Study in Croatia

Croatia is becoming an attractive destination for Study abroad students. It provides high-standard education through its excellent universities. Are you also planning to study in Croatia? But don’t know where to start and what is the process. Here is the complete guide for you.

Why study in Croatia

Croatia is one of the popular countries in Europe. In recent years it has gained popularity among international students for higher education. The main reasons for it are:

• Education in Croatia has a long history of providing higher education as the first university being the University of Zadar, founded in 1396.
• Croatia has some of the world-class universities that offer top-notch education. The Croatian qualification is acknowledged and accepted all around the world. 
• The Croatian higher education institution offers a wide range of courses at the undergrad, graduate and postgraduate levels.
• Degree programs in English are also available at Croatian higher education institutions. So you can study in Croatia in English without learning a new language.
• The Croatian people are very friendly and welcoming towards foreign. People there communicate in many languages such as English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. Students who need to study in Croatia can adjust to the environment and also mix up with the people in Croatia easily as they are multilingual.
• The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia gives scholarships to international students who wish to study undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate programs at higher education organizations in Croatia.
• Compared to other European countries, Croatia is known as relatively cheap to study abroad in Europe.

How to study in Croatia

The reasons to study in Croatia are attractive, isn’t it? Have you started thinking of going to Croatia for your further studies? Here is the simple process you need to follow:

1. As a first step, the candidates need to choose the course of study they wish to pursue and decide upon the institution where they wish to receive an education. 
2. The students should directly apply online to the selected university. Based on the profile and academic background, the university/college decides whether to accept your application or not. If you are accepted, you will be issued an offer letter.
3. After receiving the acceptance from the university in Croatia, you should apply for your student visa.
4. Complete the whole student visa process and get the approval of it.
5. Once you get approval for your student visa, plan for your departure.

Croatia university ranking

There are some of the best universities in Croatia for international students. As per QS world universities ranking 2021, the top 2 universities ranked in the world is The University of Rijeka and The University of Zagreb. The other best universities are:

1. University J. J. Strossmayera of Osijek
2. University of Split
3. University of Zadar
4. Juraj Dobrila University of Pula 
5. University of Dubrovnik
6. University Sjever, Koprivnica
7. Libertas University, Dubrovnik
8. Catholic University of Croatia

Top courses to study in Croatia

Croatia has also implemented the Bologna process like many other European countries. This means study programs are offered at all the 3 levels of higher education, Bachelor, masters and PhD. Each subject field has a lot of course options in Croatian Universities. Some of the popular courses are:

• Study dentistry in Croatia
• Study Business Economics in Croatia
• Study Hospitality and Tourism in Croatia
• Study International Business in Croatia
• Study medicine in Croatia
• Study Engineering in Croatia
• Study Information Technology in Croatia
• Study Digital Marketing  in Croatia
• Study Law in Croatia
• Study international management in Croatia

Requirements to Study abroad in Croatia

To get admission in the universities in Croatia, you will need to fill the application form accurately and submit it. For supporting your university application, you will also need to submit some of the important documents. Each university has a different set of document requirements. However, the common document requirements are:

• Educational qualifications 
• Achievements from previous education (grades obtained), 
• Result of  Matura exams for undergraduate study
• Letter of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• A valid Passport
• Letter of recommendation
• Curriculum Vitae
• Certificate of Work experience (if any)
• Portfolio

Cost of studying in Croatia

The tuition fee in Croatia for international students differs with the study level, the University and the study program you choose. The tuition for a particular course of University for both undergraduate and graduate-level courses can be enquired from the university. On average you can expect :

• In the humanities, arts and social sciences pay between 5552kn ($878) and 15283kn($2416) per year.
• Tuition fees for technical science courses should be about 20869kn($3,300) per year.
• Science and medical sciences will be about 25296kn($4000) per year.

The cost of living in Croatia for international students will depend on factors such as location and lifestyle. However, for students on a budget, the average cost of living will be between 3029- 5300kn (400- 700 Euros) monthly. This estimated amount is usually enough for housing, transportation, food, utilities, etc

Scholarship in Croatia for international students

The Croatian government and universities offer a good number of scholarships to international students. These scholarships are offered at all the levels of higher education, Bachelor, Masters and PhD. Here is the list of some of the scholarships available to international students in Croatia.

• Research Projects Scholarships
• Zagreb School of Economics and Management Scholarship Programs
• CEEPUS Scholarships
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD)
• Croatian Government Scholarships 
• Scholarships of Bilateral programs in Croatia
• The Central European Exchange Program in Croatia

Student Visa for Croatia

International Students must obtain a visa to enter Croatia. To obtain Visa, you can apply at your nearest consulate or embassy of Croatia in your home country. The visa processing can take up to 3 months. So, apply for the visa accordingly, to reach Croatia before the class begins. For Visa application, you will need some of the important documents such as :

• A passport-size colour photograph
• Valid passport 
• EU students can submit any identification document instead of the passport.
• Proof that you have secured admission in Croatian University
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof that you have enough financial funds to support yourself while in Croatia

Please ensure that all your documents are notarized and translated into the Croatian language by an official translator with an official apostille.

Temporary residence permit for international students

After entering Croatia, international students must obtain a temporary residence permit before beginning their classes. The application Residence permit can be submitted to the nearest police station in Croatia. However, if you are still in your home country, it can be submitted at the local Croatian embassy while applying for an entry visa. The application fee for a temporary residence permit for students is about $73 and it is valid for 1 year.

Study and work in Croatia

International students have the right to work in Croatia during their studies. They will be allowed to work part-time. The only condition if the student must be enrolled in a higher education program for full time in Croatia. The government of Croatia has set up an agency “ Student Service Center” for the sole purpose of handling and approval of student employment processes in the country. They regulate and approve international students who seek part-time employment while studying.