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Croatia



Structure of Educational System
Pre-higher Education System
Higher Education System
Administrative structure of higher education  
Admissions to Higher Education and Recognition



INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Sveučilište (University)

Veleučilište (Polytechnic)

Visoka škola (School of Higher Education)

 

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Maturalna Svjedodžba

Medjunarodna Matura

Svjedodžba O Završnom Ispitu

Diploma

Magistar

Doktor Znanosti

 

 

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Osnovna škola

Length of program in years: 8

Age level from: 6 to: 14

Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Gimnazija

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 14 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Matura

Specialized Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Gimnazija

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 14 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Medjunarodna Matura (International Baccalaureat)

Specialized Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Umjetnička Skola (Art School)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 14 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Svjedodžba O Završnom Ispitu

Vocational

Type of school providing this education: Strukovna škola (Vocational School)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 14 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Matura and a Vocational Qualification

School education:

The eight years of primary education are divided into two stages: classes one to four and five to eight. 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 for 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 must pass an entrance examination to enter university in professional fields.

Higher education:

Institutions of higher education include universities, faculties, academies of arts, polytechnics and schools of professional higher education. Higher education is divided into a university and a non-university sector. Universities can comprise faculties, academies of arts or departments. In addition to public higher education institutions which are founded by law or by a regulation of the Government of Croatia, there are private institutions which are founded by a decision of a founder. Private institutions of higher education must be approved by the National Council for Higher Education. University studies qualify students for high level professional or artistic work and prepare them to continue their scientific work. Professional studies qualify students for high level professional work. There are four universities in Croatia located in Osijek, Rijeka, Split and Zagreb.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 1996

Concerns: All further and higher education institutions.

Academic year:

Classes from: Oct to: Jun

Long vacation from: 15 Jun to: 30 Sep

Languages of instruction: Croatian

Stages of studies:

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

Non-university level:

Polytechnics offer two to four years' professional study and train highly professional, artistic and, in some cases, scientific workers. Polytechnic graduates are not allowed to continue their studies at university. Professional education (stručni studij) is organized as undergraduate, postgraduate professional and postgraduate artistic studies.

 

University level studies:

University level first stage: Diploma:

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.

University level second stage: Magistar:

Students graduating with a high grade may go on to study for a Magistar (Master's degree) in either Arts or Science subjects. In both cases they have to defend a thesis (Stručni rad/Umjetnički rad).

University level third stage: Doctorate:

The final postgraduate qualification is that of Doktor (Doctor of Science). Graduate scientific study ends with the defence of a doctoral thesis (Doktorski rad).

 

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Class teachers in primary schools must follow a teacher training programme for four years and a one-year internship. They obtain the title of Ucitelji.

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary school teachers follow a 4-year course and obtain the title of Profesori.

Training of higher education teachers

Qualified candidates are appointed to the position of asistent (assistant), viši asistent (senior assistant), predavač (lecturer), viši predavač (senior lecturer), docent (assistant professor), izvanredni profesor (associate professor), redovni profesor (full professor). Lektor (lecturer) and viši 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 university professor are required to write a Habilitacijski rad (thesis).

 

 

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Education and Sport

Head: Bozidar Pugelnik, Minister

Trg. Burze 6
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

Tel: +385(1) 461-0485

Fax: +385(1) 456-9087

 

 

Ministry of Science and Technology

Head: Hrovje Kraljevi, Minister

Strossmayerov trg 4
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

Tel: +385(1) 459-4444

Fax: +385(1) 459-4489

 

Role of governing body: Supervisory, administrative and financing responsibilities. Also in charge of higher education.

 

Croatian Rectors'  Conference

Head: Daniel Rukavina, President

Administrative officer: Roberta Hlača-Mlinar, Secretary-General

International relations: Darko Štefan, Head of the International Relations Office

University of Rijeka, Trg braće Mažuranića 10
HR-51000 Rijeka
Croatia

Tel: +385(51) 218-288

Fax: +385(51) 216-671

EMail: ured@uniri.hr

WWW: http://www.uniri.hr

 

Role of governing body: Activities and development of higher education institutions

 

 

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Maturalna Svjedodžba

For entry to: All programmes.

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Maturalna Svjedodžba

For entry to: All programmes

Foreign students admission

Admission requirements: 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 requirements: Foreign students are requested to complete a 2-semester course in the Croatian language and sit for a final examination.

Application procedures:

Apply to national body for entry to: All programmes.

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

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

ENIC Office, Ministry of Science and Technology

Head: Tanja Milatic, Person in charge

Štrosmayerov trag.4
41000 Zagreb
Croatia

Tel: +385(1) 459-4444

Fax: +385(1) 459-4469

EMail: ured@mzt.hr

 

Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University and Profession

 

Special provisions for recognition:

For access to advanced studies and research: Croatian citizens' degrees and diplomas obtained abroad should be recognized by higher education institutions in Croatia. 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. The same applies to foreign citizens seeking recognition of degrees or diplomas in Croatia.

For the exercise of a profession: Croatian and foreign citizens seeking the right to exercise a profession based on credentials obtained abroad should follow the same procedure

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: Convention of the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region

Year of signature: 1997

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

Year of signature: 1976

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

 

STUDENT LIFE

National student associations and unions

Croatian Student Union

Trg zrtava fasizma 13
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

Tel: +385(1) 4551026

Fax: +385(1) 4551027

EMail: csu-ssh@net.hr

WWW: http://www.net.hr

 

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Kuna)

Maximum: 6300 (Kuna)

Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 715 (US Dollar)

Maximum: 2300000 (Kuna)

 

 

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: A 1-5 grading system is used. Grades (ocjena) are: 5: odličan (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 used by higher education institutions

Full Description: A 1-5 grading scale, with 5: odličan (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

 

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

The Republic of Croatia became an independent state in 1991. Independence entailed modifications in the school curricula, subject content and in the administration of educational institutions. Prior to 1991, all education was state-run. This is still the case for the majority of institutions, but some new private schools have been established.The Higher Education Act of 1996 determines the organization of higher education institutions. According to this Act and the principles of the Council of Europe's Legislative Reform Programme, the Ministry of Science and Technology has implemented a separation of university courses of study from professional courses of study taking into consideration the need for shorter, professional courses of study which can offer practice-oriented professional knowledge. University courses of study are offered by four universities. Professional courses of study are offered by 7 polytechnics, 7 public and 8 private schools of professional higher education.

 

Data for academic year: 2001-2002

Source: Directorate for Higher Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, 2002



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