Studying in Croatia
Tuition, living costs, visas and how to apply, from the European Commission's official profile — with student numbers from Eurostat and the Erasmus Mundus master's you can take here.
At a glance
Tuition · EU/EEA students
Tuition · non-EU/EEA students
Fees — more detail
Living costs
Erasmus Mundus master's
Students in Croatia
Tertiary students · 2024
From abroad · 2024
Of whom from the EU · 2024
Largest countries of origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina (2,087), France (436), Germany (408), Spain (206), Poland (166).
“From abroad” means degree-mobile students — enrolled for a whole degree, having gained their previous qualification in another country. Exchange students on Erasmus aren't counted.
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 164,623 | 166,061 | 162,022 | 162,017 | 165,197 | 164,826 | 163,867 | 161,627 | 161,077 | 161,086 | 158,754 | 155,387 |
Tuition fees and living costs
Tuition fees depend on the institution, level of study, and field of study. Approximate annual tuition fees for international students are:
- Humanities and social sciences: €1,100 – €10,400
- Natural and technical sciences: €1,000 – €6,000
- Medicine and health-related programmes: usually higher
Some institutions may charge an application fee (around €60 – €300).
Living costs are relatively affordable compared to many European countries. Estimated monthly costs are €400 – €800, including accommodation, food, and transport.
Visa requirements
EU/EEA students
- do not need a visa to study in Croatia
- have the same access rights as Croatian students
Non-EU/EEA students
- must apply for a student visa before arrival
- must obtain a temporary residence permit for study purposes after arrival
Required documents usually include:
- letter of acceptance from a Croatian higher education institution
- proof of financial means
- health insurance and valid travel document
Education system
Croatia is part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Degrees are organised into three cycles:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree
- Doctoral degree
Institutions include public and private universities, polytechnics and colleges of applied sciences.
Croatia offers over 1,800 study programmes, including around 100 programmes taught in English.
Application procedures
Application procedures depend on the level of study and institution.
Students should
- choose a study programme and institution
- check entry requirements and deadlines directly with the institution
Undergraduate applicants use a central online application system called "Postani student".
Required documents may include
- secondary school or higher education diplomas
- academic transcripts
- proof of language proficiency (Croatian or English)
Non-EU/EEA students should apply early to allow time for visa procedures.
Scholarships for studying in Croatia
Several scholarship opportunities are available for international students. Funding options include
- scholarships offered by Croatian higher education institutions
- government-funded scholarships for students from partner countries
- mobility programmes such as Erasmus+ and CEEPUS
Availability and eligibility depend on nationality, study level, and programme. Students are advised to check directly with institutions in Croatia.
Source: Study in Croatia – tuition fees, scholarships, visas and student life, last updated 22 January 2026.
Erasmus Mundus master's with a university in Croatia
Joint master's taught by several universities in different countries, open to students from anywhere, with EU-funded scholarships on many of them.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing EngineeringSveuciliste U Zagrebu · Information Science and Engineering · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Redesigning the Post-Industrial CitySveuciliste U Zagrebu · Political science, Social Sciences and Humanities · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- Erasmus Mundus Master Impact EntrepreneurshipZagrebacka Skola Ekonomije i Managementa · Economic Sciences · 18 months / 90 ECTS
- EU-CONEXUS Joint Master Programme in Marine BiotechnologySveuciliste U Zadru · Economic Sciences, Environmental and Geosciences · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- EUropean master on COntrol of Renewable Energy systemsSveuciliste U Zagrebu · Information Science and Engineering · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- Intelligent Field Robotic SystemsSveuciliste U Zagrebu · Information Science and Engineering · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- International Master in Brain and Data ScienceSveuciliste U Zagrebu · Information Science and Engineering, Information Technology, Life Sciences · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- Sustainability in Agriculture, Food Production and Food Technology in the Danube Region - Danube AgriFood MasterSveuciliste U Zagrebu · Environmental and Geosciences · 24 months / 120 ECTS
- Sustainable Ship and Shipping 4.0Sveuciliste U Zagrebu · Information Science and Engineering · 18 months / 90 ECTS
Country guidance adapted from the European Commission’s Study in Europe country profiles, © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Condensed, restructured and combined with other data by CollegeMatcher.
Student numbers: Eurostat, tables educ_uoe_enrt01 (tertiary enrolment) and educ_uoe_mobs02 (degree-mobile students from abroad).
Programmes: the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA); partner institutions from the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. © European Union, CC BY 4.0.