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Study in Croatia

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:

  • University studies consisting of academic programmes that are conducted solely at universities
  • Professional studies consisting of professional programmes conducted at polytechnics or colleges of applied sciences (exceptionally, professional programmes can also be implemented at universities)

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.

Find the best information about what it’s like to study in Zagreb, including degree course offers, career opportunities, student life, living costs, and more.

Private and public higher education institutions

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.

General application requirements

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):

  • Completed application form
  • Identification information
  • Proof of completion of all secondary school levels by that date (certificate of each level)
  • Confirmation of the results of final examination
  • Confirmation of the results of national or international competitions
  • Confirmation of sport status

Please request detailed information about the application process from the higher education institution you wish to attend.

Find more information about applying to a university in Croatia.

University studies
  • Undergraduate university studies normally last for three to four years. Upon completion, students are awarded an academic title of Bachelor (prvostupnik) with reference to a specialisation, which qualifies a student for specialised work in art or science.
  • Graduate university studies normally last for one to two years. Upon completion of both undergraduate and graduate studies, students are awarded an academic title of Master (magistar struke) with reference to a specialisation.
  • Postgraduate university studies are divided into specialist and doctoral studies.
  • Specialist studies lead towards specialisation in a profession and last for one to two years. Upon completion, the student is awarded the title of University Specialist with reference to a specialisation (univ. spec.).
  • Doctoral studies last three years and are intended for scientific and research training aimed at the production of scientific excellence as well as renewal of teaching staff in the higher education system. Upon completion of doctoral study (and after defending the doctoral thesis), the academic title of Doctor of Science or Doctor of Arts is awarded (dr. sc. or dr. art.).
  • Integrated undergraduate and graduate university studies normally take five or six years. Upon completion, students are awarded a diploma and the academic title of Master (magistar struke) with an indication of the field of study.
Professional studies
  • Undergraduate professional studies last for two to three years. Exceptionally professional studies may last up to four years. Students are awarded a professional title of strucni pristupnik with a reference to a specialisation the professional title of Professional Bachelor (strucni prvostupnik) with a reference to a specialisation.
  • Specialist professional graduate studies last one to two years. Upon completion, students are awarded a title of a specialist of the respective profession.
Research

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.

About qualifications recognition

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.

English language preparation for studying in Croatia

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.

Living in Croatia

  • Approximate rent prices for Croatia are: 150-200 EUR per month for a one-bed, shared kitchen and bathroom apartment and 250-300 EUR per month for a studio apartment.
  • A regular meal in a restaurant costs about 7 EUR. Overall, you can expect to spend 500-700 EUR/month with living costs. 
  • All students entitled to subsidised meals by submitting the student card (iksica) can eat daily at student cafeterias (menza) at affordable prices.
  • International students do not automatically receive student dormitory accommodation and they have to contact the International Cooperation Office at the higher education institution they are applying to in order to try to ensure housing.
  • Average monthly living expenses in Croatia are estimated to be between 400 and 700 EUR, depending on the type of accommodation (student dorm or privately rented housing) and the city in Croatia. These amounts should be enough to cover food, accommodation, utilities, books, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.
  • The most important tourism potential in Croatia is the Adriatic Sea, with clear and clean seawater and long coastline (approximately 1,800 km long), and approximately 1,244 islands.
  • Continental Croatia also has a number of tourist attractions, including towns with a rich history and striking architecture, castles, national parks, rivers, ski resorts, vineyards and thermal water springs with healing properties.
  • Diocletian Palace and Medieval Split (The Emperor’s Palace) is one of the most significant works of late-ancient architecture
  • Dubrovnik Old Town, The Pearl of the Adriatic, became a major Mediterranean power after the 13th century. This late-medieval planned city in the south part of the east Adriatic Croatian coast is situated at the foot of Mount Srd.
  • National Park Plitvice Lakes are part of the UNESCO heritage and are a result of gypsum and gypsum-depositing plants.
  • A great place if you love sailing, diving, cycling or climbing mountains.
  • The summer brings extra cultural life to the Croatian coastal area, offering a whole range of jazz festivals, concerts and traditional events. However, a great number of events take place throughout the year, including rock, pop and classical concerts, film festivals, theatre productions and exhibitions.

About 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”).

Universities, colleges and schools in Croatia

Zagreb

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Where to study abroad?

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Netherlands
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Finland
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Hungary
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Sweden
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Switzerland
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United Kingdom
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