Universities in Croatia

In the year 2009, Croatia entered the Bologna convention of education by signing a pact at a meeting of education ministers held at Prague. Various reforms were then introduced into the higher education system of Croatia, in 2010, in order to meet the requirements of the Bologna Educational System.

At present, there are two types of institutes that Croatian students can get themselves enrolled into for continuing their tertiary education:

• Polytechnic schools (veleučilište) for a higher level of education
• Universities in Croatia (sveučilište), for the highest level of education

All universities in Croatia are made up of a number of independent "faculties" (or fakultet, which means college or department). Each of the independent colleges in Croatia or the departments is governed by an autonomous administration, and education in them is imparted by professional staff with independent faculty and campus. The colleges in Croatia lay a strong emphasis on certain specified areas of education like Engineering, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Law, Medicine, Economy, Architecture etc. 

The higher education system in Croatia is structured in accordance with the guidelines of the Bologna process, into three cycles namely bachelor’s studies, master’s studies and doctoral studies. Since Croatia also offers a binary system of higher education, students must also opt between university studies in Croatia (covering all three cycles) or professional studies (covering only the first two cycles).
 

• Bachelor’s Studies in Croatia (first cycle)

Bachelor’s programs in Croatia normally span three to four years and students can obtain 180 to 240 ECTS credits at this stage. Upon successful completion, students are awarded the academic title of ‘Bachelor’ or prvostupnik, in the chosen specialization. Graduates can opt to continue in a master’s program, go for a specialist professional graduate level or directly enter the employment market.

• Master’s Studies in Croatia (second cycle)

Master’s programs in Croatia span one to two years and enable students to obtain 60 to 120 ECTS credits. Students that obtain a total of at least 300 credits in undergraduate and graduate studies are awarded the academic title of Master or magistar struke in their specialization. Graduates can seek employment or continue with doctoral studies.
 

• Postgraduate Studies in Croatia (third cycle)

Upon successful completion of master’s, students can opt to enroll into either of the two postgraduate study options. The first option is- specialist studies that lead to specialization in a vocation and last for one to two years, conferring the title of University Specialist, or doctoral studies that last three years and are focused on scientific training and research. Upon completion of the doctoral studies and defending the doctoral thesis, students are awarded the academic title Doctor of Science (dr.sc) or Doctor of Arts (dr. art.)

Certain professional courses such as medicine, dentistry, law, education and veterinary medicine, among others are taught in integrated undergraduate and graduate studies. Such courses typically last for five to six years.

• Integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s in Croatia (first two cycles)

The first two cycles take five to six years for completion and students are required to earn between 300 to 360 ECTS credits during this duration. Upon completion students earn a diploma along with the title of Master or magistar struke in the area of specialization. However in programs for medicine, dentistry and veterinary study, students gain the title of Doctor or doktor struke in their field of study (for instance, Doctor of Medicine).