Croatia is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe. Its capital is Zagreb. The country lies along the Adriatic Sea and has a varied climate, with Mediterranean conditions on the coast and continental conditions inland. Croatia is also known for its biodiversity and varied landscapes.
Croatian landscapes are breathtaking. Several locations in Croatia, including Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik, and Trsteno, were used as filming locations for HBO’s famous series Game of Thrones. Tourism is one of Croatia’s most important service industries.
Croatia is classified as a high-income economy. In education, compulsory primary and lower-secondary education lasts eight years, while secondary and higher education are available through public and private institutions.
Croatia’s higher education system includes public and private universities, universities of applied sciences, colleges, faculties, art academies, and research institutions. University studies are offered at universities, while professional studies are offered at universities of applied sciences, colleges, and, in some cases, universities.
Croatia has a strong history of scientific excellence and is associated with famous scientists and inventors such as Nikola Tesla and Faust Vrančić. Croatian chemists Lavoslav Ružička and Vladimir Prelog were awarded Nobel Prizes in Chemistry.
Affordable Schools in Croatia for International Students
1. University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is a public university and the oldest university in Croatia and Southeast Europe. It was officially founded in 1669 by a decree of Emperor and King Leopold I. It is an institution focused on higher education, scientific research, and artistic work.
This affordable university in Croatia is organized through numerous faculties and art academies. Its academic areas include agriculture, geodesy, theology, graphic arts, medicine, and many other fields.
Some of the University of Zagreb’s faculties offer degree study programs and courses in English for both international and local students. Available options may include undergraduate, graduate, integrated undergraduate and graduate, postgraduate, and specialist postgraduate study programs, depending on the faculty.
International applicants should check the requirements of the specific faculty or academy they plan to apply to. Admission procedures, recognition of foreign qualifications, required documents, language requirements, and application fees can vary by program and study level.
Tuition fees depend on the faculty, study level, field, and student status. Students should verify the current fee for their chosen program directly with the relevant faculty before applying.
2. University of Zadar
The University of Zadar traces its academic tradition to the Dominican higher education institution Studium generale, established in 1396. The modern University of Zadar was renewed as a university in 2002 and began operating in its modern form shortly afterward.
It is the largest integrated university in Croatia and includes 25 university departments.
This university is organized into departments in fields such as ecology, ethnology, linguistics, and maritime studies. It also has research centers and centers for academic activities, including foreign language and student sport-related activities.
The University of Zadar offers study programs across undergraduate, graduate, integrated undergraduate and graduate, doctoral, and specialist postgraduate levels. Click here to see the list of programs.
Regarding the admission process, procedures may differ for full-time and part-time studies and by applicant status. Some undergraduate applications are handled through the national university application system, while other programs may require a department-level procedure.
Tuition and enrollment fees vary by program and student category. Applicants should check the current admission call and the university’s official pages for the most accurate fee information.
3. Catholic University of Croatia
The Catholic University of Croatia is a private Catholic university located in Zagreb. It is one of the newer universities in the Republic of Croatia. It was established in 2006 by the Archdiocese of Zagreb.
The Catholic University of Croatia emerges from the heart of the Catholic Church. It is an institution dedicated to teaching, educating its students, and developing scientific research.
Its current study areas include history, psychology, sociology, communication studies, nursing, medicine, law, midwifery, computer science, and selected health-related and engineering-related studies, depending on the current program offering.
As a higher education institution in Croatia, this university offers undergraduate, graduate, integrated, and selected doctoral-level opportunities, depending on the field.
4. University of Rijeka
The University of Rijeka was founded in 1973 in the city of Rijeka. It is a public university and an important center for higher education and scientific research. This institution is a modern European university open to international students.
The University of Rijeka includes faculties and departments in a wide range of fields. Its academic units include maritime studies, medicine, applied arts, economics, law, engineering, health studies, informatics, mathematics, and other areas.
This affordable university in Croatia offers undergraduate, graduate, integrated, professional, specialist graduate, postgraduate, and postgraduate specialist study programs.
Admissions requirements vary by program. Some programs may require an entrance exam, while others may use previous academic results, language requirements, or program-specific criteria.
Full-time students may be partly or fully subsidized in some cases, depending on their status, study program, and current Croatian higher education rules. Part-time and international tuition rules vary by faculty.
Tuition fees depend on the faculty and program. For example, current tuition for the Faculty of Economics and Business International Business program is listed in euros and differs by student category.
5. University of Dubrovnik
The University of Dubrovnik was established by an act adopted by the Croatian Parliament in 2003 and entered in the court register later that year. It is one of the newer public universities in Croatia, although higher education in Dubrovnik has older roots.
It is a modern educational and scientific institution. Its academic units include maritime studies, economics and business, electrical engineering and applied computing, applied ecology, media and public relations, art and restoration, history of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, and health studies.
Besides regular degree programs at the three levels of study, the university also offers selected double degree programs in English.
6. Libertas International University
Libertas International University is a private university in Croatia. The institution describes itself as the first and oldest private university in Croatia, with activities centered on internationally oriented higher education.
Libertas has a strong international orientation and offers selected programs in English, making it attractive to international students and Croatian students looking for internationally oriented higher education.
This institution includes faculties and schools in areas such as international relations and diplomacy, international business and economics, tourism and hospitality, health sciences, sports management, and business.
Libertas International University has undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate specialist, and doctoral study programs. Its undergraduate programs generally last six semesters, or three years, depending on the program.
For applying to undergraduate studies, applicants must generally have completed secondary school and meet the admission requirements of the chosen program. Required documents and fees depend on the program and applicant category.
Admission to graduate studies at this affordable university in Croatia requires completed undergraduate education. Applicants should check the current program page and admissions instructions for required documents, language requirements, recognition procedures, and non-refundable enrollment or application fees.
Visit their foreign students’ page to learn more.
7. Josip JurajStrossmayer University of Osijek (UNIOS)
The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek is also known as the University of Osijek (UNIOS). It is a public higher education institution founded in 1975 in the city of Osijek.
Most study programs are organized according to the Bologna system and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. Croatian is the official language, while courses and programs in English or other languages vary by faculty, department, and study program.
UNIOS comprises academic constituents across natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine and health, biotechnical sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. It also has affiliated institutions, including city and university library and student center services.
This university offers undergraduate, graduate, integrated undergraduate and graduate, and postgraduate study programs. It also has doctoral-level opportunities through its doctoral and postgraduate programs.
For applying to UNIOS, applicants should check the requirements of the specific faculty, department, or study program. Some programs may require an entrance exam, language proof, or additional documents. To find out more about admission and tuition fees, check their website.
FAQS About Studying in Croatia
How Does the Croatian Higher Education System Work?
The higher education system in Croatia is a binary system that consists of university studies and professional studies. University studies are academic programs conducted at universities, faculties, and art academies. Professional studies are professional programs conducted at universities of applied sciences and colleges, and they can also be conducted at universities in some cases.
There are public and private higher education institutions in Croatia, including universities, universities of applied sciences, colleges, faculties, and art academies. In general, Croatian higher education qualifications correspond to bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels. Exact Croatian degree titles depend on the type and level of study.
What is the Language of Instruction in Croatia?
The main language of instruction in Croatian higher education institutions is Croatian. However, depending on the institution, there are also international programs and individual courses offered in foreign languages, including English.
What is the Admission Process for Higher Education Institutions?
The admission process depends on the program, study level, and the applicant’s status. International students in Croatia may be exchange students, guest students who spend a short period studying in the country, or degree-seeking students. Degree-seeking students are undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students applying for full degree-level programs.
Some undergraduate applications are submitted through Croatia’s central online application system, while other programs and student categories may require direct application to the higher education institution. Graduate and postgraduate admission procedures vary by institution and program. Requirements may include previous qualifications, grades, entrance exams, language knowledge, and program-specific documents.
What is the Price Range of Tuition Fees for These Institutions?
Tuition fees in Croatia vary by institution, field of study, level, and student category. Higher education institutions determine their own fees, so students should always check the official program page before applying. As a general guide, official study information for Croatia lists annual tuition for international students at about €1,100 to €10,400 for humanities and social sciences, €1,000 to €6,000 for natural and technical sciences, and €10,000 to €12,000 for medical sciences. Application fees may also apply and are commonly listed at about €60 to €300.
Scholarships, tuition waivers, and public funding may be available in some cases, depending on the institution, program, student status, and scholarship provider.
How is Living in Croatia and What are the Costs of it?
Croatia’s official currency is the euro. Living costs are often lower than in many Western European countries, but expenses vary depending on the city, accommodation type, and lifestyle.
As a general estimate, students should budget about €500 to €800 per month for living expenses. This can include accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, internet, and personal expenses.
Accommodation and daily expenses are usually higher in large cities and popular coastal destinations, especially during the tourist season. Students should check current housing and transportation costs in the specific city where they plan to study.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in Croatia was helpful! To know more about studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
