Why study a Bachelor or Master in Croatia

Study in Croatia

Many international students today choose to study in Croatia. The country has great weather most of the year, beautiful beaches to relax at and is a very safe place to live. What more do you need for a study abroad destination? Read on to read about why you should study in this beloved Adriatic country and how much you’ll pay in tuition fees if you choose to study in Croatia. 

Why should you study in Croatia? 

Here are some of the reasons why you might choose to study in Croatia:

 

Safety and Security 

Croatia is one of the safest countries in the world to live in, with the US State Department ranking Croatia in the category of the highest safety. This is due to a highly stable economy and political scene. It has a high level of safety and security and a low crime rate, so international students can roam the streets without fear, enjoying the country. You need to follow common-sense rules of course, but besides that, it’s a very safe place to live in and study. 

Reasonable living costs 

When compared to other popular European study destinations, Croatia is a cheap country to live and study in. It is cheaper than most countries in the region, with an international student able to pay just 800 USD a month as living costs, which is a bargain. Rent will cost you around 400 dollars with the rest being general expenses, like food, water and electricity. However, you can rest assured that the living costs are reasonable and that you won’t burn a hole in your wallet! 

Excellent Job Market

Because of the stable economy, Croatia has an excellent job market for international students, both during their studies and after graduation if they choose to work there. Unemployment rates are insignificant, with over 50,000 foreign citizens finding good employment options in Croatia annually. The demand for employees in many sectors is very high and this is why the government allows, and even encourages, international students to work during their study program. If you want to work while studying then Croatia is the study destination for you. 

Uncrowded cities

Another benefit to study in Croatia is the uncrowded cities. Because of the small population, the beautiful cities aren’t crowded and you get to truly enjoy them. Another plus is that the academic year for those who study in Croatia starts in October and ends in June, so it won’t clash with high touristic times. This means that most of the year, you won’t have to worry about tourists overcrowding the country. 

How much does it cost?

If studying in Croatia sounds attractive to you, you should know that cost differs based on the university and field of study. Tuition fees for undergraduates studying humanities and social science subjects can cost from 900 dollars to 2,500 dollars a year. If you want to study technical subjects, you can expect to pay around 3,500 dollars a year. For Sciences and Medical Studies, the most expensive subjects, you’ll pay around 4,000 dollars on an annual basis.

Living in Croatia

When it comes to living costs, living in Croatia will cost you between 450 to 800 dollars a month, depending on where you live and your spending habits. Read on to learn more about the different accommodation types for students and how much they’ll cost you, along with other costs of living while studying in Croatia. 

 

Accommodation

If you are studying in Croatia, you’ll find many living options. You might decide to live in a private corridor room, shared rental or rent a private apartment, whether a one-bedroom flat or studio. The accommodation costs will differ based on where the accommodation is, how big it is, how many rooms are there and what the services and amenities are offered.  

 

For example, you should expect to pay around 180 dollars a month for a room rental, or 300dollars for a studio apartment per month. These are average rates for apartments that are outside the city centre. If you will live in the city centre, you should set aside around 430 dollars per month for rental costs. 

 

Another option for student accommodation are student dormitories, in which rooms are typically shared with a roommate. They usually share bathrooms, kitchens and living areas with other students on the same floor. These dormitories may contain services like student cafeterias, often called Mensas,  gyms, computer labs and bars. They may also organize social activities to help residents socialize. In general, these accommodations are cheaper than other rentals but the cost varies based on the city. You can expect to pay from 100 to 400 dollars a month for these types of rooms, based on room size, dorms location and services offered with your room. 

Other costs of living

Besides accommodation, you should also factor in other costs of living while studying in Croatia. Your monthly transportation pass to get around will cost you around 50 dollars. You should also factor in around 180 dollars for basic utilities like electricity, heating, water and garbage. 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local will cost you 0.12$, while internet for the month will cost you around 30 dollars. Food will cost international students around 300 USD a month, but could increase if you eat out a lot, as that is more expensive than eating at home. 

Universities in Croatia

An important factor to consider when you decide to study in Croatia is the educational institutes. There are excellent institutions there to study at that you should consider when researching universities to apply to. Read on to learn more about these top-ranked universities and what degree programs are available in Croatia. 

 

Degrees available

When it comes to the degrees available in universities in Croatia, there are typically three levels. Undergraduate degrees usually last three to four years. When done with the degree, students are handed the title of Bachelor (prvostupnik) degree, referring to their chosen specialisation. On the other hand, graduate degrees last from 1 to 2 years. When you are done with your first graduate degree, combined with your undergraduate studies, you achieve the title of Master (magistar struke), also with reference to your area of expertise. 

 

After receiving your master’s degree, postgraduate studies are two kinds: specialist and doctoral studies. Specialist studies will take you one to two years to complete and you’ll receive the title of University Specialist. PhD or doctorate studies, take three years to be completed. When students are done with their doctorate studies, they are awarded the highest title of Doctor of Science or Doctor of Arts. 

Top-ranked universities

When looking into universities in Croatia, here are the top-ranked ones that are worth looking into: 

 

1. University of Zagreb 

Location: Zagreb

The University of Zagreb, which is known in Croatian as Sveuilište u Zagrebu, is one of the most ancient universities in Central Europe. It was first founded in 1669 as the Jesuit Academy of the Royal Free City of Zagreb by ruler Leopold I. There are currently over 70,000 students studying there, with almost 8000 staff there.

 

The University of Zagreb has 29 faculties with many degree programs offered in the fields of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Architecture, Chemical Engineering and Technology, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Graphic Designs, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Textile Technology, and Veterinary Medicine, among many, many others.

 

1. University of Split

Location: Split

The University of Split is located in the city of Split and was founded in 1974 because of the growing demand for education. It currently has more than 24,000 undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students studying there.

 

The school has 13 faculties with over 120 degrees offered in the fields of Pharmacy, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Geodesy, Natural Sciences, Computer Sciences, and Economics. These degrees are at the three graduate levels so you can be sure to find a good degree program there if you are interested in the subjects offered there. 

 

1. University of Rijeka

Location: Rijeka 

The University of Rijeka was founded around 1973 as a public university. New faculties were founded in the 16th and 17th centuries and joined the universities. Since then, many new degree programs have joined the university’s offerings. 

 

The university offers many courses in its nine academic faculties, divided into four departments. These faculties have bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Other programs offered are specializations in research, student exchange programs and virtual learning offering.

 

1. The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek 

Location:  Osijek

The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, known as UNIOS, is a private institution in Osijek, Croatia that was established in 1975.  It’s renowned for its degree programs in Higher Education.

 

The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek has twelve faculties, with many schools inside them. It has degree programs in the areas of  Medicine, Education, Resource Sciences, Liberal arts, Biology, Physics, Human Studies, Marine Engineering, Chemistry, Statistics, Business Management, Engineering, Environmental Science, Life Sciences, Health Sciences, Technology, Computer Science and many other disciplines. 

1. University of Zadru

Location: Zadar 

The University of Zadar was founded in 2002 and is a public university located in Zadar, Croatia. It is officially recognised by the Agencija za znanost i visoko obrazovanje (Agency for Science and Higher Education). It has around 4,000 students attending it and offers degrees like bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. 

 

The admission rate at the university is about 80 to 90 per cent, which  means it’s not very selective or picky with its students, so you have a high chance of being accepted there! 

Examples of other universities

Examples of other good universities to look into while applying to study in Croatia are the University of Dubrovnik, Sveucilište Jurja Dobrile u Puli (Juraj Dobrila), University of Pula and the Algebra University College in Zagreb. 

Student Visa - Croatia

Like any other study destination, you’ll need to see if you need a visa to study in Croatia. Read on to learn if you need a study visa and how you can obtain one if you require one during your study program. 

Visa Eligibility 

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you will not need a visa but you are required to register with local authorities in a period of no more than 90 days before arriving in Croatia. In general, everyone else needs a student visa and residence permit to study in Croatia. You’ll need to receive this visa before arriving in Croatia. Once you are in Croatia,you can then apply for a residence permit. 

 

Temporary Residence Permit

You’ll typically be a granted a temporary residence permit if you are studying in Croatia. It is granted for one year but you’ll need to have all the documents ready and it might take a while to be granted. That means you should fill out the request for the permit at least 30 days before your temporary visa expires. This is because it can take up to a month to receive a decision about whether you’ll be granted a Residency Permit or not. 

Required Documents 

The documents required to apply for a student residency permit in Croatia are the following: 

• Completed Application form, filled out completely and signed
• Passport photos in size 35 x 45 millimeters
• Valid passport, translated if not in English and approved
• Proof of accommodation in Croatia
• Proof of health insurance coverage
• Proof you have money to support yourself during your study
• Document of acceptance into your study program from the Croatian university
• Proof of paid visa fees (around 200 dollars) and administrative costs  

How to apply - Croatia

When applying to a university in Croatia, there are several steps to follow. Read on go learn more about how to apply to a university to study in Croatia. 

Select Degree Program

Begin by selecting a degree program in the field you want to study, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level. You can find a program in whatever field you’d like and at the university you want to apply to. These degrees might be in the field of arts, humanities, business, and science programs.

Get Paperwork ready 

Some paperwork is commonly required by all universities in Croatia such as a letter of motivation, a recommendation letter, and a portfolio of previous work. 

 

Here are some of the documents you’ll generally need to submit. For undergraduate study you’ll need to hand in these documents:

• Filled in application form 
• Identification document like a valid passport
• Certificates from previous academic studies like high school and bachelor’s studies. 
• Final exam results and transcripts
• Proof of sport status

 

For graduate and postgraduate studies, students will need to hand in the following documents:

• Documents indicating completion of undergraduate studies such as transcripts or diplomas
• Filled out application form
• Transcript of courses
• Motivation letter 
• Complete interview

 

Croatian Language Exam

If required, international students will need to take a Croatian Language Proficiency exam, proving they are on the B2 level. This is if the course is in the Croatian language.  

 

Gather specific Requirements

Depending on the university and degree program, you might also need to hand in specific requirements. You should always check the requirements for each degree program when applying to it and contact the university office if you are confused about anything. 

Submit application

In Croatia, if you are applying for an undergraduate degree, you’ll use a centralized platform to submit your application. Students should apply to several different universities and programs at the same time to increase the chance of being accepted into a program. For graduate or postgraduate studies you’ll need to apply directly to the university on the university website. 

Scholarship in Croatia

There are several scholarships available to international students. These are available through bilateral programs like CEEPUS and Erasmus+, so it’s worth looking into them if you are looking for financial aid. These are typically offered through the Agency for Mobility and EU programs. 

Most universities don’t offer any scholarships or financial aid to students which is why you should look into those previously mentioned programs. However, some might offer partial tuition fee waivers if you are struggling to pay the fees, so be sure to contact them and ask them for the options.