Pre-higher
Education System
Duration of compulsory
education
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system
Type/level of education:
Primary
Type of school:
OSNOVNA SKOLA
Length of program (years): 8
Age level:
from 6 to 14
Certificate awarded:
THE PERIOD IS DIVIDED INTO TWO STAGES: CLASSES ONE TO FOUR AND FIVE TO
EIGHT.
Type/level of education:
Secondary
Type of school:
GIMNAZIJA
Length of program (years): 4
Age level:
from 14 to 18
Certificate awarded:
MATURA
Type/level of education:
Vocational
Type of school:
STRUKOVNA SKOLA (VOCATIONAL SCHOOL)
Length of program (years): 4
Age level:
from 14 to 18
Certificate awarded:
MATURA AND A VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
Type/level of education:
Specialized Secondary
Type of school:
UMJETNICKA SKOLA (ART SCHOOL)
Length of program (years): 4
Certificate awarded:
SVJEDODZBA O ZAVRSNOM ISPITU
Type/level of education:
Specialized Secondary
Type of school:
GIMNAZIJA
Length of program (years): 4
Age level:
from 14 to 18
Certificate awarded:
MEDJUNARODNA MATURA (INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREAT)
Description of secondary
school system
Secondary education comprises grammar schools, vocational
schools and art schools. Grammar schools are divided into general, linguistic,
classical and scientific schools. Vocational schools offer courses lasting
three or four years, including a period of practical instruction. Art schools
include music, dance, visual art and design. Attendance to science classes
is not obligatory. Students have to pass an entrance examination in order
to enter university in professional fields.
Higher Education System
Structure of system
The Croatian system of higher education includes public
and private universities, polytechnics and schools of higher education
under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Their
internal structure is highly decentralized, the institutions making their
own decisions on almost all vital issues. A university has faculties, academies
of art and schools of higher education. There are four universities in
Croatia located in Osijek (incorporating the Faculty of Economics formerly
attached to the University of Zagreb), in Rijeka (where some courses are
in Italian), in Split, and in Zagreb.
Main types of higher
education institutions in country
Type of institution: SVEUCILISTE
Translation:
UNIVERSITY
Type of institution: VELEUCILISTE
Translation:
POLYTECHNIC
Type of institution: VISOKA
SKOLA
Translation:
SCHOOL OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Main laws/decrees governing
higher education
Name of law/decree:
Law on Higher Education
Date:
8 October, 1993
Institution type: All
further and higher education institutions.
Administrative
structure of higher education
Name of body:
Ministry of Science and Technology
Role:
Supervisory, administrative and financing responsibilities. Also in charge
of higher education.
Address:
Street: Strossmayerov trg. 4
City: Zagreb
Postal code: 1000
Telephone: 385-1-4594444
Fax: 385-1-4594489
Internet: ministarnanost.hr
Name of body:
Rectors Conference of the Institutions of Higher Education of the Rep of
Croatia
Role:
Activities and development of higher education institutions.
Address:
Street: Sv. Trojstva trg. 3
City: Osijek
Postal code: 31000
Telephone: 385-31-31822
Fax: 385-31-124767
Academic year
Classes start:
October
Classes end:
June
Long vacation:
from 15 June, to 30 September
Languages of instruction
Croatian
Stages and Organization of Higher
Education Studies
Higher vocational/technical
studies
Polytechnics offer four years' professional study and
train highly professional, artistic and, in some cases, scientific workers.
Two-year polytechnic schools (veleucilisna skola - vocational higher education
institutions) may be organized within or outside polytechnics. Polytechnic
graduates are not allowed to continue their studies at university. Professional
education (strucni studij) is organized as undergraduate, postgraduate
professional and postgraduate artistic studies.
University
level studies
Stage 1:
Diploma
Description: In university-level institutions, a Diploma
is awarded after a total of four to six years' study. It qualifies the
student for specialized, artistic or scientific work.
Stage 2:
Magistar
Description: Students graduating with a high grade may
go on to study for a master's degree (Magistar) in either arts or science
subjects. In both cases they have to defend a master's thesis (Strucni
rad/Umjetnicki rad).
Stage 3:
Doctorate
Description: The final postgraduate qualification is that
Doktor (Doctor of Science). Graduate scientific study ends with the production
and defence of a scientific doctoral thesis (Doktorski rad).
Teacher
education
Training of primary/basic
school teachers
Training of primary school teachers consists of a 2-year
study course in the relevant faculties of higher institutes.
Training of secondary school
teachers
Appointment of secondary school teachers is based on the
candidate's diploma awarded at the end of a 4-year course in higher education.
Training of higher education
teachers
Qualified candidates are appointed to the position of
asistent (assistant), visi asistent (senior assistant), predavac (lecturer),
visi predavac (senior lecturer), docent (assistant professor), izvanredni
profesor (associate professor), redovni profesor (full professor). Lektor
(lecturer) and visi lektor (senior lecturer) are language specialists in
foreign language institutions. A retired full professor is awarded the
title of Profesor Emeritus. Candidates for the title of professor at university
are required to write a Habilitacijski rad (thesis).
Grading system
Usual grading system in (upper)
secondary school
A 1-5 grading system is used. Grades (ocjena) are: 5:
odlican (excellent); 4: vrlo dobar (very good); 3: dobar (good); 2: satisfactory
(dovoljan); 1: nedovoljan (insatisfactory).
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level:
2
Lowest on scale:
1
Main grading system generally
used by higher education institutions
A 1-5 grading scale, with 5: odlican (excellent); 4:
vrlo dobar (very good); 3: dobar (good); 2: dovoljan (satisfactory); 1:
nedovoljan (insatisfactory).
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level:
2
Lowest on scale:
1
Admissions to Higher Education
Admission
to Vocational/Technical Studies
Admission to higher vocational/technical
or other professionally oriented non-university level studies
Secondary school credential/certificate/diploma(s)
required for entry
Name of sec. school credential:
MATURALNA SVJEDODZBA
For: All programmes.
Total number of years of primary
and secondary school study: 12
Numerus clausus established
in the country for students entering higher vocational/technical education
At level of institutions: Y
At country/state level: N
Admissions
to university level
Secondary school credential/certificate/diploma(s)
required for entry
Name of sec. school credential:
MATURALNA SVJEDODZBA
For: All programmes
Total number of years of primary
and secondary school study: 12
Numerus clausus established
in the country for students entering university level education
At level of institutions: Y
At country/state level: N
Admission
for foreign students
Quotas established for foreign
students:
At institution level: Y
Special entry regulations
for foreign students in country/state:
Foreign students need a certified copy of their school-leaving
certificate and any requested secondary education documents submitted in
their English translation.
Health requirements:
Health visa requested.
Language proficiency requirements
for foreign applicants whose first language is not the language of instruction
Are there examinations at institution
level? Y
Other special academic requirements
for foreign students set up at national level:
Foreign students are requested to complete a 2-semester
course in the Croatian language concluded with a final examination.
Authority to whom foreign
student applications should be addressed:
Application to individual institutions:
N
Application to national/central
body: Y
For entry to: All programmes.
Recognition of studies and
qualifications
Recognition
of studies completed and credentials awarded in foreign countries
Bodies primarily addressing
questions relating to the recognition of foreign credentials and studies
in higher education
Name of body: Croatian National
Equivalence Information Center (CRONEIC)
Address:
Street: Strosmayerov trg. 4
City: Zagreb
Postal code: 41000
Telephone: 385-1-4594481
Fax: 385-1-4594489
E-Mail: ilija.skrinjaric@znanost.hr, office@science.hr
Recognition of foreign credentials
to enter an institution: Y
Recognition of foreign credentials
to enter a profession: Y
For access to advanced studies
and research:
Croatian citizens' degrees and diplomas obtained abroad
should be recognized by the faculties and academies chosen by the student.
Exceptionally, when no institution offers a programme of study comparable
to the one completed abroad, the recognition is carried out by the central
university administration. Foreign citizens seeking recognition of degrees
or diplomas should apply to the Ministry of Culture and Education.
For the exercise of a profession:
Croatian and foreign citizens seeking the right to exercise
a profession based on credentials obtained abroad should apply to the Ministry
of Culture and Education of the Republic of Croatia.
Principal multilateral agreements adopted by the country relating
to recognition of studies, degrees and diplomas
Name of agreement: CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION OF STUDIES,
DIPLOMAS AND DEGREES CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATES BELONGING
TO THE EUROPE REGION
Year of signature: 1979
Name of agreement: CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION OF STUDIES,
DIPLOMAS AND DEGREES CONCERNING HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATES BORDERING
MEDITERRANEAN
Year of signature: 1976
Student expenses and financial
aid
Average student expenses in
national currency:
| Tuition and fees for national students |
Tuition and fees for foreign students |
| Minimum: HRK 0 |
Minimum: US Dollar 2500 |
| Maximum: HRK 0 |
Maximum: US Dollar 3700 |
Date:
1995/1996
Source:
International Association of Universities (IAU)
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