Croatia has become a Mediterranean centre for academic exchange by 2026, offering special funding for language immersion, research, and full degree programmes. The Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU) runs the centralised “Bilateral Scholarships”, which are the main way that international students get money for school in the 2026/2027 school year.
1. Scholarships from the Croatian government for two people
The Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth offers these scholarships as part of its main “Full Ride” program. It is split into two “application pools” based on the applicant’s history.
- The Prize:
- Undergraduate/Graduate: €300 a month, no tuition, and help with housing and food.
- PhD students get €320 a month, don’t have to pay for school, and get help with housing and food.
- Postdoctoral researchers receive €480 per month and assistance with housing costs.
- 2026/2027 Time frame:
- The deadline to apply is April 10, 2026 (now).
- Mobility Period: October 2026 to September 2027 (July and August are not included for stipends).
- Pools of Applications:
- Pool 1 (Bilateral Agreements): For people from countries that have a valid educational cooperation agreement, like China, Hungary, Poland, Greece, Israel, and others.
- Pool 2 (Language & Slavic Studies): Open to students from all over the world who are currently studying Croatian or Slavic studies at their home university.
2. Scholarships for Croatian Language (A1 and F types)
Croatia has special funding for people who want to learn the language.
- A semester-long course (A1) lasts 4 to 5 months and takes place at either the University of Zagreb (Croaticum) or the University of Rijeka. Includes a monthly payment and free housing.
- Summer Seminar (F): A well-known, two-week-long seminar in Dubrovnik that took place in August 2026. It pays for tuition, housing, meals, and a complete cultural programme. Due date: April 10, 2026.
3. CEEPUS, or the Central European Exchange Programme
If you are currently studying in Central or South-Eastern Europe, you can use the CEEPUS network to move to Croatia without spending a lot of money.
- The award pays for living expenses and housing for one to ten months.
- Network Mobility: There are 104 networks running in 2026/2027.
- Deadlines for 2026:
- For the Winter Semester, June 15, 2026.
- The summer semester begins on October 31, 2026.
- The University of Zagreb, the University of Split, and the University of Rijeka are all taking part.
4. The Croatian Scholarship Fund (CSF)
This California-based non-profit gives out high-value leadership grants mostly to students of Croatian descent.
- The prize is $2,500 a year.
- Specialised Track: The University of Zagreb offers a specific viticulture and enology scholarship for master’s students that includes an internship in Napa Valley, California.
- The application period for the 2026/2027 school year is from April 1 to May 15, 2026.
5. How to Get Around the “Croatian Language” Requirement
You can study 100% in English in 2026, even though the government promotes its language:
- Degrees in English: The University of Zagreb and RIT Croatia are two universities that offer degrees in business, engineering, and social sciences entirely in English.
- The “Letter of Invitation” Path: If your host professor says that English is the lab’s working language, you don’t have to speak Croatian at all for PhD and research (C2, D, and E types).
- MOI Letter: Most programmes that teach English will accept a Medium of Instruction letter from your last university instead of an IELTS or TOEFL.
6. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027
- The last day to apply for Government Bilateral Scholarships (Pool 1 and 2) is April 10, 2026.
- The Croatian Scholarship Fund (CSF) has a deadline of May 15, 2026.
- The deadline for CEEPUS mobility for the winter semester is June 15, 2026.
- August 2026: A summer seminar in Dubrovnik for a small group of language scholars.
- The academic year for full-degree students starts on October 1, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Government Bilateral Scholarship (Pool 2) is the best way for international students from non-partner countries to travel to Croatia through language studies. The Postdoctoral Grant (D Type) gives the most money to high-level researchers. If you want to apply for research-based programmes, you need to obtain a letter of invitation from a Croatian mentor.
