completed the minimum of four years of secondary education outside Croatia can apply to higher education institutions in Croatia using the Central Application System.
Applicants who have completed their secondary education in a country that does not have an established system of external evaluation of secondary education are advised to take the State Matura exams in subjects proscribed for admission to a particular study program. Namely, the results of the State Matura exams influence the candidate ranking in the selection process for admission to most study programs.
Candidates should send the following documents to the Central Application Office (at the Agency for Science and Higher Education):
Please request detailed information about the application process from the higher education institution you wish to attend.
Research in Croatia is conducted at universities, public research institutes, research institutes, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and other institutions registered in the Register of Scientific Research Legal Persons.
Recognition of foreign educational qualifications in Croatia is carried out for the purpose of continuation of education at Croatian higher education institutions (academic recognition) or for the purpose of employment in Croatia (professional recognition).
All higher education institutions that accept international students usually have an International Cooperation Office and prospective students should contact that office well before applying in order to obtain relevant information on what educational qualifications need to be recognised in order to apply for the study programme in question.
Develop your academic English language skills in order to meet the English language requirements at Croatian universities offering degree studies for international students. Choose an English language school anywhere in the world and pick your preferred English exam preparation course from diverse language course options.
Universities accept these official English exams:
Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses in Croatia:
Here's what you need to know about tuition fees:
As an international student, you need around 400–700 EUR per month to cover your living costs. Depending on your lifestyle, costs may go up or down. Here's a breakdown of average living expenses in Croatia:
Croatia (Hrvatska), officially the Republic of Croatia (Republika Hrvatska) is situated in South-Eastern Europe at the crossroads of the Adriatic Sea and the Pannonian Plain.
Croatia is an ex-Yugoslav country that declared its independency from Yugoslavia in 1991 and is a member of the EU since 2013.
Croatia borders with Hungary in the north, Slovenia in the north-west, Serbia in the north-east, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the total length of the lower part of the Croatia’s crescent shape, Montenegro in the extreme south, and Italy and Slovenia on the Adriatic Sea.
Croatia is classified as an emerging and developing economy by the International Monetary Fund and a high income economy by the World Bank. Traditionally, Croatia is a tourism oriented country.
Historical heritage, natural beauty and a pleasant climate make up the framework which, together with high quality accommodation, gastronomic excellence and a rich supply of activities and entertainment, enables Croatia to attract the modern-day tourist.
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and also the largest city in the country. It is situated in the north-west of the country, along the Sava River with a population of almost one million inhabitants. It is the political, economic, cultural and scientific centre of Croatia.
The official currency of the Republic of Croatia is the Kuna (shortened to “HRK” or “kn”) and it is subdivided into 100 Lipa (shorted to “lp”).
Numerous education initiatives in the world were formed to promote international cooperation and academic exchange between universities as well as attract students and staff worldwide. This focus on international student education provides high quality programmes in various fields of study and prepares students for future careers anywhere in the world.
Studying, for instance, in Australia, Asia, Europe or America represents a wide range of opportunities to see the world and interact with other students from different countries. Different study options allow students to hold a job during their study years in order to pay for their education, if they wish to do so. Online programmes help you get an international education without having to leave home.
The number of English-taught short courses in Asia, Australia, Europe and The United States are continuously rising in popularity in the last few years. Many countries offer English-taught study programmes, including: Australia, China, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States and more. Other English short courses may be found in the rest of the European countries as well.
Short courses offer a great variety of subjects for a short and fixed period. This period can vary between a week to six weeks, depending on country, institution and course. This is an excellent opportunity to gain academic, cultural and social experience if you are not able to access long-term study opportunities. A wide variety of countries and institutions offer summer and short courses in all kinds of subject areas. It is a great opportunity to get some background information for your own research, to learn a language or to gain knowledge on a related topic.
Sometimes summer and short courses provide students with short-term housing. Therefore, it is useful to find out if housing is included in the fee of the summer or short course you wish to apply for.
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