INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Univerzitet (University)

Akademija (Academy)

Viša Škola (Higher School)

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Diploma (Technicka Skola)

Maturska Svjedodzba

Diploma Višeg Obrazovanje

Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja

Magistar

Doktor

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 7

Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary school  (Osnovna skole)

Length of program in years: 8

Age level from: 7 to: 15

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: General Secondary School (Gymnazija)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Matura (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Technical

Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma

School education:

Primary education lasts for eight years. Secondary education is provided by general and technical secondary schools where studies last for four years. All forms of secondary schooling include an element of vocational training. Pupils graduating from general secondary schools obtain the Matura and can enrol in any faculty or academy by passing a qualification examination prescribed by the institution. Students graduating technical subjects obtain a Diploma.

Higher education:

The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina has four universities, namely Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and Banjaluka. The war in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-1995) created an extremely difficult situation for the university system. However,  pedagogical academies were founded in Zenica and Bihac in 1993, as well as the Faculty of Philosophy (derived from the former Pedagogical Academy) and the Faculty of Special Education in Tuzla. At the end of 1995, the Faculty of Machine Engineering was established in Bihac from the former Advanced Technical School. The higher education institutions in Zenica and Bihac were considered integral parts of the University of Sarajevo. The newly-created University of Sarajevo of the Republika Srpska consists of faculties of the universities of Sarajevo, Tuzla and Mostar which dissociated themselves from their former universities.The legal framework of higher education is laid down in the 1993 University Act. The governing body of the university is the rector and the university board. The professional body is the university council. There is aslo a Republic Council for the Development of University Education which has a consultative function and examines issues relating to the development of university education.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: University Act Year: 1993

Concerns: Higher education system in the Republika Srpska

Academic year:

Classes from: Oct to: Jul

Long vacation from: 1 Jul to: 30 Sep

Languages of instruction: Croatian, Serbian

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Više Škole (Higher Schools) offer two-year professional and technical courses leading to the Diploma Višeg Obrazovanje (Diploma of Higher Education).

University level studies:

University level first stage: First Degree: Diploma Višeg Obrazovanje (Diploma of Higher Education):

University faculties and academies offer programmes that last for two to three years leading to the Diploma Višeg Obrazovanje with a professional title (eg. Inzenjer, Pravnik) in various scientific and artistic fields. It is not a terminal qualification.

University level second stage: Second Degree: Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja (Advanced Diploma of Higher Education):

Courses leading to the Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja with a professional title (eg. Diplomirani Inzenjer, Diplomirani Pravnik, Profesor) last for four to six years during which students specialize.

University level third stage: Third Degree: Magistar:

Studies for the Magistar require two years' further study and the defence of a thesis.

University level fourth stage: Doctorate:

The Doctorate (PhD) is the highest scientific degree. It is the result of independent research. Public defence of a doctoral thesis is required for this degree.

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Primary teachers (kindergarten through fourth grade) were traditionally trained in two-year post-secondary Pedagogical Academies (Viša Pedagoska Škola). The government has recently published a decree stipulating that Secondary Teacher Training Schools should also train primary-school teachers (grades 1 to 4). Teachers for upper grades in elementary schools are trained in two years in Više Škole.

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary teachers are university graduates or graduates from Pedagoska Akademija. Courses last for four years.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Radio Zid Sarajevo has embarked on a youth radio programme with UNICEF aid. It wishes to expand its work in distance education programmes. The SOROS Foundation, the Free University of Amsterdam and World University Service are setting up Internet equipment in order to improve the exchange of programmes and academic staff between Bosnian and foreign universities.

Other forms of non-formal higher education

Workers'/People's Universities (Radnicki/Narodni Univerziteti) offer a great variety of courses lasting from two weeks to two years leading to a particular vocational qualification

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports

Head: Mujo Demirovič, Minister

Obala Maka Dizdara 2
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tel: +387(33) 653-991

Fax: +387(33) 664-381

EMail: fmonks@bih.net.ba

WWW: http://fbihvlada.gov.ba/index.html

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Diploma (Technicka Skola)

For entry to: Više Škole

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Maturska Svjedodzba

For entry to: Universities; Visoka Škola

Entrance exams required: Entrance examination for universities

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

University of Sarajevo

Obala Kulina Bana 7
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tel: +387(71) 663-392

Fax: +387(71) 663-393

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States Bordering on the

Year of signature: 1976

References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies

Title: Report on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina: historical development, present state and need

Author: Sreben Dizdar and Bakaršić Kemal

Publisher: UNESCO CEPES

Year of publication: 1996

Title: Review of the Educational System in the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author: Prepared by S. Churchill, G-C.Chang, A. Dyankov, L. Kolouh and S. Uvalic Trumbic

Publisher: Unesco (Overview of the Education Sector, Technical Report, 2)

Year of publication: 1998

STUDENT LIFE

National student associations and unions

SUBiH

Obala Kulina bana 7
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina

EMail: SUBiH-usus_sarajevo@yahoo.com

WWW: http://www.soros.org.ba

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Leva)

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: 1-5 scale with 2 as minimum pass mark.

Highest on scale: 5

Pass/fail level: 2

Lowest on scale: 1

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 2000-2001

Source: International Association of Universities (IAU), updated from "International Comparisons" CDRom, UK Naric, 2002