Education in Serbia: Schools, Kindergartens, Universities
Complete guide to Serbia's education system: from kindergarten to higher education, including international schools and document recognition.
The information in this guide may be incomplete or outdated. Laws and regulations in Serbia may change. Before making important decisions, be sure to consult official sources or professionals.
Education System in Serbia
Serbia's education system includes preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education. Compulsory education lasts 8 years (primary school). Education in public institutions is free for citizens and residents with a residence permit.
Preschool Education (Vrtić)
Public Kindergartens
Public kindergartens (vrtić) accept children from 6 months to 6-7 years old. Important to know:
Registration: Usually in March-April for the next school year
Waiting list: Popular areas may have long waiting lists
Cost: Around 5,000-8,000 dinars/month (depends on family income)
Priority: Children of working parents, families with multiple children
For registration you'll need:
Child's birth certificate (translated)
Parents' and child's passports
Parents' residence permit
Employment certificate
Child's medical certificate
Private Kindergartens
Private kindergartens offer:
Smaller groups
Various educational programs (Montessori, bilingual)
Flexible schedules
Cost: €200-500/month
Popular in Belgrade:
Little Einsteins
Palčica
Peter Pan
Primary School (Osnovna škola)
Primary school is compulsory and lasts 8 years (ages 7-15). Divided into:
Lower grades (1-4): one teacher
Upper grades (5-8): subject teachers
Public Schools
Free education for all residents
Enrollment by residence — school is determined by address
Language of instruction: Serbian
Foreign children: can receive additional Serbian language lessons
For enrollment you'll need:
Birth certificate (nostrified)
Certificate from previous school (nostrified)
Medical certificate
Parents' documents (residence permit, passport)
Adaptation for Foreign Children
Schools are required to accept foreign children. Provisions include:
Assessment of knowledge level
Additional Serbian language lessons
Option to temporarily place child in a lower grade
Secondary School (Srednja škola)
After primary school (from age 15) you can choose:
Gymnasium (4 years)
Academic education, university preparation. Tracks:
General
Natural sciences and mathematics
Social sciences and languages
Vocational School (3-4 years)
Professional education:
Technical schools
Economics schools
Medical schools
Art schools
International Schools
For families planning to return home or continue international education:
Belgrade
| School | Program | Cost/year |
|--------|---------|-----------|
| International School of Belgrade | IB | €15,000-20,000 |
| British International School | British curriculum | €12,000-18,000 |
| French School (Lycée Français) | French curriculum | €8,000-12,000 |
| German School | German curriculum | €6,000-10,000 |
Features of International Schools
Instruction in English/other languages
Internationally recognized diplomas
Smaller classes
Modern facilities
Higher Education
Serbian Universities
Largest public universities:
University of Belgrade — oldest and largest
University of Novi Sad — second largest
University of Niš
University of Kragujevac
For International Students
Admission requirements:
Nostrified diploma/certificate
Serbian language certificate (or English for English-taught programs)
Entrance exams (depends on faculty)
Cost:
Public universities: free for residents with good grades, €1,000-3,000/year for others
Private universities: €2,000-8,000/year
English-taught programs:
Many universities offer programs in English, especially:
IT and Computer Science
Business and Management
Medicine (at some faculties)
Document Nostrification
To recognize foreign education documents:
School Documents
Submit application to Ministry of Education
Attach original + translated documents
Apostille on documents
Processing time: 1-2 months
Higher Education
Contact ENIC-NARIC Serbia
Process takes 2-4 months
Additional exams may be required
Serbian Language Courses
Courses available for adults and children:
Institute for Serbian Language at Faculty of Philology
Kolarac — people's university with language courses
Private language schools: Oxford Centar, Linguistico, etc.