The Croatian higher education system comprises 10 universities, 15 polytechnics and 25 colleges of applied sciences.
Croatia has three types of higher education institutions: universities (sveučilišta), polytechnics (veleučilišta) and colleges of applied sciences (visoke škole).
There are currently 132 higher education institutions in Croatia (a list of institutions can be found in the section “Institutions and study programmes ”. The Croatian higher education system comprises 10 universities (consisting of 63 faculties, 6 art academies, an 13 university departments), 15 polytechnics and 25 colleges of applied sciences).
Universities
Universities (sveučilišta) in Croatia are higher education institutions that organise and implement university studies in at least two scientific and/or art areas in a large number of fields and interdisciplinary studies. At each university, teaching and research is usually carried out by one the following constituent units of the university:
- Faculties (fakulteti) organise and carry out university studies and develop scientific research and professional work in one or more scientific and professional fields. Faculties may also establish and carry out professional studies.
- University departments (odjeli) participate in the implementation of study programmes, develop scientific, artistic and professional work in a single field of science or in an interdisciplinary area of science and participate in the implementation of university studies.
- Art academies (umjetničke akademije) organise and carry out university artistic studies and develop first-rate artistic creative endeavour and scientific research in arts. Art academies may also establish and carry out professional artistic studies.
- University institutes (sveučilišni instituti) perform scientific research in a single or several related scientific fields. University institutes may perform highly professional work and participate in teaching according to enactments passed by the university.
Aside from teaching and research units, other constituent units of universities can include foundations, associations, student centres, health care institutions, libraries and technological centres.
Polytechnics and colleges of applied sciences *
Polytechnics (veleučilišta) and colleges of applied sciences (visoke škole) are institutions that organise and implement professional studies.
Polytechnics implement at least three different professional study programmes in at least three fields, while colleges of applied sciences provide specialised professional study programmes in fewer fields.
* Important note: Prospective students should be aware that polytechnics may instead use the term “University of Applied Sciences” as the title of their institution. Similarly, certain colleges of applied sciences may instead use the term “University College” or “School” as the title of their institution. This does not indicate an affiliation with any university.
Sources: Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia; Agency for Science and Higher Education
