5 Things International Students In Croatia Should Know

Located on the beautiful Adriatic Sea, Croatia remains one of the most scenic places to see in your lifetime. It is designated as a high-income economy and has performed exceptionally well on a number of indices such as the Human Development Index. What makes it an attractive destination for many is the overall incentives that one gets such as social security, tuition-free education until secondary school, and universal health care. All of these have also encouraged rampant investments from across the world. Basically, Croatia sounds like a pretty good deal for shaping academic and professional experiences. But, like every other country, there are a few things you should know about Croatia before you make a definite decision.

In this article, we will talk about 5 things which international students should know about Croatia.

1. The Higher Education System
   Broadly speaking, there are 10 universities. All of these universities, in total, comprise as many as 63 faculties and 13 university departments. In addition, there are 25 colleges and 15 polytechnics. Most of the universities here are public and operate autonomously. Interested students can pursue courses in three levels, namely, undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate; alongside, there are vocational study programs for mastering practical skills. Of these institutions, the University of Zagreb and the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek rank among the best.
2. Cost of education
   Generally speaking, Croatia is expensive, rather more expensive than a number of its neighbors. Still, the cost of education may not be as financially intensive as most European counterparts. Croatian universities determine their tuition fees so you will have to check with them on their official websites. Now, it is always better to offset the cost of education through scholarship benefits so you should consider applying for the same. About the available scholarship benefits, information has been provided in the next point.
3. Scholarship benefits
   There are several scholarship schemes that are available for international students. To name a few, there are the Bilateral Programs of Mobility in Higher Education, which allow students of the countries with which Croatia has bilateral arrangements and offers benefits to students of international research projects; Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM) that is extended to students interested in pursuing business studies in Croatia and covers 28 schemes for undergraduate studies and12 schemes for Master of Business Administration; and the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS) that is offered to students and academicians from Central Europe.
4. The Application Process
   The first thing is, of course, to decide the course you want to pursue. When you decide on the course, you will have to check the website for detailed admission requirements. The documentation process may vary from one university to another. While submitting the application, you should know that Croatia maintains a centralized system for the management and processing of applications. The Central Application Office is the nodal agency for the same. Once your application gets approved, you should apply for the visa process as soon as possible. Also, one thing you should note is that the timeline for the application process may vary depending on the university and the program, though the process generally starts in July and continues up to September yet you should keep a tab on the timelines of respective programs to not miss any deadline.
5. Be ready for a culturally rich experience
   If you read the history of Croatia, you will find out that many ancient cultures developed and thrived here at one point in time. These cultures included those of Romans, Greeks, and Celts. Their influence manifests in the various monuments, museums, and lifestyles of the locals. However, the country does not live in antiquity as much as it absorbs the modernity of the 21st century. From festive beach events to dazzling nightlife, you will find everything that is recreational in the truest sense. After all, a student’s life is not just about books and internships; there is so much he learns from the surroundings as he evolves as an adult.