Universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, higher education is provided by two kinds of institution. Under the framework law on higher education, the country's higher education institutions are universities (univerziteti) and colleges (visoke škole). Every accredited institution appears in the state register kept by the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance (HEA), which also publishes the list online.

Education is organised partly at the level of the entities and cantons, so each university reports to its own education ministry. Most universities teach in Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian. A small number of programmes are taught in English.

How universities work in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The HEA register, updated on 17 August 2026, lists public universities in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Mostar, East Sarajevo, Bihać and Zenica, as well as a number of private universities and colleges. The oldest is the Univerzitet u Sarajevu (University of Sarajevo), which officially began work on 2 December 1949. Today it has 22 faculties, three academies and five research institutes. The University of Banja Luka was established on 7 November 1975 and has around 15,000 students. The Univerzitet u Tuzli grew out of the first higher school in Tuzla, founded in 1958; the agreement creating the university was signed on 18 November 1976.

Degrees follow the Bologna three-cycle structure with ECTS credits. At the University of Sarajevo, for example:

• First cycle (bachelor's degree, bakalaureat): three or four years, at least 180 or 240 ECTS credits
• Second cycle (master's degree): one or two years, at least 60 or 120 ECTS credits, with a combined total of at least 300 ECTS
• Integrated studies: five or six years, at least 300 or 360 ECTS credits
• Third cycle (doctorate): three years, at least 180 ECTS credits

The University of Banja Luka states that most of its programmes follow a 4+1+3 model, while some faculties use 3+2+3. Students can study full time (redovni studij) or part time (vanredni studij). At the University of Sarajevo, the academic year normally runs from 1 October to 30 September, in a winter and a summer semester.

The HEA has adopted national documents for the Bologna process, including a qualifications framework for higher education and a model diploma supplement. Before applying, check that the institution appears in the HEA list of accredited institutions.

Admission for international students

Universities admit students through a public call (konkurs). At the University of Sarajevo, the call for first-year places is published at the beginning of June, and applications are made online at upisi.unsa.ba. Foreign nationals with an appropriate secondary education may apply, under the conditions set by law and international agreements. Candidates are ranked on their secondary-school grades and, where a faculty sets one, an entrance exam. For programmes taught in English, the English grade counts instead of the grade in the local language.

At the University of Banja Luka, candidates take an entrance exam or an aptitude test. Anyone who scores fewer than 15 points in it cannot enrol. Recognition of foreign qualifications for further study is handled by the university's faculties. Recognition for employment is handled by the education ministry of the Republic of Srpska.

Students from abroad also need the right immigration status. Residence of foreign nationals is handled by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs (Služba za poslove sa strancima). Check visa rules for your nationality with the embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina before you apply.

Costs and funding

Public universities distinguish between students funded from the public budget, self-funding students and foreign students. At the University of Banja Luka, fees for self-funding, part-time and foreign students are set by decision of each institution's management board and published as a list of charges for the academic year. At the University of Sarajevo, fees and enrolment charges are set in decisions approved by the government of Sarajevo Canton. There is no single national fee, so ask the faculty for the current amount before you apply. The University of Banja Luka has student dormitories with 1,300 places near its campuses.

How to choose a university

• Accreditation: confirm the institution and its period of accreditation in the HEA register
• Language: check whether the programme is taught in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian or English, and what language level is required
• Location: Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar each have a public university with a different mix of faculties
• Degree model: compare 3+2 and 4+1 structures if you plan to continue to a master's degree elsewhere
• Public or private: public universities have budget-funded places, while foreign students form a separate fee category
• Housing: ask about places in student dormitories when you apply

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Yes, but the choice is limited. The University of Sarajevo reports nine programmes taught in English, and most other programmes are taught in Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian.

Do I need to take an entrance exam?

Often, yes. Many faculties set an entrance exam or an aptitude test, and candidates are ranked on their exam result together with their secondary-school grades.

How can I check that a university is accredited?

The HEA publishes the list of accredited higher education institutions, with each institution's founding date, ownership and period of accreditation.

When does the academic year start?

At the University of Sarajevo, the academic year normally begins on 1 October, and teaching in the winter semester starts on the first Monday in October.