June 24, 2021 - There is a selection of universities in Croatia which offer English-taught programmes, whether they be undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or postgraduate studies. Some are Croatian institutions, while others are campuses of international universities based in Croatia. Their fees and entry requirements vary, but all of them would allow you to study in Croatia without having to learn a whole new language first. A look at the top English-speaking university courses in Croatia. 

The number of English-speaking study programmes in Croatia has been on the rise in recent years as Croatian universities explore new ways to stand out from their European competition and attract bright minds into their midst. With a history of distinguished professionals now working in renowned international organizations, Croatia has long ago proved that it offers the same quality of education as its international counterparts at only a fraction of the cost. 

University of Zagreb

The University of Zagreb celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2019. The oldest public university in the country, Zagreb Uni offers the largest number of English-taught courses, from undergraduate to doctoral degrees executed in coordination with the University of Padua and the University of Canterbury.

Zagreb is often referred to as a safe city tailored to the needs of its people, with its lush green parks, year-round festivals, exhibitions, and concerts, as well as rich student life and countless student discounts. Well connected to other European metropolises, Zagreb also presents a great base for affordable travel during the winter or summer break. To learn more about the process of enrolling into Zagreb Uni as an international student, start here. You can look through your potentials picks in the text below.

Undergraduate Study Programmes 

Bachelor Degree in Business - Faculty of Economics & Business

Undergraduate Degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - Faculty of Engineering and Computing

Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Study Programmes

Veterinary Studies in English - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Medical Studies in English - Medical School

Dental Medicine - School of Dental Medicine

Graduate University Study Programmes

Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - Electrical Power Engineering - Faculty of Engineering and Computing

Information and Communication Technology - Robotics - Faculty of Engineering and Computing

Computing - Data Science - Faculty of Engineering and Computing

Environment, Agriculture and Resource Management - Faculty of Agriculture

Marketing - Faculty of Economics & Busines

Management - Faculty of Economics & Business

Managerial Informatics - Faculty of Economics & Business

Trade - Faculty of Economics & Business

Doctoral Study Programmes

Biomedicine and Health Sciences – School of Medicine
Joint Doctoral Study Programme Human Rights, Society, and Multi-Level Governance – Faculty of Law (University of Zagreb), Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padua), University of Canterbury, University of Western Sydney, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
Electrical Engineering and Computing – Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Aeronautical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture and Faculty of Metallurgy
Kinesiology – Faculty of Kinesiology

Postgraduate Specialist Study Programmes

University Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Specialist Study Programme in Diplomacy - University of Zagreb
Postgraduate Specialist Study Programme in MBA in Construction - University of Zagreb

Doctoral Study Programmes

Biomedicine and Health Sciences – School of Medicine
Joint Doctoral Study Programme Human Rights, Society, and Multi-Level Governance – Faculty of Law (University of Zagreb), Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padua), University of Canterbury, University of Western Sydney, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
Electrical Engineering and Computing – Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Aeronautical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture and Faculty of Metallurgy
Kinesiology – Faculty of Kinesiology

University of Rijeka

Hailed as the EU’s “port of diversity” after its designation as European Capital of Culture in 2020, Rijeka is Croatian's third-largest city and thought to be #1 in terms of inclusion and tolerance.

The University of Rijeka introduced its English-language Biotechnology for the Life Sciences (Biotech4LS) Masters programme in 2020, with the capacity of 10 students, and received five times this many applicants from more than 10 countries in the first round of applications.

Specifically aimed at developing the skills students need to pursue a future career in research, whether at a University or in industry, Biotech4LS is one of only a handful of courses in the entire European Union to take this approach. As a result, this course will not only be training a new generation of dynamic young scientists but also highlighting Rijeka as an emerging centre for scientific research when (and if!) they decide to return to their home countries. Extensions

Private universities in Croatia

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

RIT is a private American university with campuses both in the country's capital city of Zagreb and the Pearl of the Adriatic, the famous Dubrovnik. This means that the general structure, courses offered, and teaching language is all that of an American university, but students get to benefit from living overseas (but possibly by the sea, if they so choose) while they study at a considerably lesser cost than in the U.S. The first university in the US to introduce the Information technology program in 1992, RIT offers three undergraduate programmes - Web and Mobile Computing, Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management and two graduate programmes, Service Leadership and Innovation and Information Sciences and Technologies. 

Algebra

University College of Algebra has long established its position as an institution of higher learning aimed at building globally competitive careers in digital technologies. The largest Croatian private educational organization present in more than 20 cities across Croatia, you can find out more about Algebra's unique approach to recruiting new students at Croatia: Your Live and Learn Destination. Always following the latest trends, Algebra adopted the practice of organising annual winter and summer schools to give their potential students a taste of everything Algebra has to offer. In 2020, Algebra welcomed its first generation of graduate students who will attend lectures on digital marketing or software engineering in the English language.

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ZAGREB, December 17, 2019 - A monograph about the University of Zagreb was launched on Tuesday as part of events in the academic year 2018/2019 marking the 350th anniversary of this Croatian institution of tertiary education.

Addressing the launch of the monograph in Zagreb, Rector Damir Boras said that the monograph "is a document of the times and the tradition as well as a view to the future of our University".

He thanked the authors and contributors of this 700-page publication, edited by Professor Mirjana Polić Bobić of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The book, consisting of 20 chapters, includes a review of the past and development of the university and also an insight into its segments. The monograph deals with the university's international cooperation, the life of students and their associations, and it also covers the architectural heritage and provides a list of all honorary doctors and a list of rectors and vice-rectors.

According to information on the university website, "the history of the University of Zagreb began on 23 September 1669, when the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Hungary and Croatia Leopold I gave the Jesuit Academy in the free royal city of Zagreb a diploma, granting it the status and privileges of a university institution. The recognition was adopted by the Parliament of the Kingdom of Croatia on 3 November 1671."

More news about the University of Zagreb can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, December 7, 2019 - University of Zagreb rector Damir Boras on Friday received the 2019 Juan Vucetich Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion of relations and strengthening of the friendship between Argentina and Croatia.

Boras was presented with the award by Argentinean Ambassador Maximiliano Gregorio-Cernadas, who recalled the rich history of relations between the two countries.

The cooperation between the two states and peoples, which share a similar mentality, is better and better thanks to systematic advocacy by institutions as well as individuals like Boras, he said.

The award is named after Argentinean Croat anthropologist and policeman Juan Vucetich (1858-1925), the pioneer of fingerprint identification, known as dactyloscopy.

Gregorio-Cernadas said the award was being presented on the 350th anniversary of the University of Zagreb and the 27th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Argentina and Croatia.

The Juan Vucetich Award was established by the Argentinean Embassy in 2017 and its first laureate was Croatian politician Davor Ivo Stier, who was born and raised in Argentina.

More news about relations between Croatia and Argentina can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - The central event marking the 350th anniversary of Zagreb University was held in Zagreb on Sunday evening, with speakers at the ceremony, including representatives of the state authorities and the academic community, being unanimous in their description of Zagreb University as a central, autonomous national institution and a guardian of the Croatian national identity.

Among those attending the event were Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who presented charters to Zagreb University Chancellor Damir Boras and faculties that have celebrated more than 100 years of work.

Grabar-Kitarović said that when visiting the world's most reputable universities she was proud to witness the successes of Croatian researchers who had graduated at Zagreb University.

She recalled that the Croatian society was faced with major demographic problems, with university enrolment quotas being much higher than the number of students wishing to enrol in specific faculties, young experts emigrating and results of high school leaving examinations being increasingly poor.

She called on universities to be a source of creative improvement of society and a linchpin of the development of the state in all of its functions.

Prime Minister Plenković said that the government appreciated education, which was why it had undertaken an education reform and created better financial conditions for the sector.

In the last three years, the budget for science and education was increased from 13.9 to 17.3 billion kuna. Of that amount, this year universities and polytechnics alone will receive 4.7 billion kuna, an increase of 660 million kuna or almost 17% compared to the situation of three years ago, said Plenković.

In 2020, the budget for science and education will increase by an additional 1.3 billion kuna to a total 18.6 billion kuna. This means that by the end of its term, this government will have increased funding for science and education by 34%. At the same time, contracts worth 2.5 billion kuna have been signed for EU funding, Plenković said, recalling that Croatia had become an associate member of CERN and the European Space Agency.

It is our goal to build a system that encourages excellence, innovation and creativity. Croatian universities need to prepare for joining the future European education system that should become a reality by 2025 so as to reduce the fragmentation of the European research area, Plenković said.

In that regard, priorities of Croatia's EU presidency in 2020 in the field of science and education will be to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy and human potential, he said.

The role of Croatian universities in that process is to promote the excellence of studies, joint studies and diplomas with partnership universities, strengthen the attractiveness of studies for foreign students and researchers, and promote the exchange of new ideas and teaching staff mobility, he said.

Zagreb University Chancellor Damir Boras said that Zagreb University owed its prominent position to the basic characteristic of all universities - autonomy.

Autonomy has ensured, despite different historical circumstances - from support to restriction of the freedom of speech and the right to academic autonomy, which even the most authoritarian regimes did not dare restrict - the continuity of Zagreb University. That way the university has maintained its status of the best Croatian university and one of the best in the region, even though political support was not always adequate, Boras said.

Even though various forms of pressure unfortunately occur today as well, Zagreb University has always had the strength and social awareness to remain a beacon of freedom, competence, unity, tolerance and love of the homeland, said Boras.

Education and Science Minister Blaženka Divjak, who attended the event, was not given any particular mention, aside from being greeted by Prime Minister Plenković at the beginning of his address.

When her office was asked how the minister interpreted this, the office said that the minister "has no comment for the time being."

More news about Zagreb University can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, October 30, 2019 - The independent union in science and higher education informed a news conference on Tuesday that it would again stage a nationwide day-long strike at universities, while two striking unions of primary and secondary school teachers said at their news conference that their rotating strike would continue in Split and Virovitica counties.

Igor Radeka of the independent union in science and higher education said that they would again strike specifically for three categories of employees in the science and higher education system - non-teaching staff who account for about 40% of employees at universities; lecturers of whom there are about 700 to 800; and about a score of artistic assistants at universities.

They staged the first industrial action of this kind last Thursday.

Radeka said today that the union expected again a high turnover, although an exact data had been provided for the turnout at the 24 October strike. He also said that in the event that the government diced not to pay striking employees for these days of industrial action, the union had enough funds to compensate strikers.

Also this union said that media reports about the average monthly take-home pay for teachers standing at 7,200 kuna was misinformation.

The union provided different figures of pre-tax monthly salaries for teachers, explaining that a take-home pay depended on supplements, tax breaks and other factors, including a place of residence of the salary recipient, years of service and so on.

For instance, a single person, who lives in Zagreb, and just starts working as a teacher in a school is paid 5,998 kuna, while the pre-tax pay is approximately 8,500 kuna.

Media reports on Monday about monthly wages of leaders of education sector employees being higher than the monthly salary of the country's Prime Minister seem to anger the union leaders, however, they declined to specify the ir monthly take home pay.

When asked today about this topic, Vilim Ribić of the independent union in science and higher education replied: "What do I have to confess about my salary? To whom I am supposed (to confess)? I have been earning my salaries for 30 years in an honest manner."

"Am I a criminal," Ribić said at a news conference and added that the trade unions would make public the wages of their leaders when media outlets publish salaries of their chief editors.

Branimir Mihalinec of the striking union of secondary school teachers, today said that his wage was "a business secret".

He criticised media for commenting on union leaders' salaries in a bid to divert attention from "the central topic".

More news about the strikes can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, October 21, 2019 - After conciliation between the union in science and higher education and the Croatian government failed on Monday, the union announced a day-long strike at universities faculties for Thursday.

Labour and Pension System Minister Josip Aladrović said after the meeting on Monday morning that the government found the union's demands unacceptable, while unionist Igor Radeka criticised the government for "offering virtually nothing."

Last week, unionist Vilim Ribić said that the union in science and higher education would hold a strike on October 24 demanding a wage increase for workers receiving the lowest wages in that sector in an effort to remove the pay gap between employees in the sector compared to those working in the civil service.

Lecturers and non-teaching staff, about 700 of them, will strike, union leader Vilim Ribić told a press conference last week calling on all research and teaching staff to join the strike as a sign of solidarity.

The strike will be repeated once a week until the fulfilment of the union's demands, Radeka said today.

On Monday, elementary and primary school teachers went on a day-long nationwide strike.

More news about various strikes taking place can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, October 18, 2019 - The union in science and higher education on Friday announced that it would hold a day-long strike on October 24 demanding a wage increase for workers receiving the lowest wages in that sector in an effort to remove the pay gap between employees in the sector compared to those working in the civil service.

Lecturers and non-teaching staff, about 700 of them, will strike, union leader Vilim Ribić told a press conference calling on all research and teaching staff to join the strike as a sing of solidarity.

If the union demands are not resolved, the strike will be repeated on Wednesday, October 30, he said.

Ribić claimed that unions in the education sector deserved an increase of their base wage, however that increase is insufficient.

He said that 11 state administration and civil servants' unions had come to an agreement to demand a double-digit (18.3%) pay increase of their base wage and that the 6.12% increase is just a starting point for negotiations on the base wage that are expected to start next week.

The unions are also seeking an increase in the job complexity index which Ribić said was reduced to 3% during the Social Democratic Party government and that the 4, 8 and 10% supplement on seniority be reinstated.

"Considering that that six percent is a starting position and that employees in education managed to obtain that, I appeal on all unions in the county in state administration and the civil service to go on strike in a sign of solidarity with those who are yet to get that," Ribić said.

Macroeconomic analyst in the union, Matija Kroflin underscored that the union was seeking a 6.11% wage increase only for those members with the lowest earnings, for non-teaching positions in science and higher education facilities and a 3.5% increase for teaching staff.

Kroflin added that the union would not call for an increased job complexity index for full professors, associate professors or assistant professors or for teaching/research assistants.

More news about universities can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, October 15, 2019 - School unions on Monday reported a high response to the ongoing teachers' strike in five counties, adding that the strike in primary and secondary schools would continue in three counties on Tuesday while the leader of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions (MHS), Vilim Ribić, said that institutions of higher education might join the strike soon.

"The strike will continue on Tuesday in Osijek-Baranja, Istria and Šibenik-Knin counties. Those are three large counties and we expect just as high a response as today," the leader of the secondary school employees' union (NSZSSH), Branimir Mihalinec, told a press conference, noting that 86% of employees in primary schools and around 75% of secondary school employees were on strike on Monday.

Union leaders described at the press conference how workers' indices in the education sector had changed since the 2000 - 2004 government, underscoring and that they had held the same presentation at the Ministry of Science and Education in March, calling for the job complexity index to be increased by 6.11%.

"We have concluded that it is necessary to define a reference index in both systems for all those employed in the education process. It is necessary to equate the job complexity index for everyone because job complexity is the same for everyone and there shouldn't be any differences," Mihalinec said.

The unions underlined that Education Minister Blaženka Divjak had accepted their arguments back in March, however, after that the government proposed on several occasions that the index be increased only for administrative staff such as secretaries and for teachers in special rehabilitation institutions.

Mihalinec commented on Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić's message that "either teachers' wages will be increased or this government will no longer exist," saying that unions were pleased when their demands were supported and believed that that kind of political pressure could help resolve the dispute.

He also commented on remarks that the strike had no legal grounds. "The strike is allowed because the law clearly states that employees are allowed to strike for their economic and social interests. If increasing the job complexity index isn't part of wages, then I don't know what is," Mihalinec explained.

Vilim Ribić of the MHS union said on Monday that the union of employees in institutions of higher education could soon join the strike if an agreement was not reached with the government.

"We said that it would be fair to give the government a chance to accept our demands. I don't believe in the fairness of the conciliation process too much, 48 hours is sufficient time for them to say what they think. If there is no response, then we will announce a strike on Wednesday," Ribić said.

He added that the budget surplus was sufficient for a wage increase for the entire public sector.

More news about the strikes can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, October 14, 2019 - The leader of the Association of Croatian Trade Unions (MHS), Vilim Ribić, said on Sunday that a strike would soon take place at faculties, and he believes that this industrial action "will bring about a new impulse".

"The strike is going to happen the week after this next week. It remains to be seen on which day. These are the same demands for the same category of people. We will make sure that our people are not left behind. If we miss the chance now, an imbalance will occur in the salaries," the unionist told the commercial RTL broadcaster on Sunday evening.

Ribić's statement ensued after unions in the primary and secondary education system continued their industrial action. After a rotating strike in Split-Dalmatia, Varaždin, Dubrovnik-Neretva and Međimurje this past Friday, the strike will rotate on Monday to Krapina-Zagorje, Zagreb, Virovitica-Podravina, Koprivnica-Križevci and Bjelovar counties, the union leaders told a press conference last week. Teachers are calling for a 6.11% increase of their job complexity index.

Croatia's government said on Sunday evening that it was open to dialogue with representatives of all trade unions, and underscored its commitment to pursuing a responsible fiscal policy and a rise in salaries in accordance with possibilities.

The current government has increased the wage base by 587 kuna and monthly salaries have additionally risen through the three rounds of tax breaks, the government spokesman Marko Milić told Hina on Sunday afternoon. This government has reintroduced salary bonuses such as Christmas and holiday bonuses for the public sector's employees (which were abolished during the SDP-led government). For that purpose, the Andrej Plenković cabinet ensures 550 million kuna annually, and of that amount, 225 million kuna is set aside for salary bonuses in the science and education ministry's sector, he said.

Ribić, however, believes that the announced strike at universities "will bring about a new impulse". "Our demands are a tenth of what should be paid to us," the unionist said.

More news about strikes in Croatia can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, September 1, 2019 - The School of Medicine in the biggest Croatian Adriatic city of Split is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the beginning of its work this autumn.

The organisers of a celebration, which was held on Saturday, underscore that in the last 40 years many positive things happened.

Currently the School of Medicine in Split has four teaching programs: Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy (in collaboration with the Faculty of Chemical Technology) and Medical Studies in English.

The Medicine program annually enrols 90 students, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy enrol 30 each, and Medical Studies in English 60, according to the information available on the school's website.

This educational institution says that "the MD programme in English offers the degree of Medical Doctor (MD) after a 6-year curriculum. Students with transferable university credits may be eligible for exemptions".

"The School of Medicine in Split started Medicine program in English in the school year 2011/12., when enrolment quota was 30, lately increased to 60 students. The curriculum is governed by the Bologna process."

The dean, Zoran Đogaš said today that 1,200 were now attending courses offered by this school.

There are 27 German students who are currently attending post-graduate courses.

The school boasts that "scientific research and international collaboration are well developed" at this institution that "also supports student exchange".

More news about Croatian universities can be found in the Lifestyle section.