Croatia

HIGHER EDUCATION

 

• Admission Requirements
• First Degree Programmes
• Postgraduate Programmes
• Assessment and Promotion
• Grading Scale

Higher education in Croatia consists of university higher education (faculties and art academies) and non-university education (postsecondary schools).

 

Postsecondary schools offer programmes that last not less than two years and not more than three. The qualifications awarded upon completion of these programmes are Level VI. 

 

At the university level, basic degree programmes (Level VII/1) require four to six years to complete, based on the discipline undertaken. Postgraduate specialized studies (Level VII/2) are also offered in one to two year programmes; master’s studies (also Level VII/2) are two years in duration and doctoral studies (Level VIII), three years beyond the master’s degree.

 

There are four universities in Croatia, known as Sveuciliste. Collectively these universities provide education to approximately 84,000 students. Enrollment decisions are made by the university, while the Ministry of Science and Technology determines the number of full-time students whose studies will be subsidized by the Ministry.  Students who apply to university are chosen according to the results of their entrance examination.

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to higher education is based on a secondary school diploma and an entrance examination.  Students who have completed vocational secondary education are also admissible, but are limited to study within fields related to their vocational specialization.  Students holding a secondary school diploma from a three-year vocational programme must complete an additional special examination in addition to the regular university entrance examination required for their field.

 

FIRST DEGREE PROGRAMMES

The first degree awarded by universities is the four- to six- year university diploma.  Courses in the humanities, sciences (natural and social), agriculture, law, pharmacy, and fine arts are generally four years in duration. Programmes in engineering fields, architecture, technical sciences, applied technology, and veterinary medicine require five years of study. Medicine and dentistry require six years of study.

 

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

Three types of postgraduate programmes are offered at universities in Croatia. Specijalist programmes are of two years duration and admission is based on a four-year university diploma. Specijalist programmes are intended for practicing professionals rather than for research or teaching. Students must have a minimum grade average of 8 out of 10 in order to attend. 

 

Magisterium programmes have the same admission requirement as Specijalist programmes except that the minimum grade average for admission can be lower, if students provide letters of reference from academic staff attesting to their research abilities.  Magisterium programmes require completion of coursework, research, a thesis, and an oral defense of their thesis.

  

Doktor Znanosti is the highest degree awarded in Croatia. It is a research degree that requires no coursework. Admission is normally based on completion of a Magister degree, however, in exceptional cases students may be admitted based on their research abilities. Research and dissertation must be completed within six years of candidacy; the minimum period of study is three years. Most doctoral candidates are full-time academics or researchers.

 

ASSESSMENT AND PROMOTION

Students sit for examinations when they complete a particular unit of study, but can postpone them for several years. All units must be passed; students are given three opportunities to pass a unit without having to re-enroll in the unit. In most degree programmes there is a comprehensive final examination or short thesis/project that must be completed before the university diploma is awarded.

 

GRADING SCALE

Revised: May 06, 2004 .
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