Scholarships in Croatia for International Students 2026/2027

Croatia is one of Europe’s most appealing study destinations — an EU and Schengen member with historic university cities such as Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Dubrovnik, English-taught programmes that grow every year, and living costs well below Western Europe. But you deserve an honest starting point: Croatia does not run a large, open-to-everyone government scholarship competition. Its flagship scheme, the Croatian Government Bilateral Scholarships, is built on formal education agreements between Croatia and a specific list of partner countries, and most awards are for semester exchanges, language study and research stays rather than full degrees. The monthly support — €300 to €480 depending on your level — is explicitly described in the official call as a contribution to living costs, not full funding. This guide explains exactly how the system works for the 2026/2027 academic year, who can realistically apply, what each scholarship type covers, the documents and deadlines from the official call, and the alternative routes (Pool 2 language scholarships, CEEPUS, Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus and university-level aid) that may fit you better. Everything below is drawn from the official 2026/2027 call published by Croatia’s Ministry of Science, Education and Youth and the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU).

The programme is funded from the Croatian State Budget and administered jointly by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth and the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU). Scholarships support study and research at accredited public Croatian higher education institutions and research institutes — private institutions are not eligible hosts. Mobility must take place during the 2026/2027 academic year, between October 2026 and September 2027, with July and August excluded (except for the August summer seminar). Before you go further, check whether your country appears in the bilateral list below, because that single fact decides which door — if any — is open to you. You can also browse the wider landscape in our scholarship directory and compare destinations in the study abroad guides.

Scholarships in Croatia at a Glance

The Honest Picture: Who This Scholarship Is Really For

Most scholarship websites present the Croatian Government Scholarships as if any student from any country can apply for a fully funded degree. The official call says otherwise, and believing the hype wastes applicants a full season. Here is the reality, pool by pool.

Application Pool 1 — bilateral agreements. For 2026/2027, Pool 1 covers citizens of: Belgium (Flanders), Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, Germany (including a separate Bavarian quota), Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Türkiye and Ukraine. Each country is offered only specific scholarship types and a fixed number of places or scholarship-months, and candidates must be nominated by their home country’s competent authority — for example the China Scholarship Council for China, DAAD/BAYHOST for Germany, NAWA for Poland or the Tempus Public Foundation for Hungary. An application submitted without a nomination is not processed at all.

Full degrees are the exception, not the rule. Only scholarship types B (full BA/MA) and C1 (full PhD) fund complete degrees, and in the 2026/2027 call they are reserved for citizens of China and for members of the Croatian national minority in Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic. For everyone else in Pool 1, the offer is partial studies (a semester or two), partial PhD research, postdoctoral stays, language semesters or the summer seminar.

Application Pool 2 — the open door, with a narrow frame. Pool 2 is open to students of any nationality, but only if you are studying Croatian language and literature or Slavic Studies at a university outside Croatia, and only for two options: a one-semester Croatian language course in Zagreb or Rijeka (A1), or the two-week summer seminar in Dubrovnik (F). You must be nominated through a Recommendation Letter from your current Croatian language professor. Encouragingly, the call states that the number of A1 semester scholarships is not limited, which makes Pool 2 the most accessible government route into Croatia — if you genuinely study the language.

What this means for readers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria or Indonesia: none of these countries has a bilateral agreement for 2026/2027, so Pool 1 is closed to you, and Pool 2 only works if you study Croatian or Slavic Studies. Your realistic funded routes are Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (which can include Croatian partner universities), Erasmus+ exchange through your home university’s partnerships, or applying for admission directly and combining university-level aid with Croatia’s comparatively moderate tuition and living costs. We cover the Erasmus route in our Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship guide, and you can compare Croatia with smaller European systems in our guides to scholarships in Lithuania and scholarships in Estonia.

Scholarship Types Explained

The call organises every award into eight types. Understanding the codes matters, because your country quota, your documents and your age limit all attach to the type.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility combines general rules from the call with the quota attached to your country. The general rules for 2026/2027 are:

• Age: You must be at least 18 on 1 October 2026. Maximum age 34 for types A1, A2 and C2; maximum 30 for full-degree types B and C1. There is no age limit for D, E and F.
• Study progress: For most types you must have completed a minimum of two semesters at your home institution. Type B requires a four-year high school diploma (for BA) or a BA degree (for MA); C1 requires an MA degree; D and E require a completed PhD.
• Language: A minimum of B1 (CEFR) language competence is required. Instruction for A1, A2, B, C1 and F is delivered in Croatian; C2, D and E may run in Croatian or English, as stated in your invitation letter. Preference is given to applicants with stronger Croatian.
• Nomination: Pool 1 applicants must be nominated by their national competent authority; Pool 2 applicants by their Croatian language professor. Self-nomination does not exist.
• Public host only: The mobility must be at a public Croatian higher education institution or research institute.

You are not eligible if you are already enrolled in a study programme in Croatia, if you hold a Croatian residence permit (or are applying for one), if you hold only Croatian citizenship, if you have completed fewer than two semesters at your home institution, or if you are not a citizen of the country nominating you. Note also that the scholarship cannot be combined with another scholarship for the same mobility — double funding from the Croatian state budget (for example holding a bilateral award and CEEPUS simultaneously) or with Erasmus+ support for the same period is not allowed.

What the Scholarship Covers — and What It Does Not

Every bilateral scholarship type includes tuition-free study or research at the host public institution. On top of that, the call sets monthly financial support at €300 for undergraduate and graduate students (A1, A2, B), €320 for full and partial PhD candidates (C1, C2) and €480 for postdoctoral researchers on stays of 1–10 months (D). Short research visits (E) receive €30 per diem plus subsidised accommodation. The summer seminar (F) covers the course, accommodation, meals and a cultural programme in full. Most types also include subsidised places in student residence halls and subsidised meals in student restaurants — in Croatia, the student canteen system (the famous menza, paid with the student X-card/iksica) is a genuine and large saving.

Now the limits, which the call states unusually plainly. Monthly support is not paid for July and August. The call warns that the support “is not meant to cover all the costs of the scholarship holder but rather it is a contribution to the living costs,” and advises holders to bring enough of their own funds to cover at least two months of living costs. To receive a full month of support you must be physically present in Croatia for at least 15 full days of that month. Travel to Croatia, visa fees and other personal costs are not reimbursed by the Croatian side (a few sending countries add their own travel grants — ask your nominating authority). For context, the official Study in Croatia portal estimates student living costs at roughly €500–€800 per month depending on the city, with Zagreb and the coast at the top; a subsidised dormitory place is far cheaper than private rent, which is why the dormitory and canteen subsidies matter as much as the cash. Use our student tools to build a realistic monthly budget before you commit.

Programmes and Fields of Study

With the exception of the language-specific types, bilateral scholarships can be used in any field of study at an accredited public institution — the University of Zagreb, the University of Split, the University of Rijeka, the University of Osijek, the University of Zadar, the University North, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and others, plus public research institutes. Croatia’s internationally visible strengths include medicine and health sciences (including English-taught medical programmes in Zagreb, Split and Rijeka), electrical engineering and computing, maritime studies, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, and the humanities — above all Croatian language and Slavic studies, which anchor the whole scheme.

Two practical warnings follow from the language rules. First, most full-degree programmes at public universities are taught in Croatian, and types A2, B and C1 assume you can study in Croatian — the scholarship does not turn an English-taught, fee-charging programme into a free one. English-taught programmes exist and are growing, but many charge full tuition to international students; if you are applying outside the scholarship system, the Study in Croatia portal gives indicative annual tuition ranges for international students of roughly €1,100–€10,400 for humanities and social sciences, €1,000–€6,000 for natural and technical sciences, and €10,000–€12,000 for medicine, with application fees of about €60–€300 where charged. Always confirm the exact fee on the programme page. Second, for research types (C2, D, E) the working language can be English if your host agrees — which is why these types are the most realistic entry point for researchers who do not speak Croatian.

Other Funding Routes into Croatia

CEEPUS. The Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies funds semester exchanges and research stays between member countries (Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia). Mobility runs through faculty networks or as a “freemover,” applications are made on the CEEPUS portal, and the host country pays the scholarship — for Croatia, rates are set nationally and include accommodation support. If you study in a CEEPUS country, this is often easier to win than the bilateral scheme. Details are on the CEEPUS programme pages.

Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus. If you are enrolled at a university that has an Erasmus+ agreement with a Croatian institution, a funded exchange semester is possible with a grant from your home side. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are fully funded, multi-country master’s degrees open to applicants worldwide; some consortia include Croatian partners, and the scholarship covers participation costs, travel and a monthly allowance under EU rules.

University and private-institution aid. Croatia’s private sector — institutions such as RIT Croatia and the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM) — runs its own merit scholarships and financial-aid schemes for international bachelor’s students, typically as tuition reductions. Amounts, funds and deadlines change yearly, so treat any figure on a third-party blog as unreliable and check the institution’s official scholarship page. Public universities occasionally advertise faculty-level awards and research assistantships, especially at doctoral level; ask the international office of your target university directly. You can browse Croatian institutions alongside the rest of Europe in our university directory and check where they sit in the global rankings.

How to Apply, Step by Step

1. Find your pool and type. Check your citizenship against the Pool 1 country list and the exact types/quota offered to your country in the official call. If your country is not listed, check Pool 2 (Croatian/Slavic Studies students only).
2. Contact your nominating authority early. Pool 1 candidates must approach their national institution (ministry, scholarship council or agency named in the call) and ask to be nominated. National pre-selections often close before the Croatian deadline — sometimes weeks or months earlier — so start in the autumn or early winter, not in March.
3. Secure your Croatian host. For A2 you need a Letter of Invitation from the host institution signed by the head of department; for B and C1, an invitation from the dean plus a provisional enrolment certificate; for C2, D and E, first find a Croatian professor willing to mentor you and obtain the invitation letter. Write to potential hosts early, with a focused 1–2 page work plan.
4. Prepare documents in English or Croatian. Documents in other languages are not accepted. See the checklist below.
5. Apply in AMPEU’s online application system at the AMPEU scholarship application portal, uploading every document required for your type. You will receive/download a PDF copy of the submitted form — if you do not, the application did not go through.
6. Make sure the nomination reaches AMPEU. For Pool 1, your national authority must send its Nomination Letter to AMPEU (e-mail preferred) by the same deadline. For Pool 2, your professor’s Recommendation Letter is uploaded inside your application and counts as the nomination.
7. Apply for admission separately. For full-degree types (B, C1), the scholarship and university enrolment are parallel procedures — the scholarship is confirmed only after successful enrolment. Undergraduate admission in Croatia runs through the central “Postani student!” system and qualification recognition via the Agency for Science and Higher Education (AZVO).
8. Wait for results and prepare your stay. Results arrive by e-mail in June/July; successful candidates receive a Letter of Award, Letter of Acceptance and an information package, then arrange their visa/residence permit and the health examination required for dormitory residents.

Required Documents

All types require the online Application Form, a photocopy of a valid passport or ID, and a CV (Europass preferred). Beyond that, requirements follow your type:

• A1: Letter of Interest (1–2 pages), proof of enrolment at your home institution, transcripts of the last two semesters (plus BA diploma copy if you hold one), and the Recommendation Letter from the Croatian language fellow at your home institution, co-signed by the head of department.
• A2: Letter of Interest, proof of BA/MA enrolment, transcripts of the last two semesters, a professor’s recommendation letter, the host institution’s Letter of Invitation, and a certificate of proficiency in English or Croatian matching the language of your planned study.
• B: Copy of your highest diploma (high school for BA, BA degree for MA), proof of English or Croatian proficiency, the dean’s Letter of Invitation confirming tuition-free enrolment upon award, and the provisional Enrolment Certificate from the host institution.
• C1: Highest degree copy, a precise 1–2 page Work Plan, list of publications (if any), two recommendation letters from recognised experts, proof of language proficiency, the dean’s invitation and the PhD Enrolment Certificate.
• C2 / D / E: Proof of PhD enrolment (C2) or PhD degree copy (D, E), MA degree copy (C2), list of publications, a detailed 1–2 page Work Plan, two recommendation letters, the host’s Letter of Invitation, and proof of proficiency in the working language stated in the invitation.
• F: Proof of enrolment or highest diploma (for lecturers), Letter of Interest, a professor’s recommendation, and proof of Croatian proficiency at minimum B1.

Deadlines and Timeline

For the following cycle, expect a similar rhythm — a call in winter and an April deadline — but treat that as a pattern, not a promise: always work from the newest call published by AMPEU and the Study in Croatia portal. The full official 2026/2027 call text, including every country quota, is available in the Call for Applications for the Croatian Government Scholarships 2026/2027 (PDF).

How Selection Works — and How to Improve Your Chances

AMPEU and the Ministry first run a formal check: incomplete or inaccurate applications are rejected without assessment, and if you submit more than one application only the last one counts. Academic profile, the quality of your proposal and your motivation are then assessed, and the final decision rests with the Croatian host institution. The call also publishes its tie-breaking preferences: stronger Croatian beats weaker Croatian; MA students are preferred over BA students; students over teachers; and first-time applicants over previous bilateral scholarship holders. There is no appeal against the decision.

What actually helps: a host invitation that shows a real academic relationship (a named mentor, a concrete work plan, courses that exist), a Letter of Interest that explains why Croatia — specifically — fits your study or research rather than a generic “Europe” essay, transcripts that show consistent performance, and language evidence above the B1 floor where you can get it. For Pool 2, your professor’s recommendation should describe your actual Croatian coursework and level, not just praise you generally. And apply through the correct channel: the most qualified candidate in the world is invisible to this system without a nomination.

Common Mistakes That End Applications

• Applying without a nomination. Pool 1 applications sent only to AMPEU, the Ministry or the university are explicitly not processed.
• Missing your national deadline. Your home authority’s pre-selection may close long before 10 April; the Croatian deadline is the last step, not the first.
• Assuming “fully funded.” €300/month with no July/August payment, no travel and no visa fees is a contribution. Budget the gap yourself, as the call itself instructs.
• Applying for a full degree you are not eligible for. Types B and C1 are restricted to China and the Croatian minority in three countries in this cycle.
• Choosing a private institution or an English-taught fee-charging programme and expecting the scholarship to cover it. Hosts must be public institutions.
• Documents in the wrong language or an incomplete file. Only English or Croatian documents are accepted, and incomplete applications are not assessed.
• Double funding. Holding another scholarship for the same mobility — including Erasmus+ or another Croatian state-budget award — makes you ineligible.
• Planning mobility in July or August. Except for the Dubrovnik seminar, summer months are excluded from the scheme entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone apply for Croatian Government Scholarships?

No. Pool 1 is limited to citizens of the 18 countries with bilateral agreements in the current call, and you must be nominated by your national authority. Pool 2 is open to all nationalities but only for students of Croatian language or Slavic Studies applying for a language semester (A1) or the summer seminar (F).

Is the Croatian Government Scholarship fully funded?

No — and the official call says so itself. It covers tuition at a public institution plus €300–€480 per month (excluding July and August), subsidised dormitory housing and subsidised canteen meals. Travel, visa fees and the rest of your living costs are yours; the call advises bringing funds for at least two months.

Can I do a full master’s degree in Croatia on this scholarship?

Only in narrow circumstances: full-degree type B is offered in 2026/2027 to citizens of China and to members of the Croatian national minority in Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic. Other Pool 1 students can apply for partial studies (A2, 4–10 months) within a degree taken at home.

Do I need to speak Croatian?

For most types, yes, at least at B1 level, with preference for higher levels — A1, A2, B, C1 and F are taught in Croatian. Research types C2, D and E can be conducted in English if your host’s invitation letter states English as the working language.

What is the deadline for scholarships in Croatia 2026/2027?

10 April 2026 for both pools — your online application and, for Pool 1, your authority’s Nomination Letter must both reach AMPEU by that date. Your national pre-selection may close much earlier.

Can students from Bangladesh, India or Pakistan apply?

Not through Pool 1, because those countries have no bilateral agreement in the current call. Students of Croatian/Slavic Studies could use Pool 2. Otherwise, look at Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, Erasmus+ exchange via your university, or direct admission with university-level aid — and check each new annual call, because the country list can change.

Can I combine the bilateral scholarship with Erasmus+ or CEEPUS?

No. The call prohibits holding the bilateral scholarship together with another scholarship for the same mobility, including other Croatian state-budget awards and Erasmus+ support.

When and how are results announced?

AMPEU informs applicants and partner institutions by official e-mail in June and/or July 2026 (May for the summer seminar). Successful candidates receive a Letter of Award, a Letter of Acceptance and an information package. Decisions cannot be appealed.

Sources & Verification

• Ministry of Science, Education and Youth & AMPEU — Call for Applications for the Croatian Government Scholarships in the Academic Year 2026/2027 (official call text: pools, types, quotas, amounts, documents, deadlines, selection rules).
• Study in Croatia (official portal, studyincroatia.hr) — tuition ranges for international students, living-cost estimates, programme register.
• AMPEU — online scholarship application system (ampeu.hr/scholarship-application).
• OeAD / CEEPUS — Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies, member countries and mobility rules.

Disclaimer: Scholarship details, quotas, amounts and deadlines change with every annual call. Always confirm the current figures and dates on the official AMPEU and Study in Croatia websites before applying. StudyGraduate is an independent information portal, not an agency or a university — we cannot promise or influence selection, admission or visa outcomes, and no one can legitimately guarantee them to you.