Study in Croatia
Last edited on 24 Dec 2024
Welcome to 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 classified as an open 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.
Higher Education System
In total, Croatia has 128 higher education institutions located in all parts of the country - including a total of 36 on Croatia’s spectacular Adriatic coast! Croatia’s largest university is the University of Zagreb with over 75,000 enrolled students - making it the largest university in the region of South-Eastern Europe. The University of Zagreb is also the oldest university in the region (founded in 1669).
Opportunities for both Croatian and non-Croatian speakers
For prospective students who speak Croatian (or are studying the language), a wide variety of degree programmes or exchange programmes are available for studying at higher education institutions throughout Croatia.
Study opportunities are also available to prospective students who do not speak Croatian (or are not studying the language). On the one hand, some higher education institutions offer Croatian language courses as semester classes, one-month courses or summer schools. On the other hand, some higher education institutions offer specific courses in foreign languages (lasting one or two semesters) and there some degree-programmes taught in English and other foreign languages.
Student Cities in Croatia
Application, Fees and Visas in Croatia
Depending on the status of international students and the type of study programme they are enrolling, the admissions process and its requirements can differ. Students are therefore advised to check these accordingly. The usual types of international student status in Croatia include:
- Degree-seeking students (undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate)
- Exchange students (Erasmus+, CEEPUS, bilateral agreements)
- Guest students (free-movers, short-term study).
- Students who are citizens of EU member states may enrol in study programmes under the same conditions as Croatian citizens.
- Degree programmes
For admission to a higher education institution, there are some general and some institution-specific requirements depending on the level of study.
Admissions to undergraduate study programmes in Croatia are administered through a central online application system, for which prospective students must fill in an application form and select up to 10 study programmes they wish to apply to at any higher education institution in Croatia. More information about the application procedure is available in the section “How to apply”.
Admissions to graduate and postgraduate study programmes in Croatia are administered by higher education institutions, so prospective students must apply directly to higher education institutions regarding the application process, deadlines and application documents.
It should also be noted that admissions to most study programmes in Croatia is restricted, which means that the maximum number of places available for a specific study programme is subject to an annual decision by higher education institutions.
Exchange programmes and other non-degree programmes
The admissions requirements and deadlines for exchange students and guest students vary and are prescribed by the public competition for the exchange programme in question or by the specific agreements between partner higher education institutions. Please see the section “University bilateral agreements” for further details.
