Navigating Serbia’s Academic Scene: Here is What You Need to Know Before You Come to Study in Serbia

February 27, 2025 11:21

Studying abroad can feel daunting at first. The thought of going to a new country, completely changing your friend circle and studying in a second language you’re not entirely comfortable with can sometimes overshadow the many benefits of the study abroad experience. But that’s not something you’ll have to worry about! We’ll share all the little secrets and titbits about studying in Serbia that will make people wonder if you were studying in Serbia all along.

Here are 8 things you need to know before coming to study in Serbia to help you navigate the education system like a pro.

What is ECTS

If you have browsed any university websites of Serbian higher education institutions, then you have probably come across this acronym. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, or ECTS for short, is a standard means of comparing academic credits across Europe. This system is very useful seeing that it allows you, your future employer or other universities to compare credits earned at one institution with those at another across Europe. Why is this so useful? Well, it allows for a greater student mobility, giving you the chance to explore different higher education institutions in many different countries.

Once enrolled, you can expect to earn 60 ECTS in one academic year. These credits are divided into several smaller modules, each reflecting the workload required. If you want to learn even more about ECTS, be sure to check out this post.

The grading scale

With the grading system being so different in each country, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the grading scale used by Serbian higher education institutions. In Serbian primary and secondary schools, grades range from 1 to 5, with 1 being a failing grade and 5 being the best one you can get. So, it only makes sense that the same scale is used by higher education institutions, right?

Well… no. That would be too predictable.

Instead, you can expect to get a grade ranging from 5 to 10, where a 5 is no longer the grade you wish to get, but the one you want to avoid at all costs. Here is what each of the numbers mean:

10 – A grade to be proud of, the best of the best!
9 – Truly impressive, a highly respected grade
8 – Strong academic performance that stands out
7 – Solid work that meets expectations
6 – Passing, but there’s room for improvement
5 – This is a failing grade, meaning more work is needed

Diploma recognition

If you have completed secondary school, a bachelor’s or a master’s programme, and wish to continue your education in Serbia, there’s no need to worry! Continuing with your education in Serbia is quite straightforward, you just need to get your diploma recognized by the state of Serbia.

If you are applying for a master’s or a PhD programme, for the recognition of your bachelor’s degree, you simply have to contact the university you want to enrol in to start the recognition process.

For secondary school graduates, the process works a bit differently. Students who want to enrol in a bachelor’s programme first have to check if the qualification acquired in their home country is equated to the corresponding, relevant public document of the Republic of Serbia, and you can do that by filing a request to the ENIC-NARIC centre within the Ministry of Education. You can start the recognition process by filling out an online form, visiting in person or sending the required documents by post.

Even though the process itself isn’t complicated, it can be time-consuming, so be sure to start preparing well in advance and avoid leaving it for the last minute!

Transfer of credits

In case you’re already enrolled in a university abroad or in your home country, but want to continue your studies in Serbia, you’ll need to know how to transfer the credits you have already earned. Here are some initial steps to help you get started:

First, find a suitable programme and institution. Start by researching at least one study programme and the institution where you’d like to continue your studies. You can find a list of all available study programmes in the English language both in the Study in Serbia catalogue and in the programme database.
Contact the institution for details. Once you have found a programme you are interested in, you can contact the institution providing it to get more information about their specific transfer policies, procedures and requirements.

This process can be quite different depending on the institution, so it’s best to reach out to them directly and get the most accurate information. In addition to explaining how your credits can be transferred and recognised, they will assess your previous coursework to determine which year of study you would be placed in.

It is important to note that obtaining a diploma from another university does not guarantee automatic acceptance or transfer of credits to a Serbian university. Each university has its own policies regarding transfer credits, and you may need to complete additional coursework or meet other requirements to receive a Serbian degree.

Accreditation

Before you take the entrance exam and enrol in a higher education institution, it’s important to check if the institution is accredited. Of course, if you look at the programmes in our catalogue or database, you don’t have to bother with this step – we’ve already done the work for you! However, if you have found a programme on your own, you might want to do some further research or ask us to check. If a programme isn’t listed in our catalogue or database, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it isn’t accredited – there are so many programmes that we might have simply missed the one you are interested in!

But does accreditation really matter? Well, if you want your degree to be recognized worldwide, it does. An accreditation serves as proof that an educational institution meets established quality standards and helps determine the credibility of an institution. To verify the accreditation status of your chosen institution, you can download this Guide to accredited higher education institutions and study programmes in the Republic of Serbia, which is updated regularly throughout the year.

Academic year

So, you’ve enrolled in a Serbian university, but when does the academic year actually start?

Depending on the institution and the level of study, the academic year usually starts between September and November. Most of the time classes conclude in June, but there are still the second semester exams you need to take. If you have studied diligently all throughout the school year and managed to pass all your exams in the third or fourth exam period, congrats – you have the summer off! But if you’ve spent more time with your human friends than with your annoying friend, "the workbook," you might need to use your summer to catch up on what you missed. And, lucky for you, you’ll have a couple of more chances to take the exams you haven’t yet passed.

The academic year in Serbia is divided into two main terms: the winter term, running from autumn until January or February, followed by the summer term, ending in June. Throughout the year, institutions usually offer six exam periods to accommodate students’ assessment needs. The first two examination periods are usually organized in January and February, the next two in June and early July, and the final two at the end of July and August.

This schedule provides flexibility allowing you to prepare for and pass all your exams in stages, making it easier for you to take a balanced approach to your academic workload.

Degree system

Serbia follows the Bologna Process, which standardises higher education across Europe and makes the higher education more inclusive and accessible worldwide. The Bologna Process introduced a three-cycle degree structure:

Bachelor’s Studies: lasting 3-4 years (180–240 ECTS).
Master’s Studies: lasting 1-2 years (60–120 ECTS).
Doctoral Studies (PhD): lasting a minimum of 3 years (180 ECTS).

On the other hand, if you are interested in medical fields such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science, studies are organized through integrated studies that last 6 years and must carry a minimum of 360 ECTS, an exception being integrated pharmacy studies with 300 ECTS.

Diploma supplement

We have reached the finish line – you have graduated, congrats! As you look at the pieces of paper in front of you, you notice something next to your diploma. What could this be? Well, your diploma supplement, of course.

Graduates from Serbian higher education institutions receive a diploma supplement along with their diploma. This makes the qualifications and study programmes more easily comparable between countries across Europe. There you can find information about your qualifications, as well as the knowledge and skills you have acquired while enrolled in the programme. This is especially useful for employers and institutions both in your home country and abroad, as it makes the qualifications more easily understood and recognized internationally.

Looks like you have learned everything (well, almost everything) there is to know about the education system in Serbia. Now, all that’s left is the exciting part: applying and getting ready to enjoy your study abroad experience. Studying in a new country is a big step, but don’t worry – you’re not alone in this process! From helping you choose the right programme to providing you with all the information you might need, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.