Serbia has two kinds of first-cycle degree. Academic bachelor's programmes (osnovne akademske studije in Serbian) are run by university faculties and carry 180 or 240 ECTS, meaning three or four years. Applied bachelor's programmes (osnovne strukovne studije) are run by academies of applied studies and colleges; they always carry 180 ECTS over three years and focus on practice. International students pay tuition for the whole degree: in 2026/27 a Serbian-taught programme at a public faculty usually costs $1,700–3,410 (€1,500–3,000) a year, and English versions cost more. Admission requires recognition of your school certificate and an entrance exam, and under the law the academic year normally starts on 1 October.
This guide covers the degree itself: the two types, how credits, grades and exam periods work, what the degree costs and where it leads. The step-by-step application is in applying to Serbian universities, choosing an institution is covered in universities in Serbia, and the country overview is on study in Serbia.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Academic bachelor's | 180–240 ECTS (3–4 years), university faculties |
| Applied bachelor's | 180 ECTS (3 years), academies of applied studies and colleges |
| Language | mostly Serbian; selected programmes in English at a higher fee |
| International fee, Serbian-taught, public institution | usually $1,700–3,410 (€1,500–3,000) a year, 2025/26–2026/27 |
| State-funded places for internationals | only through intergovernmental or government scholarships |
| Selection | recognised school certificate + entrance exam; ranking out of 100 points |
| Grading scale | 5 (fail) to 10 |
| Academic year | from 1 October, two 15-week semesters |
Academic or applied: which bachelor's to choose
The choice shapes what you can do after graduation, so make it before you pick a city or institution.
| Criterion | Academic | Applied |
|---|---|---|
| Awarding institution | university faculty or college of academic studies | academy of applied studies, college of applied studies |
| Size | 180 or 240 ECTS | 180 ECTS |
| Purpose | scientific and professional grounding, route to a master's | entry into work: placements, practical skills |
| Graduate title (Article 110 of the law) | after 240 ECTS, the "diplomirani" title; after 180 ECTS, a first-cycle academic title | a first-cycle applied title |
| Next step | academic master's in Serbia or abroad | applied master's or specialist studies; moving to an academic master's depends on the institution |
| Belgrade examples | University of Belgrade faculties, private universities | Belgrade Academy of Applied Studies, Polytechnic Academy |
Academies of applied studies suit students who know their profession and want to start work quickly: tourism, hospitality, allied health, design, IT support. If there is any chance you will want a master's in Europe, a 240-ECTS academic degree is the safer choice.
Three years or four, and why it matters
For academic programmes, the faculty decides whether a degree runs three or four years. The difference surfaces at master's level. According to Study in Serbia, one-year master's programmes (60 ECTS) admit graduates of 240-ECTS bachelor's degrees, while a 180-ECTS degree leads to a two-year master's (120 ECTS). Either way you spend five years in total, but the three-year degree leaves fewer options.
Many engineering and economics programmes at public universities last four years, but three-year academic degrees exist too. At the University of Belgrade, for example, mechanical engineering, civil engineering and architecture are 180-ECTS bachelor's degrees, while electrical engineering, organizational sciences and mining are 240 ECTS. Applied degrees are always three years long.
How studying works: credits, grades, exam periods
Serbia follows the Bologna model, but some rules differ from what students from Russia or Kazakhstan are used to.
- Credits. Article 39 of the Law on Higher Education equates 60 ECTS (ESPB in Serbian) with a year of student work at 40 hours a week, covering lectures, practicals, self-study, exams and placements.
- Academic year. Under Article 94 it normally begins on 1 October and lasts 12 months, typically split into two 15-week semesters.
- Grades. Under Article 104 a course is worth up to 100 points, 30 to 70 of them earned during the semester and the rest in the exam. 51–60 points gives a 6, 61–70 a 7, 71–80 an 8, 81–90 a 9 and 91–100 a 10. A 5 means you failed.
- Exam periods. Each institution's statute sets their number and dates. The University of Belgrade School of Electrical Engineering, for instance, has six exam periods in 2026/27: two in February–March, two in June–July and two in late August–September 2027.
- Resits. After three failed attempts at the same exam, a student may request to sit it before a committee (Article 105).
- Minimum load. A fee-paying student must register courses worth at least 37 ECTS each year and pays a share of the annual fee in proportion to the credits taken (Article 102).
- Time limit. Student status ends if the programme is not completed within twice its standard duration (Article 109), which is eight years for a four-year degree. An extension is possible only on personal request under the institution's rules.
The last two rules matter for budgeting. A weak year does not cost you your place, but you pay for repeated courses and must keep renewing your residence permit.
Who pays and how much
State-funded places go to Serbian citizens and certain eligible groups through the admission ranking. Under university rules, international students pay tuition for the whole programme unless an international agreement provides otherwise. For Russian citizens, a free bachelor's is possible only with an intergovernmental scholarship; see free education in Serbia.
Annual international fees for Serbian-taught programmes (per 60 ECTS):
| Institution and programme | Annual fee | Fee year |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Economics, Niš | $1,700 (€1,500) | 2026/27 |
| Faculty of Economics, Belgrade | $2,040 (€1,800) | 2026/27 |
| Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Belgrade | $1,930 (€1,700) | 2025/26 |
| Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade | $2,040 (€1,800) | 2025/26 |
| Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad | $2,270 (€2,000) | 2026/27 |
| School of Electrical Engineering, Belgrade: electrical and computer engineering | $2,270 (€2,000) | 2025/26 |
| School of Electrical Engineering, Belgrade: software engineering | $3,410 (€3,000) | 2025/26 |
| Singidunum (private), depending on programme | $2,380–3,410 (€2,100–3,000) | 2026/27 |
| Metropolitan (private), depending on programme | $2,830–4,870 (€2,490–4,290) | 2026/27 |
Over four years, tuition alone comes to roughly $6,810–13,630 (€6,000–12,000) for most public programmes. Fees are not frozen: faculties approve them before each admission call, and some accept payment in dinars at the National Bank of Serbia middle rate on the day of payment. The full budget with housing and fees is in cost of studying in Serbia.
Choosing a field and faculty
Work from your goal to the degree type and then to the faculty.
| Your goal | What to choose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| IT and programming | 240-ECTS academic degree in Belgrade, Novi Sad or Niš | mathematics entrance exam; software engineering can cost more than neighbouring programmes |
| Engineering | technical faculties of public universities | subject exam, laboratories, language |
| Economics and management | economics faculties, private universities | private institutions are more flexible on admission, public ones cheaper |
| Getting a job fast | applied bachelor's | the road to a master's is longer |
| Arts, architecture, design | University of Arts, architecture faculties | aptitude test in addition to the ranking |
| Medicine, pharmacy | integrated programmes of 300–360 ECTS | not a bachelor's; see medicine in Serbia |
| Studying without Serbian | English-taught programmes | see English-taught degrees in Serbia |
Admission in brief
The law allows foreign nationals to enrol on the same terms as Serbian citizens regarding prior education, provided they know the language of instruction. In practice there are three steps: recognition of your school certificate by the Qualifications Agency (see diploma recognition in Serbia), proof of language under the faculty's rules, and an entrance exam.
Rankings are usually out of 100 points. School results give up to 40: at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, the average grades for each upper-secondary year are added up and doubled. The subject exam gives up to 60. The first admission round runs in late June and early July, the second in September for remaining places. If you are starting Serbian from zero, allow an academic year for it before admission; course options are in Serbian language courses in Serbia.
Planning your timeline: two scenarios
| Stage | Serbian-taught programme | English-taught programme |
|---|---|---|
| Last two years of school | choose a field, prepare for the subject exam | the same, plus an English certificate |
| Summer after school | submit certificate for recognition, visa-free entry | submit for recognition, exam in June–July |
| First year in Serbia | language course to the level the faculty requires | bachelor's begins |
| Following summer | exam and enrolment | — |
| Time to degree | 1 year of language + 3–4 years | 3–4 years |
The Serbian route takes a year longer. On tuition alone it wins: at FTN Novi Sad the English version costs about $4,540 (€4,000) more over four years, while two semesters of Serbian in Belgrade cost $1,360 (€1,200). But an extra year of living in Belgrade, on Study in Serbia's monthly estimate, costs $11,580–27,250 (€10,200–24,000 over 12 months), which is more than the fee gap. So on a total budget the English track often comes out even, and the Serbian route makes sense when your programme is not offered in English or you will need the language to live and work in Serbia.
What a Serbian bachelor's degree gives you
Under Article 125 of the law, every diploma comes with a mandatory supplement (dodatak diplomi) describing the programme and the education system, and the institution may issue both documents in English as well. For a master's in Serbia or abroad, this package with ECTS credits is usually clear to admissions offices without further explanation. In Serbia, a degree from an accredited private programme has the same legal standing as a public one, but check accreditation in the National Accreditation Body (NAT) guide.
Russia and Serbia signed an agreement on mutual recognition of education documents on 10 April 2013, which is on the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education treaty list. Recognition of education is not enough for regulated professions such as medicine, law or teaching; you will also need a licence under the rules of the country where you work. Graduates from Kazakhstan should check the recognition procedure with ENIC-Kazakhstan in advance. For further study in Serbia, see master's in Serbia.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an applied programme when you need a European master's. The transition is possible but longer and depends on the institution.
- Ignoring ECTS size. A three-year academic degree rules out one-year master's programmes.
- Assuming all programmes at one faculty cost the same. Software engineering can cost 1.5 times as much as the programme next door.
- Underestimating exams. Failed courses roll over to the next year and are paid for separately.
- Forgetting the time limit. Twice the standard duration is the ceiling after which student status ends.
FAQ
An academic bachelor's takes three or four years (180 or 240 ECTS), an applied bachelor's three years (180 ECTS). If you need a Serbian language course first, add one more academic year.
Yes. Your school certificate is recognised by the ENIC/NARIC Centre of the Qualifications Agency of Serbia, after which you apply on general terms, with proof of language and an entrance exam. The recognition application can be filed online before you arrive.
No, international students pay for the entire programme. The exceptions are scholarships under intergovernmental agreements and Serbian government programmes, for which candidates are nominated by the competent authorities.
An academic degree builds scientific and professional foundations and leads directly to a master's. An applied degree is 180 ECTS, closer to practice and aimed at employment; moving on to an academic master's takes longer.
Serbian-taught programmes at public institutions usually cost $1,700–3,410 (€1,500–3,000) a year at 2025/26–2026/27 rates. Private universities start at $2,380 (€2,100), and English versions cost more, for example $3,410 (€3,000) at FTN Novi Sad.
The scale runs from 5 to 10: 6 is the lowest pass (51–60 points) and 10 is excellent (91–100). Your grade point average on this scale appears in the diploma supplement and matters for master's admission.
Sources
- Law on Higher Education of Serbia, Articles 34, 39, 94, 97, 102, 104, 105, 109, 110, 125 — checked 30.09.2026
- Study in Serbia: levels and requirements — checked 30.09.2026
- NAT guide to accredited institutions and programmes, 29.09.2026 — checked 30.09.2026
- University of Belgrade: 2025/26 tuition fee table (PDF) — checked 30.09.2026
- University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics: 2026/27 admission call — checked 30.09.2026
- University of Belgrade School of Electrical Engineering: 2026/27 calendar (PDF) — checked 30.09.2026
- University of Novi Sad: 2026/27 admission call, second round (PDF) — checked 30.09.2026
- University of Niš: joint 2026/27 admission call (PDF) — checked 30.09.2026
- Singidunum: tuition fees, Metropolitan: 2026/27 fees — checked 30.09.2026
- Qualifications Agency of Serbia, ENIC/NARIC Centre — checked 30.09.2026
- Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education: treaties on recognition of education documents — checked 30.09.2026
- Dollar amounts are calculated at the ECB reference rate for 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355.
Programme selection, a full-degree budget and preparation of documents for recognition and admission are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The faculty decides on admission, the Qualifications Agency of Serbia on recognition of your certificate, and the Serbian Ministry of Interior on your residence permit.
Next steps
- English-Taught Degrees in Serbia: Where to Study, Fees and Admission
- Serbian Language Courses in Serbia: University Centres, Fees and Certificates
- Study in Serbia for international students
- Applying to Serbian Universities: Documents, Entrance Exams and Deadlines
- Universities in Serbia for International Students: List, Fees, Language and How to Choose
- Free Education in Serbia for International Students: Who Qualifies and How to Get a Scholarship
