The Republic of Croatia is a popular summer destination because of its sunny weather, Adriatic coastline, historic sites, and rich culture. It is also attracting international students through a growing selection of university programs, including programs taught in English.
Croatian universities offer programs in computing, computer engineering, information science, and related disciplines. Some of these programs include courses or specializations in data science, statistics, machine learning, databases, and data analysis.
If you are considering studying in Croatia and are interested in data science or a closely related field, this article is for you. Listed below are several Croatian institutions offering relevant study options. Prospective students should review each curriculum carefully because not every institution offers a degree specifically titled “Data Science.”
Top Schools Offering Data Science in Croatia
1. University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb was officially founded in 1669 and is the oldest university in Croatia. It is a comprehensive public university with programs and research activities across the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine, and other fields.
The university consists of numerous faculties and academies and participates in international teaching, research, and student-mobility partnerships. Its Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, commonly known as FER, provides education and research in computing, electrical engineering, and information and communication technology.
FER offers a Master’s program in Computing with a Data Science profile. The curriculum includes required and elective courses, and students complete a master’s thesis. FER also offers doctoral study in computing; however, the doctoral qualification is broader than a stand-alone Ph.D. titled “Data Science.” Students may pursue data-science-related research depending on their research area and supervisor.
2. University of Split
Established on June 15, 1974, the University of Split is a public university offering teaching and research in science, engineering, medicine, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts. It currently includes 11 faculties, one academy of arts, and four university departments.
The university participates in international academic cooperation and mobility programs, including Erasmus+. International applicants should note that the language of instruction varies by program and that the availability of complete degree programs in English should be confirmed on the official admissions or faculty website.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, known as FESB, offers undergraduate and graduate studies in computing and related engineering fields. These are computing programs rather than degrees specifically titled “Data Science,” although their curricula may include programming, databases, mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence, and other subjects relevant to data science.
3. University of Rijeka
The University of Rijeka is a public university with teaching and research activities across a wide range of academic fields. It welcomes international students through full-degree programs, mobility exchanges, and research activities and maintains partnerships with universities and research institutions in Croatia and abroad.
Students interested in data-related fields can consider computing and informatics programs offered by the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies. Available programs include undergraduate and graduate study options, while postgraduate doctoral study is available in fields such as informatics and engineering.
These are not all stand-alone data science degrees. Depending on the selected program and curriculum, students may study subjects such as databases, artificial intelligence, software engineering, information systems, statistics, data processing, and computer engineering. Applicants should consult the current curriculum for the specific faculty and degree level they plan to enter.
4. Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek was established in 1975. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education in fields including the natural sciences, engineering, medicine, the social sciences, the humanities, and the arts.
The university participates in international cooperation and mobility programs, including Erasmus+. Through these arrangements, eligible students and staff may undertake study, training, teaching, or other approved mobility activities at partner institutions.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology Osijek, known as FERIT, offers undergraduate and graduate programs in computer engineering and related disciplines. It also offers a three-year doctoral program in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science carrying 180 ECTS credits. These programs are not degrees specifically titled “Data Science,” but their curricula and research areas can include computer science, information systems, mathematical methods, data processing, and other topics relevant to the field.
5. University of Applied Sciences of Rijeka
- Study Program
- Degree(s) Offered: Bachelor’s and professional graduate degrees
University of Applied Sciences of Rijeka was founded in 1998 and began operating in the 1998/1999 academic year. Its programs emphasize applied knowledge, practical experience, and preparation for professional work.
The University of Applied Sciences of Rijeka supports lifelong learning and international cooperation. It participates in Erasmus+ partnerships that provide eligible students and staff with opportunities for study, training, and teaching mobility.
The institution offers an undergraduate professional program in Computer Science, previously presented in some English-language materials as Information Science, as well as professional graduate study in Information Science and Technology in Business Systems. It also offers Telematics as an undergraduate professional study option. These are not dedicated data science degrees, but they cover subjects such as programming, algorithms, databases, information systems, software engineering, and applied computing.
We hope this article on universities offering data-science-related study options in Croatia was helpful. If you’re interested, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students.
