Education System in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Requi... | 2026

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Education System in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Requirements for Studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a deep-rooted history dating back to the Sufi madrasah, founded by Gazi Husrev Bey in the early 16th century. Islamic higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina also provided education during the Austro-Hungarian rule of the country. In 1940, the higher education institutions, whose traditional roots were in the madrasah founded in 1537, were transformed into the University of Sarajevo, which became the first secular higher education institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The University of Sarajevo, which suffered great damage during the siege of Sarajevo by the Serbian army in the early 1990s, is still the most prestigious higher education institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The literacy rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 89% in 1981 and 97% as of 2021.

The main languages of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina are dialects of Serbo-Croatian.

In 2018, when Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented for the first time in the PISA test, which is one of the OECD's education indicators, it ranked 63rd, 68th and 63rd in mathematics, basic sciences and reading, respectively, among 79 countries represented, and remained well below the OECD average.

The education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been almost rebuilt from scratch since the mid-1990s, after suffering major damage during the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

What Types of Schools Are Found in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The types of schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina are listed below.

Institutions providing pre-school education
Private and public primary education institutions
Standard secondary education institutions
Technical secondary education institutions
Private and public higher education institutions

What are the Education Stages in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The stages of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina are listed below.

Pre-school education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (3-5 age range)
First cycle of primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (age range 6-9)
Second cycle of primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ages 9-12)
Third cycle of primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ages 12-15)
Secondary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (15-19 age range)
First higher education cycle in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Second cycle of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Third cycle of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (master's degree)
Fourth cycle of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (doctorate)

What is the Pre-School Education System Like in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The aim of pre-school education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is to prepare children between the ages of 3 and 5 for school education and to support their early development.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the percentage of children aged 3 and 4 who attend preschool is extremely low, but in recent years the percentage of five-year-olds who attend kindergarten one year before enrolling in primary school has increased significantly, from 31% in 2011 to 54% in 2016. Only 1.5% of Roma children in Bosnia and Herzegovina and only 2% of children from the poorest families receive preschool education.

What is the Primary School Education System Like in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is compulsory and free in public schools.

Primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina covers ages 6 to 15 and lasts nine years in three-year cycles (ages 6–9, 9–12 and 12–15). The current primary education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina was first adopted in 2004 to replace the old eight-year primary education system, which was offered to children aged 6 to 14 in two four-year cycles (ages 6–10 and 10–14). Only 1.6% of primary school students in Bosnia and Herzegovina attend private schools.

Even though Bosnians, Serbs and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina attend the same primary schools, they are educated in different classes under different curricula.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, schools open in September and winter holidays take place at the end of December, and summer holidays begin in June.

There are approximately 2000 primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The grading system used in Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of a five-point scale. In primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a new class is opened when there are more than 30 students in a class.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, school uniforms are not compulsory in public schools and there are no cafeterias in public schools.

Although primary school hours in Bosnia and Herzegovina vary from school to school, they generally start at 8 a.m. and last 5 hours.

What is High School Education Like in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, high schools are divided into two groups: general high schools and technical high schools.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, high school starts at the age of 15 and lasts three or four years, and Bosnians finish high school at the age of eighteen or nineteen. Students who graduate from general secondary schools (Gimnazija) in Bosnia and Herzegovina take the university exam called Matura and can enroll in any faculty or college after passing the proficiency exam held by the institution they applied to.

There are approximately 300 high school level educational institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to general and technical high schools, there are also high schools providing military education, religious education, vocal and art education.

Typical daily instruction in high schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina lasts between 5 and 7 hours and consists of 45-minute blocks.

2% of high school students in Bosnia and Herzegovina study in private high schools.

What is University Education Like in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 8 state universities with 90 faculties form the basis of higher education activities in the country. There are about 37 private higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 20% of university students study in these private institutions.

The Bologno process, which aims to standardise higher education in Europe, has not yet been completed in higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into 4 cycles, each lasting 2 or 3 years. In order to graduate from a bachelor's degree in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to complete the first and second cycles.

The most successful universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the University of Sarajevo, the University of Tuzla, the University of Mostar and the University of Banja Luka.

What are the Best Schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The best internationally recognized universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are listed below.

University of Sarajevo
Tuzla University
University of Banja Luka
University of East Sarajevo
Burch International University
University of Mostar
International University of Sarajevo
University of Zenica

What kind of education can foreign receive in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The types of education that foreign can receive in Bosnia and Herzegovina are listed below.

Language education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serbo-Croatian dialects, English)
Undergraduate education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Postgraduate education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Doctoral education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (in local languages)
High school education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (local languages)
Preschool education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (local languages)

Can I Get Vocational Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Many of the educational institutions providing vocational training in Bosnia and Herzegovina are open to international students; however, the majority of these courses are provided in local languages.

Can I Get English Language Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

There are many institutions that provide English language education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cities where English language education can be received in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka.

English language courses, which usually last between 4 and 8 weeks, usually cost between 1000 and 2000 Euros, including accommodation. Bosnia and Herzegovina language schools, which have different courses and programs depending on the level of English, serve students with lesson programs ranging from 16 to 32 hours per week.

The most popular English language schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina include Association for Language and Culture, Bloom School Sarajevo, Follow Me Altera Lingua, Helen Doron English, Interlingua, International School of Sarajevo, Marks Center.

What are the tuition fees in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Information on tuition fees in Bosnia and Herzegovina is listed below.

Tuition fees at state universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina vary between 8,000 lira and 20,000 lira annually, with an average of around 10,000 lira.
Tuition fees at private universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina vary between 10,000 lira and 50,000 lira annually, with an average of 30,000 lira annually.

What is the Language of Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The primary language of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Bosnian dialect of Serbo-Croatian. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian and Croatian dialects of Serbo-Croatian are the primary languages of education for the Serbian and Croatian minorities.

Although the language of instruction in universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina is primarily Serbo-Croatian, many departments and courses in foreign languages such as English, German and Italian are available in Bosnian universities.

What are the Universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina that Provide Education in Turkish?

There is no university in Bosnia and Herzegovina that provides education entirely in Turkish. Bosnia and Herzegovina universities have many Turkish language and literature departments that provide education in Turkish.

Which Universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina Provide Education in English?

Some of the universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina that provide education in English are listed below.

University of Sarajevo
International University of Sarajevo
Burch International University

Is it possible to receive distance education at the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Yes, distance education is partially possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Can You Work While Getting an Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

There are no obstacles to working while studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many international students studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina work part-time in unskilled jobs and as interns in various companies. The most important requirement for working while studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina is knowledge of Serbo-Croatian, finding a job is quite difficult for those who do not speak one of the local languages.

A work permit for Bosnia and Herzegovina is not required for students. However, non-students who want to work full-time must apply for a work permit.

What are the Requirements to Study in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The requirements for studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina are listed below.

To study in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to be accepted to an educational institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Having an invitation document from the institution where education will be received in Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the necessary conditions for obtaining a long-term education visa to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Having a visa that will allow you to access the country for the duration of your studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the conditions for studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Who is the Minister of National Education of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the state institutions responsible for education vary regionally. In the Republika Srpska, which is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the public institution responsible for education is the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republika Srpska, headed by Natalija Trivic. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the public institution responsible for education is the Federal Ministry of Education and Science. Due to the special status of the Brčko region in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the public institution responsible for education is the Brčko Department of Education.

The public institution responsible for all higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Ministry of Public Affairs, whose minister is Ankica Gudeljević, a member of the Croatian Democratic Union Party.

Politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, like the country itself, includes many different ethnic groups and political structures, and coalition governments are quite influential on education policies in the country.

What is the Education Consultancy Fee in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The fees for educational consultancy services in Bosnia and Herzegovina vary depending on the service to be received, but are generally between 40 and 320 Euros.

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