Study in Croatia

We invite you to come and study in Croatia, an exceptional country in Europe with one of the most unique histories on the continent.

Presenting a brilliant opportunity for discovery, advancement, and globalization in any of its well-ranked higher institutions, Croatia continues to stand out for many reasons.

Although small in size, Croatia for many centuries has offered students from all around the world the chance to enjoy a custom made point of view on southern Europe.

Combing through Croatia’s educational system, you can see the transparency and very in-depth approach that they adopt akin to the European standard but with an even wider international notoriety.

Not only do institutions have international recognition, affiliations, and accreditations, they also faculty who have attained their education at some of the top universities worldwide.

Surprisingly, Croatia is a much more intense melting pot of cultures and ethnicities especially in their higher education, students come from all over the corner of the globe to study and share experiences at any of the universities in the country.

Its society is also very open and welcoming to all, providing a safe environment to learn, and grow in an integrated community. The country is also very cost-effective, something many students are very particular about when selecting a study abroad destination.

For many years, students in the country have praised Croatia for its ambiance, climate, and culture, ranking them tops for the very suitable conditions which students learn under.

The country has seen a spike in the number of international students enrolling for higher education in the last decade, now over 250,000 students study at various public and private institutions across Croatia. English and Croatian are the languages of instruction and the program options are broad and diverse students can choose whichever suits them.

Study in Croatia with Rocapply and apply for Bachelor, Master’s, and Doctorate programs available and taught at very high-quality educational facilities in the nation.

MBA programs are also very reputable in Croatia, with some of the leading business schools situated in Zagreb the capital city. Leading in so many other activities, the life of a student in Croatia is exciting, multifaceted, educative, and globally-centered, students are not disappointed at all.

In the last few decades, more countries are pushing towards a more internationalized higher education environment, and Croatia is not left behind.

Potential students from all around the world are using the internet to find available information and resources about universities and study abroad destinations that is best suitable for them. Here at RocApply, we are putting our two cents on why studying in Croatia might be one of the best present decisions you will make towards your future.

Students in North Cyprus

About Croatia

Croatia is a beautiful and fascinating country, and like many other great countries, its history and culture have been heavily modified and influenced by many nearby cultures. Croatia is known and loved for its beautiful climate and wonderful architecture.

Croatia, also known as “ Hrvatska” by many Slavic nations is located on the western part of the Balkan Peninsula in southern Europe bordered by Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, and a small part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The country is divided into twenty county’s and the capital city is Zagreb, the seat of government and economy. Historically, Croatia was divided into four geographical regions called Croatia Proper, Istria, Slavonia, and Dalmatia.

The country also has about 1,000 islands on the Adriatic Coast even though only about 50 of them are inhabited, the largest ones being Cres and Krk. Interestingly, although Croatia ranks 125th in landmass, its coastline length ranks very high at 20th which is more than countries like Sweden and South Africa combined.

Zagreb is the largest city in the country but many other cities carry their weight when it comes to attractions and tourism. Cities like Pula, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik have more visitors every year than the nation’s capital. The Croatian coast is acclaimed by many to be by far the most captivating sites to witness in the entire world.

Although a lot of its land outside of urban centers are used for farming, Croatia still retains some world-renowned nature zones and natural parks. The country is split along the Dinaric Alps and due to this division, Croatia experiences a contrast in climate, different cities have different climates at any given time even with the small area that it takes up.

About half of the entire country is made up of Carse topography which means that there are many breathtaking caves like the Blue Grotto on Biševo island and the incredibly deep Velebit caves that go down nearly 1,400 meters.

Also, one place that Croatians are very proud of is the famous Plitvice National Park which harbors the many waterfalls and lakes. Croatia has only one dessert which is the Đurđevečki Pijesci, and also an incredibly wide range of wildlife such as bats, bears, boars, elks, otters, wolves, martens, and the seemingly rare Eurasian lynx can be found here as well.

The country has about 4.5 million people in its population and made up demographically by 91% ethnic Croats, with 5% Serbs, and 4% of other people groups.

The country is a member state of the European Union and enjoys trade and travel benefits. Essentially, Croatia rose from the fall of Yugoslavia and socialism in the 90s and the Civil War in the mid-90s to being labeled as one of the top destinations for tourism, education, and culture.

About Croatia Economy

With Croatia’s economy returning to growth, new opportunities arise for the country, and the economy is projected to maintain its current 2.1% annual growth for the next two years respectively, says the European Commission’s latest forecast. In the third quarter of 2019, the economy grew by 2.8% compared to the same quarter in 2018.

Croatia’s growth is export-driven at a very strong local currency corner. Croatian export companies work hard on improvement through competitive measures. In 2012, the government adopted a reform program aimed at improving the business climate and its competitiveness. In the World Bank’s Doing Business 2016 Croatia ranked 40th, which was 44 notches higher than in 2013.

The upward trend is driven predominantly by the implementation of certain taxation and legislative reforms, still, reforms on the lower level than the economy would expect but the impact has been seen immediately. This in a way has informed the predictability of the economy and increased the investment interest. According to the World Investment Report in 2019, Croatia attracted FDI of $3.4 billion compared to its less a billion figure in the past.

The areas with the largest interest amongst investors are the creative sector, ICT, innovation, entertainment, food processing, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure.

With Croatia being under the excessive deficit procedure since January 2014, pressure has been put on the fiscal budget and news ways to reduce the fiscal deficit with reforms, stimulating investments, and improving the business environment slowly and steadily.

Croatia is a relatively new EU member state that joined in 2013, and although EU membership is no panacea, it certainly seems to have helped the 10 member states in 2004 and 2007.

In general, they have performed better, have undertaken reforms, have integrated into the world economy, and have improved their trade with the western European economies and they have attracted more foreign direct investments.

Within the 2014 to 2020 EU budget, Croatia has received over €8.5 billion in structural funds which a few times more than they have received in foreign direct investment in previous years.

According to the Croatian Agency for Investment and Competitiveness, over 15,000 small, medium, and large companies have done business or invested in Croatia in the last two decades.

Croatia’s key sectors are Tourism, ICT, Automotive, Food Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Metal, Logistics, and Textiles.

Why Study in Croatia

Affordable Tuition Fees in Croatia
Wide Range of Programs
In Croatia, more than 100 of its study programs are taught in the English language at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, for many local and international students, with a projected increase in the number of English courses over the next few years.
Affordable Accomodation in Croatia
Research
There are public and private higher education institutions with over 1,500 university study programs and courses to choose from and more than 250 professional study programs for advanced studies and certifications.
International Environment in Croatia
165,000 Students

Croatia has 10 Universities, 17 Polytechnics, and 20 Colleges for higher education delivered with exceptional quality that you can expect from anywhere else on the European continent. There are over 165,000 students in Croatia, with a large number of these students from countries both in and outside the EU.

The student community is very multi-cultural and vibrant, with students from all over the world, you get to mingle with different cultures and backgrounds and gain an international perspective while on campus.

Great Weather in Croatia
Medium of Instruction

Studying in Croatia is a significant investment in your personal and professional development. The Croatian education system is part of the European Education Area is therefore well recognized anywhere in the world.

Studying in Croatia provides the opportunity to develop a strong quality culture and push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Education can also be full-time or part-time, with the same level of dedication and attentiveness by professors and educators.

Scholarships

To be able to study at any Croatian higher institution international students must have adequate finances or other financial means for the span of their study and stay in Croatia, from individual sources or grants and scholarship sources accessible in their nations or globally.

Currently, a good majority of universities in Croatia do not offer scholarships, grants, or any internal financial aid schemes for international students, this may be subject to change and will be updated in light of any.

Croatia Student Visa

If you are planning to study abroad in Croatia you must apply for a temporary stay and/or student entry visa in Croatia, our RocApply team will assist you throughout this process.

The Croatian government has requested that students applying to study in any of its prestigious institutions must submit the relevant application paperwork before arriving (for many other countries) or after arriving (for a few countries) in the country.

Students from EU/EFTA countries do not need a visa to come into Croatia and can be in the country for up to 3 months on one visit. However, study periods longer than three months require that they should register for temporary residency which is for a one-year duration at the local police station in their current location within a few days of their arrival.