Study and find schools in Serbia

Studying in Serbia

Serbia is a landlocked country in south-eastern Europe, at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Balkans. The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia estimated its population at 6,549,901 in 2025. Belgrade is the capital and has the largest student population; Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac are the other main university cities.

The main language of instruction is Serbian, but Study in Serbia, the national information portal run by the Foundation Tempus, lists more than 180 programmes taught in English across all levels. Tuition and living costs are low compared with most of the European Union, one of the reasons international students give for choosing the country.

The education system

Serbian higher education follows the Bologna structure and uses ECTS credits. The main levels are:

• Bachelor's studies: 3 to 4 years, 180 to 240 ECTS
• Master's studies: 1 to 2 years, 60 to 120 ECTS
• Doctoral studies: 3 years, 180 ECTS
• Integrated studies, which combine bachelor's and master's in one cycle: usually 6 years and 360 ECTS in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and 5 years and 300 ECTS in pharmacy
• Specialist studies: 1 year, 60 ECTS

Programmes are either academic (offered by universities) or applied (offered by colleges of applied studies and by universities, with a practical, career-oriented focus). All public and private higher education institutions must be accredited by the National Entity for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and meet the same standards.

The academic year usually runs from September or October to June, in a winter and a summer semester. Institutions usually offer six examination periods a year, in January and February, June and early July, and late July and August. Class attendance is compulsory.

Admission and recognition

For a bachelor's or integrated programme, candidates need four years of secondary education and must pass an entrance exam set by the programme. The exams are usually held in a first round in early July and a second round in early September if places remain. Undergraduate admissions usually open in June, and master's and PhD intakes in September or October. A one-year master's requires a 240 ECTS bachelor's degree; a two-year master's, a 180 ECTS degree.

Students who did not finish secondary school in Serbia must have their diploma recognised by the ENIC-NARIC centre at the Qualifications Agency, which operates under the Ministry of Education, before enrolling. The application includes the original diploma with a certified translation, and the procedure usually takes up to 60 days. Foreign university degrees are recognised by the university where the student wants to continue. Applicants to the University of Novi Sad contact the faculty directly, as the central administration does not handle foreign admissions.

Students who want to study in Serbian must prove their language level. Universities and language schools run one-year and one-semester preparatory courses in Serbian as a foreign language for this purpose.

Student visa and residence

Visa rules depend on nationality (checked on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pages in October 2026). Citizens of Spain and other EU countries, the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Peru can enter without a visa for up to 90 days within six months; Colombians for up to 30 days within one year. Citizens of Ecuador and Cuba need a visa.

The process for degree students, according to Study in Serbia:

• Candidates who travel to sit an entrance exam and need a visa apply for a short-term (entrance) visa; a decision usually takes 15 days
• After acceptance and enrolment, students apply for a type D visa for study at a Serbian embassy or consulate
• In Serbia, students then apply for a temporary residence permit, which must be renewed every year
• Every foreigner must register their address at the nearest police station within 24 hours of arrival if not staying in a hotel

Visa and residence applications can be submitted online through the government's Welcome to Serbia portal for foreign citizens.

Costs

Tuition for foreign students usually ranges from €750 to €20,000 a year depending on the programme and institution; Study in Serbia gives an average of about €2,500 per academic year. Students on formal exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ or CEEPUS do not pay tuition at the University of Novi Sad.

The currency is the Serbian dinar (RSD). Study in Serbia estimates monthly living costs at €750 to €1,450 in Novi Sad, Niš or Kragujevac and €850 to €2,000 in Belgrade. A room in a shared flat in a smaller town starts at around €150, meals in student canteens cost €1 to €2.60 with a student card, and a monthly public transport pass costs around €10 or less with student discounts. Exchange students can ask their programme about a room in a student dormitory.

Where to study

Belgrade has the largest university and student population. Novi Sad, in the province of Vojvodina, is home to the University of Novi Sad, created by law in 1960 although the region's higher education traditions go back to around 1740. It has more than 50,000 students and 5,000 staff in 14 faculties and three institutes, in Novi Sad, Sombor, Subotica and Zrenjanin. Most of its programmes are in Serbian, but its Faculty of Medicine teaches Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in English, and its Faculty of Technical Sciences has accredited all its programmes for teaching in English.

For Serbian language courses, the Serbian Language and Culture Workshop runs summer schools in Valjevo and courses in Belgrade, including preparation for university studies and for the national certificate of proficiency in Serbian; it states that its programmes are designed by experts from the University of Belgrade. Novi Sad and Niš also have centres for Serbian as a foreign language.

Practical life

Foreign students who want to work need a residence permit and a work permit from the National Employment Service; work permits are issued for 3 to 12 months. Everyone is entitled to urgent medical care, but further treatment depends on the health agreement between Serbia and the student's home country, so students from countries without one should take out private health insurance. The emergency ambulance number is 194.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Serbia in English?

Yes. Most programmes are in Serbian, but Study in Serbia lists more than 180 programmes taught in English, including medicine, dentistry and pharmacy at the University of Novi Sad.

How much does it cost to study in Serbia?

Tuition for foreign students usually ranges from €750 to €20,000 a year, with an average of about €2,500. Living costs are about €750 to €1,450 a month outside Belgrade and €850 to €2,000 in Belgrade.

Do I need a visa to study in Serbia?

Many nationalities can enter without a visa for short stays, but degree students apply for a type D visa after enrolment and then for a residence permit that is renewed each year.

Is there an entrance exam?

Yes. Bachelor's and integrated programmes usually require an entrance exam, held in early July with a second round in September if places remain.

How do I get my secondary school diploma recognised?

Through the ENIC-NARIC centre at the Qualifications Agency. The procedure usually takes up to 60 days, so start early.