Study and find schools in Croatia

Studying in Croatia

Croatia lies on the Adriatic Sea, between Central Europe and the Balkans. It joined the European Union in 2013, and since 1 January 2023 it has used the euro and been part of the Schengen area. The official language is Croatian, but English is widely understood: according to a 2024 European Commission survey quoted by Study in Croatia, 41% of people can hold a conversation in English.

According to Study in Croatia, the national portal for international students, the country has over 120 higher education institutions, more than 40 of them on the Adriatic coast. The largest is the University of Zagreb, with more than 63,000 students, founded in 1669. Our directory lists four schools in Croatia: two universities, in Zagreb and Dubrovnik, and two language schools, in Zagreb and Pula.

The education system

Croatia has a binary higher education system:

• university programmes are academic and offered only by universities, in three cycles: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate
• professional programmes prepare students directly for the labour market and are offered by polytechnics and universities, from short-cycle programmes to specialist graduate studies

The system follows the Bologna Process: all programmes use the three cycles and ECTS credits, with 60 ECTS for one year of study. Most universities are public, and almost all polytechnics are public too. Grades run from 5 (excellent) to 1 (fail), with 2 as the minimum pass.

Most programmes are taught in Croatian, but many institutions offer degree programmes, courses or summer schools in English. The University of Dubrovnik, for example, runs English-taught double-degree master's programmes in economics, marketing and tourism with the University of Palermo in Italy.

Admission and recognition

EU citizens, including Spanish citizens, may enrol under the same conditions as Croatian citizens; conditions for students from outside the EU can differ, so check them with the institution. Applications for bachelor's programmes go through the central online system Postani student!, where you can choose up to 10 programmes. Graduate admissions are partly central and partly handled by the institutions; postgraduate admissions are always handled by the institution.

Institutions usually look at your previous qualifications and grades. For undergraduate programmes taught in Croatian, they also look at results of the State Matura or of internationally recognised external exams, and some ask for Croatian at level B2. If you hold a foreign secondary school diploma, you request its recognition from the Agency for Science and Higher Education (AZVO) as part of your application.

Visa and residence

• EU/EEA citizens need no visa and may stay up to three months. For longer stays, such as a degree, they register their temporary stay (Form 1b) with the police in their place of residence
• Students from outside the EU may need an entry visa, depending on nationality, and must apply for temporary stay for study (Form 1a) at a Croatian consulate or at the police after arrival. The fees are €46.45 for temporary stay and €31.85 for the biometric residence permit. The permit is usually granted for one year or one academic year

For temporary stay you need proof of admission, a valid passport, proof of means of support, health insurance and a certificate of no criminal record. All students also need a Croatian personal identification number (OIB) from the Tax Administration.

Costs

Each institution sets its own tuition fees. Study in Croatia gives these yearly ranges for international students:

• humanities and social sciences: €1,100 to €10,400
• natural and technical sciences: about €1,000 to €6,000
• medicine: €10,000 to €12,000

Application fees of €60 to €300 may apply. Average living expenses are estimated at €500 to €800 a month, and a place in a student dormitory costs about €40 to €150 a month, although international students are not guaranteed one. Croatian government bilateral scholarships, CEEPUS and Erasmus+ support exchange and degree students.

Where to study

• Zagreb: the capital and home of the University of Zagreb, which has 29 faculties and three art academies. Croaticum, part of the university, is the oldest and largest centre for teaching Croatian as a foreign language. Presto offers a Croatian for Foreigners programme, including individual courses of 30 school hours
• Dubrovnik: the University of Dubrovnik focuses on maritime studies, economics and business, electrical engineering and computing, and media and public relations
• Pula: in Istria, Byron, founded in 1991, describes itself as the first private language school in the region; it teaches English, Italian and Croatian for foreigners

Culture and practical life

• Climate: mainly continental inland and Mediterranean on the coast. In summer the mean coastal temperature is 24-26 °C; in winter it is about 2 °C in the north and 9 °C in the south, according to the Meteorological and Hydrological Institute data used by Study in Croatia
• Health insurance: EU students can use the European Health Insurance Card; students from outside the EU need comprehensive private health insurance or Croatian compulsory insurance
• Working while studying: both EU and non-EU students can take part-time jobs through the Student Service of the local Student Centre. The minimum net pay in 2026 is €6.56 an hour, and from 2026 student earnings up to €12,000 net a year are tax-free

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Croatia in English?

Yes. Most degree programmes are in Croatian, but many institutions offer degree programmes, courses or summer schools in English. Study in Croatia publishes a list of English-taught programmes.

How much does it cost to study in Croatia?

Tuition fees for international students range from about €1,000 a year in natural and technical sciences to €12,000 a year for medicine. Living costs are estimated at €500 to €800 a month.

Do Spanish students need a visa for Croatia?

No. As EU citizens, Spanish students can stay up to three months without formalities and register their temporary stay with the police for longer studies. Students from Latin America should check whether they need an entry visa and must apply for temporary stay for study.

Can international students work in Croatia?

Yes. EU and non-EU students can work part time through the Student Service, at a minimum net rate of €6.56 an hour in 2026.

Where can I learn Croatian?

Croaticum at the University of Zagreb offers semester, one-month and seasonal courses, and private schools such as Presto in Zagreb and Byron in Pula teach Croatian for foreigners.