Quick Summary
The University of Zagreb, founded in 1669, is Croatia's oldest and largest university, organized as a federation of 31 faculties and 3 art academies rather than a single unified campus. It enrolls roughly 62,000 students and is the primary training ground for Croatia's doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
01
Institutional Profile
Who they are
The university traces its founding to a 1669 decree by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I granting university status to the Jesuit Academy of Zagreb, making it the oldest continuously associated university in Southeast Europe. It comprises 31 faculties and academies rather than a single central campus, so students choosing Zagreb are effectively choosing among distinct, semi-autonomous faculties each with its own admissions process and specialization. Its Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture are commonly cited as the primary source of Croatia's engineering workforce, feeding directly into domestic companies like Rimac Automobili and Ericsson Nikola Tesla.
Subject Strengths
Agriculture & ForestryArchitectureElectrical & Electronic EngineeringLaw
Founded1669
TypePublic
Total Students62000
Intl Students4%
Faculty Ratio12.5
CampusUrban, buildings distributed across the city of Zagreb
Campus SizeNot Available
Affiliated HospitalsUniversity Hospital Centre Zagreb, University Hospital Dubrava, University Hospital Merkur, University Hospital Sisters of Charity
AccreditationAgency for Science and Higher Education of Croatia (AZVO)
02
Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#701-710
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#1201+
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
#501-600
Academic Ranking
03
Academics & Research
What you can study
Undergraduate (preddiplomski), graduate (diplomski), integrated undergraduate-graduate, postgraduate specialist, and doctoral (PhD) programs
Programs
Yes, doctoral programs are offered across most of the university's 31 faculties and academies
PhD Programs
Limited; most programs are delivered on-campus with selective distance-learning options at individual faculties
Online Programs
University Computing Centre (SRCE), Centre for Research, Development and Technology Transfer
Research Centers
The university describes itself as the leading research institution in Croatia by volume of publications, and it coordinates national participation in Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe research consortia through its Centre for Research, Development and Technology Transfer. That coordinating role matters practically for prospective graduate students, since it means externally-funded EU project positions are distributed across many of the university's 31 faculties rather than concentrated in one or two departments.
Research Output
Agency for Science and Higher Education of Croatia (AZVO)
Accreditation
04
Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance RateNot Available
IELTS6.0
TOEFL80
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates
FALLApplication Deadline · July
MAR-APRDecisions Released
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Admission for Croatian and most EU applicants runs through the centralized State Matura (drzavna matura) exam system administered via postani-student.hr, so international applicants should check each faculty's specific enrollment call (natjecaj) since requirements and entrance exams differ by faculty. Degree recognition (nostrifikacija) of prior foreign qualifications must generally be completed before enrollment, which can take several weeks, so applicants are advised to start that process early. Because instruction at most faculties is in Croatian, non-native speakers applying to Croatian-taught programs should budget time for a preparatory language course, while a smaller number of English-taught programs (mainly in medicine and business) have separate application tracks.
05
Cost Ledger
Amounts in Euro
UG Tuition
€450,010,000/yr
per year · EUR
Living Cost
€70,009,000/yr
per year · EUR
PG Tuition
€40,009,000/yr
per year · EUR
Total Estimated Annual Cost
€1,100,014,000/yr
tuition + living + essentials · EUR
Scholarships AvailableYes, including the Croatian Government Scholarship program for international students and merit-based faculty scholarships
Financial AidState-subsidized tuition is available to Croatian and EU students who meet academic performance thresholds each year; non-EU students on English-taught tracks generally pay full tuition
Work-StudyStudents may work through the official student employment system (studentski ugovor) administered by student service centers
06
Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Undergraduate (preddiplomski), graduate (diplomski), integrated undergraduate-graduate, postgraduate specialist, and doctoral (PhD) programs programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Law | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Electrical Engineering and Computing | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Economics and Business | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Architecture | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
Not Available
Average Salary After Graduation
Not Available
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementClinical placements are arranged directly through affiliated teaching hospitals for medical and health science students, while other faculties coordinate internships individually with partner companies
Industry Connections
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture maintain partnerships with Croatian technology and engineering employers including Ericsson Nikola Tesla and Koncar Groupreflecting the university's role as the primary supplier of engineering graduates in Croatia. Students in other facultiesparticularly humanities and social scienceshave fewer formalized corporate-placement pipelines of this kindso the strength of industry ties varies significantly by faculty rather than applying uniformly across the university.
Notable Alumni
Nikola Tesla briefly attended courses connected to the Zagreb academic circle; more directly, alumni include Croatian President Zoran Milanovic (Faculty of Law) and entrepreneur Mate Rimac studied at the university's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing before founding Rimac Automobili.
08
Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, through student dormitories (studentski domovi) run by Studentski centar Zagreb
Sports Facilities
Facilities at the Faculty of Kinesiology and student sports association ASK Mladost
Student Clubs
eSTUDENT, KSET student radio and cultural association, ESN Zagreb (Erasmus Student Network)
Library Resources
National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) plus separate libraries at each of the 31 constituent faculties and academies
Exchange Programs
Erasmus+, CEEPUS, and bilateral agreements coordinated through the university's central International Relations Office
Summer Programs
Croaticum Summer School of Croatian Language and Culture