Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country that borders Slovenia on the west, Hungary on the north, Serbia on the east, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the south. The country is known for its coasts and seas, making it a popular vacation destination. Tourists and international students have been flocking to the country in recent years for vacations and educational purposes. In this article, you will be shown how to study, work, and live in Croatia.
The Croatian education is good. Being a member of the European zone (but not a full-fledged member of the Schengen zone), its tertiary institutions follow the Bologna process. Croatia’s higher education system is now completely integrated into the European Higher Education Area. University courses usually take three to four years for undergraduates. Students receive the academic title of Bachelor (prvostupnik) with a degree after graduation, qualifying them for specialized work in art or science. Graduate school usually lasts one to two years.
Croatia is undeniably becoming a popular student location. Croatia has 137 higher education institutions, including ten universities (eight public and two private), 15 polytechnics (eleven public and four private), 24 professional higher education schools (three public and twenty-one private), and 80 constituents of public universities.
Croatia is home to some of the world’s oldest universities, with the University of Zagreb, which was founded in 1396, being the most prestigious. Many international students study in Croatia at undergraduate and graduate degrees. Because the country is multi-lingual, with many residents speaking Croatian, English, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish, international students will adapt easily while studying in Croatia.
Studying in Croatia allows you to immerse yourself in the country’s long history of rich culture and education. In Croatia, there are two categories of higher education:
University studies and vocational studies. Universities studies are academic programs that are only offered in universities. While Professional programs offered at polytechnics or applied science institutions are referred to as vocational studies.
Almost all higher education institutions in Croatia that accept international students have an International Cooperation Office or a recognized contact person who can provide information to prospective international students.
Do you want to go to Croatia and study? See some of the reasons for this, as well as other important details about studying in Croatia, below.
Why study in Croatia?
• Multilingual nation
A study in Croatia amply gives you the opportunity to learn either Italian, Russian, Spanish or Croatian. The official language is Croatian, but a high number of persons in Croatia speak the above-mentioned languages.
• Affordable tuition fee
Public universities in Croatia is cheap. If you are looking for a country with affordable tuition, Croatia is one such country.
• High-Quality education
Croatia is a country with a high literacy rate and a high standard of living. The government is concerned about the education sector. It offers free education to a wide range of vocational institutes.
How to apply for admission in Croatia
1. Choose a Program
You begin by choosing a program and the university to pursue the degree. As already mentioned, there are universities and vocational schools in Croatia, check the programs offered in any of these schools, after that, choose a program.
2. Provide the admission requirements
Each school might have its admission requirements as it relates to degree type and country of residence. Here are the entry requirements.
General Admission requirements to study in Croatia
Filled application form
Educational certificates
Passport ID
Passport photograph
Application fee
Achievements from previous education (grades obtained),
Result of Matura exams for undergraduate study
Letter of recommendation
Statement of Purpose
A valid Passport
Curriculum Vitae
Certificate of Work experience (if any)
Interview (postgraduate degree)
3. Apply for admission
There is a central application system for students applying for an undergraduate degree in Croatia, done through this portal at www.postani-student.hr. While graduate and postgraduate students apply directly to the institution of their choice.
4. Wait for the admission office decision
After submitting your application, you’ll wait for the school’s decision. Usually, Croatian universities/vocational studies send acceptance letters in February as the admission starts in July and September.
5. Apply for a student visa
The processing visa time for the Croatian study visa differs by country. Once you’ve received your acceptance letter, start the visa application immediately. It can take between 30 days to 40 days for the Croatian study permit to be granted. You’ll provide the following requirements.
Requirements for Croatian student visa application
Passport ID
Letter of acceptance from the school
Two colored passport photos
Proof of accommodation
Proof of funds (bank statement)
police report
Medical insurance
Visa fee
Proof of health insurance
6. Get your health insurance
You must have a current health insurance card. It is required to obtain a temporary residency permit.
Note: Make sure your documents are notarized and translated into Croatian by an official translator who has an apostille.
Are there English-taught programs in Croatian universities?
Yes. There are public and private universities offering English-taught programs. To study in English medium in Croatia, you may need to write an English proficiency test such as IELTS, or TOEFL ibt.
Here are the top English-taught universities in Croatia.
The Universities of Rijeka
University of Split
University of Zagreb
University of Zadar
What are the languages used in Croatian universities?
Universities in Croatia offer courses in Hungarian, German, and Italian, in addition to Croatian and English.
Universities in Croatia
University of Zagreb, Zagreb
University of Rijeka, Rijeka
University of Split, Split
University J. J. Strossmayera of Osijek, Osijek
University of Zadar, Zadar
Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Pula
University of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik
University Sjever, Koprivnica
Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb
Libertas University, Dubrovnik.
Tuition Fees in Croatia
Croatia does not offer free tuition to international students. The tuition fee for international students varies by higher education institutions, study level, and program. Croatian higher education institutions determine their tuition costs for various courses. Undergraduate tuition rates range from 6,850 Kuna to 28,000 Kuna. Tuition fees for graduate and postgraduate studies are obtained directly from universities because they set their tuition separately.
Cheap Universities in Croatia
1. Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
2. University of the North
3. University of Zadar
4. Obrila University of Pula
Are there scholarships for international students in Croatia?
International students can apply for a variety of scholarships offered by the Croatian government and universities. These scholarships are available at all stages of higher education, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Here is a list of some of the scholarships available in Croatia for overseas students.
Research Projects Scholarships
Zagreb School of Economics and Management Scholarship Programs
CEEPUS Scholarships
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD)
Croatian Government Scholarships
Scholarships of Bilateral programs in Croatia
The Central European Exchange Program in Croatia
Can international students bring their families to Croatia on a study permit?
As an international student studying in Croatia, you cannot bring your family in the first year of your studies in Croatia. They may not join you in Croatia for two years if you have been accepted to a Croatian institution and have secured a residence permit.
Can international students work and study in Croatia?
Domestic and international students who are enrolled full-time in a Croatian higher education institution are eligible to apply for part-time student work. But there is no exact duration a student can work during an academic session. The Student Service Center is in charge of full-time student employment.
The Croatian government has formed a body that is solely responsible for the processing and acceptance of student job applications. The name of the organization is “Student Service Center (Student Servis).” They have offices in every university town or region, and they monitor and approve international students who want to work part-time while they study.
International students who are permitted to work on a part-time basis must register in person at the Student Service Centre. Students in this situation must fill out a form and send it to the center along with the necessary documents:
By completing out a simple registration form and submitting certain supplementary documentation, eligible international students can register in person at any of the Student Service Center’s locations. Among the required documents are:
(Indeks) Transcript Book
Two passport photographs
A giro bank account certificate of a local Croatian bank
International passport
Student certificate showing full-term enrollment in a university course
Stay back option after graduation in Croatia
After completing your studies in Croatia, you may be permitted to stay back in the country. EU citizens do not need to apply for a work permit to stay back in Croatia if they want to remain in the country after finishing their studies. Foreign EU nationals can apply for a five-year temporary residency permit in Croatia if they can show documentation that they will be able to support themselves during their stay.
Non-EU students who wish to stay back in Croatia after completing their studies must first ascertain whether their study program is professionally recognized before switching from a student temporary residence card. To change your residence, permit from temporary to permanent, you must find work, with that, it qualifies you to apply for a residency permit in Croatia.
Conclusion
Croatian degrees are recognized and accepted worldwide. There are several courses to choose from its universities and vocational schools. Croatia is fast becoming among the preferred destinations for international students; to apply for admission, follow the recommended application process that has been discussed already.
A study in Croatia is good; its universities offer quality education in all courses. In case you plan to study and work in Croatia, check the school policy as there is a procedure for that, and if you want to stay back after completing your studies, here is the link to the application for approving a temporary or permanent stay. Please note that students who wish to work in Croatia, after graduation need to seek professional recognition.