Funding

Higher education institutions, institutes and other science organisations are funded from: the founder’s budget, central state budget, local budgets of the counties, towns and municipalities, tuition fees, income from scientific, research, art and professional projects, scientific and professional elaborates and know-how, foundations, donations and assistances, income from publications, income from commercial activities, income from real estate, company stocks, income from commercial activities of the university or the faculty and art academies, as well as the income from investments made by natural and legal persons, and other sources.

Universities, polytechnics, professional schools of higher education and public research institutes may only be financed from those sources that do not affect their independence and credibility. Own income can be made only from the activities that do not have a detrimental effect on the realisation of the goals of the HEI or a public science institute.

Budget proposal and distribution of funds National Council sets the criteria for the distribution of budgetary funds for science and higher education, based on the proposal by the expert body for the financing of science and higher education. Taking into account the criteria, the Minister proposes the budget for science and higher education based on the collected proposed budgets drawn up by the science organisations, universities, polytechnics and professional schools of higher education, in accordance with the provisions regulating the planning and execution of the central budget. The proposal lists the lump sums for individual universities, polytechnics, professional schools of higher education, science institutes and other science organisations as well as the funds for research projects, collaborative research programmes, art research and the related events, associate jobs, procurement of research equipment, and the expenses related to the activities of the National Council, Agency and other bodies.

The funds for the development of the science and higher education systems, science, research and art projects and programmes, science, art and research infrastructure and equipment, science publications, science conferences and science and professional associations are distributed by the Minister, following a public call and pursuant t the opinions of relevant committees appointed by the Minister. The funds are distributed taking into account the distribution of funds for the same purpose in the budgets of other state administration bodies and those of local and regional governments. Minimum salaries of the science and higher education staff are determined under the collective agreement in accordance with the law.

Public universities, polytechnics and professional schools of higher education are financed from the state budget, taking into account the determined capacities of an individual HEI, the prices of individual study programmes and the assessment of quality, as determined on the basis of the evaluation carried out in accordance with the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act. Private HEIs may also be financed from the state budget, pursuant to a previously concluded agreement, provided that: they conduct an activity for which public needs exceed the provision of public HEIs or that the given activity is of a special national interest; that they meet all the legally prescribed requirements; that they meet the criteria and priorities set by the National Council, taking into account the available funds and the quality of the private HEI.

Budgetary funds designated for HEIs are allocated to the beneficiaries as a lump sum, and the beneficiaries are then responsible for the further distribution of the funds for particular purpose, in accordance with the statute and other acts. The university senate adopts the budget of a university, upon the dean’s proposal, whereas a professional council adopts the budget of a polytechnic or a professional school of higher education, based on the dean’s proposal. University’s constituent units set aside a part of their own income, contributing to the university budget for capital investments and developmental programmes, in accordance with regulations of the university. Public HEIs use the funds in accordance with the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act and the regulations governing the state budget execution. With the approval of the contracting parties, a part of the public universities’ activities may also be financed on the basis of special agreements concluded between the Ministry and the public university.

Pursuant to the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act, the autonomy of all public university-based HEIs in the Republic of Croatia involves: the internal organisation, development of education, scientific and professional programmes, financial autonomy in accordance with this Act, making decisions on the approval of projects and international cooperation, other types of autonomy, in accordance with the law.

University Council for financing of scientific activity and higher education is an expert body of the National Council, consisting of 15 members, three of which come from research institutes, six come from universities, two from polytechnics, two members are union representatives and two are appointed by the Minister. Members of the University Council are appointed by the National Council by a majority vote on the basis of the proposal by the Rectors’ Board, Council of Polytechnics and Professional Schools of Higher Education, public research institutes, universities, polytechnics and professional schools of higher education, the Ministry and the union. Members of the University Council are appointed for a four-year term.

The Senate is an elected expert body appointed in accordance with the university statute, ensuring a balanced representation of all the constituent units of the university and of various areas of science and art. Employees in academic titles constitute at least 6o% of the members of the Senate. Students’ representatives, elected by students in accordance with the Statute of the University, constitute at least 10% of the members of the Senate from among undergraduate and graduate students and at least 5% from among postgraduate students. Other employees are represented in the Senate in accordance with the statute.

Vice-rectors participate in the Senate’s activities without the right to vote. A science and higher education union representative is also invited to partake in the Senate’s meetings, without the right to vote. The Senate, as stipulated in the statute, decides on all the academic, professional, scientific and art-related issues, including the decisions regarding the organisation of scientific, professional and teaching activities, selection of teachers, developmental and business-related issues as well as other issues specified in the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act. Within the scope of its competence, the Senate is responsible for, among other things: financial policy and adoption of the university budget, discussion of financial reports and adoption of the final balance statement and decisions on capital investments.

The dean represents a polytechnic or a professional school of higher education and he/she holds the rights and obligations of a head of the institution. For academic issues, the dean is accountable to the advisory board and for the legality of financial transactions and rational use of material and staff resources to the administrative council.

Students may be full-time or part-time students. Full-time students are those who study according to the programme based on the full-time teaching schedule. Costs of full-time study (programme of study) are financed partially or fully from the state budget, according to the regulations of the university, polytechnic or professional school of higher education. Universities, polytechnics or professional schools of higher education may, with the ministry competent for higher education, conclude one-year or multi-year agreements on the subsidy towards the tuition fees payable by full-time students, in which it is mandatory to lay down the purpose of the subsidy, the activities and the milestones towards the set objectives, the indicators for monitoring the implementation and the schedule for reporting on the agreement execution. The objectives of subsidising tuition fees payable by full-time students include: ensuring equal access to higher education to all full-time students in Croatia; stimulating completion of higher education; increasing enrolment rates in study programmes at HEIs and increasing the number of acquired qualifications in natural, technical, bio-medical and bio-technical sciences.

In early 2012, at the initiative of the Minister of Science and Education, university teams were appointed for the participation in the project for pilot-programme agreements, which, in addition to financial planning, involved the definition of development goals of public HEIs and the indicators for monitoring their realisation. The decision on the participation in the process of preparation of programme agreements was made autonomously by HEIs, in accordance with their interest. They also independently decided whether they wanted to conclude the agreements on programme-based financing or to continue the subsidised financing by the Ministry based on the former financial model.

Higher education institutions also independently decided on the results they would like to achieve in the three-year period within the set objectives and listed the indicators to be used in measuring their performance in achieving the set results. The implementation of programme agreements is monitored by appointed committees, consisting of HEI and Ministry representatives and which is able to negotiate, adjust and enhance the previously agreed programme agreement frameworks, even after the implementation has commenced. The step forward made by the programme agreements involves the introduction of a multi-annual funding model which offers a stable and clear subsidy framework, reduces administrative burden and creates the foundation for planning the activities at HEIs in accordance with the development goals of the higher education system in Croatia.

Financial Autonomy and Control

Autonomy of universities at all university HEIs in Croatia, in accordance with the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act, includes as follows: organisation of the internal structure, definition of education, science, art and professional programmes, financial autonomy in accordance with the Act, making decisions on the approval of projects and international cooperation, other types of autonomy, in accordance with the law.

The Senate, in compliance with the Statute, decides on all the academic, professional, scientific and art-related issues, including the decisions regarding the organisation of scientific, professional and teaching activities, selection of teachers, developmental and business-related issues as well as other issues specified in the Act. Within the scope of its competence, the Senate is responsible for, among other things: financial policy and adoption of the university budget, discussion of financial reports and adoption of the final balance statement and decisions on capital investments.

The dean represents a polytechnic or a professional school of higher education and it holds the rights and obligations of a head of the institution. For academic issues, the dean is accountable to the advisory board and for the compliance of financial transactions with the law and the rational use of material and staff resources to the administrative council. Administrative supervision of the compliance with the law and general founding acts of HEIS and other science organisations shall be carried out by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. Supervision is implemented in such a way that the autonomy and the regular activities of the university and other science organisations are in no way affected. On the basis of the supervision findings, the Ministry may terminate the execution of decisions and activities of the university or science organisations which are not carried out in accordance with the law.

In early 2012, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, met the financial requirements for the conclusion of three-year agreements with HEIs, pursuant to which the cost of the implementation of the full-time study programmes could be covered in its entirety. The intention behind the agreements was to define, in addition to financial planning, the development goals of public HEIs and the indicators for monitoring their realisation, and to include representatives of public HEIs, students and the Ministry in the process of negotiation and conclusion of all aspects of the agreements.

The decision on the participation in the process of preparation of programme agreements was made autonomously by HEIs, in accordance with their interest. They also independently decided whether they want to conclude the agreements on programme-based financing or continue the subsidised financing by the Ministry based on the former financial model. Higher education institutions also independently decide on the results they would like to achieve in the three-year period within the set objectives and listed the indicators to be used in measuring their performance in achieving the set results. The implementation of programme agreements is monitored by committees consisting of HEI and Ministry representatives and which will be able to negotiate, adjust and enhance the previously agreed programme agreement frameworks, even after the implementation has commenced.

Fees within Public Higher Education

On tertiary level, students may be full-time or part-time students. Full-time students are those who study according to the programme based on the full-time teaching schedule. Costs of full-time study (programme of study) may be partially or fully, according to the regulations of the university, polytechnic or professional school of higher education, subsidized from the state budget.

Universities, polytechnics or professional schools of higher education may, with the ministry competent for higher education, conclude one-year or multi-year agreements on the subsidy towards the tuition fees payable by full-time students, in which it is mandatory to lay down the purpose of the subsidy, the activities and the milestones towards the set objectives, the indicators for monitoring the implementation and the schedule for reporting on the agreement execution. The objectives of subsidising tuition fees payable by full-time students include: ensuring equal access to higher education to all full-time students in Croatia; stimulating completion of higher education; increasing enrolment rates in study programmes at HEIs and increasing the number of acquired qualifications in natural, technical, bio-medical and bio-technical sciences.

In 2012, the Government adopted the proposal by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports on a full subsidy of the tuition fee for all full-time students enrolled in public HEIs in Croatia in academic years 2012/2013, 2013/2014, and 2014/2015. The right to full subsidy of tuition fees was granted to full-time students enrolled in accredited undergraduate university programmes, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programmes, graduate university programmes, short-cycle professional programmes, undergraduate professional and specialist graduate professional programmes at public HEIs in Croatia who in the academic year 2015/2016 or 2016/2017 or 2017/2018 enrol in the first year of a study programme for the first time; who at the beginning of the academic year 2015/2016, 2016/2017 or 2017/2018 have been or will have been in the previous year awarded at least 55 ECTS-credits in the study programme, i.e. at least 30 ECTS-credits in case of a student with proved disability of 60% or more. Full-time students, who in compliance with the above said, regularly fulfil their obligations, are exempt from paying the tuition fee up to the acquisition of one qualification in the first cycle of higher education and one qualification in the second cycle of higher education. The right to full subsidy is granted for the period equal to the prescribed number of years for the given study programme.

Financial Support for Learners' Families

As for the higher education level, the budget of the Republic of Croatia, within the scope of funds allocated to institutions of higher education, secures funds for student standard of living and working, or more precisely for the following: defining the criteria for financing student room and board, student standard of living, student cultural activities, defining the criteria for awarding national scholarships and grants for student programs and projects.

Student accommodation

Pursuant to Article 38 of the State Administration Act - final version (Official Gazette no. 190/03 and 199/03), Article 122 of the Act on Scientific Activity and Higher Education (Official Gazette no. 123/03), and Article 1 of the Decree on the Amendments to the Act on Scientific Activity and Higher Education (Official Gazette no. 198/03), each academic year, the Minister passes a Decision on the criteria for awarding student accommodation in the dormitories of student centres in the Republic of Croatia.

The right to subsidised accommodation in student dormitories, boarding homes as well as subsidies for students who rent apartments from private owners, are granted to all full-time students who are either Croatian citizens or EU citizens with a registered address in Croatia and an approved foreigner status with a permanent residence in Croatia, and who are enrolled at a HEI in Croatia in an undergraduate university programmes, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programmes, graduate university programmes, short-cycle professional programmes, undergraduate professional and specialist graduate professional programmes, or, in case of students with disabilities, in a postgraduate university study programme, in accordance with the prescribed terms and conditions.

All of the listed full-time students are eligible to apply to the public call for the accommodation in student dormitories of student centres and the award of available places in boarding homes in Croatia, with the exception of the students whose permanent address is in the same town in which they study. Students are only eligible to apply for a place in a student dormitory in the town in which they study. The only exceptions are students studying in Opatija, who apply for accommodation in Rijeka.

Students who were awarded less than 18 ECTS-credits in the academic year in which they are applying and less than 45 ECTS-credits on average in the previous years of study, are not eligible for subsidised accommodation. This requirement does not apply to students who are just enrolling in the first year and students with a disability of 1st – 5th category.

Ministry of Science and Education may, independently of the call, pass decisions to award places in student dormitories of individual student centres in Croatia to students staying in Croatia under international cooperation and mobility and training schemes and to full-time students who have been victims of major tragic circumstances (a sudden loss of both parents, sudden decrease in the economic status, natural disaster). The Ministry may also pass decisions to award places in student dormitories to full-time students who are athletes of 1st to 4th category.

The direct right to accommodation in a dormitory based on the criterion of excellence is granted to the students from a household whose income per household member in the previous year did not exceed 65% of the budgetary basis and who meet one of the following requirements:

1. Students to enrol in the first year of an undergraduate university programme, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme, short-cycle professional programme or undergraduate professional programme in Croatia for the first time and whose average grade at the end of each year of upper secondary education was 5.0.;
2. Students enrolled for the first time in the first year of an undergraduate university programme, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme, short-cycle professional programme or undergraduate professional programme and whose average grade for all the passed exams is at least 4.5, with a minimum of 55 ECTS-credits awarded in the current year by the date of the application to the call;
3. Students enrolled in the second or a higher year of an undergraduate university programme, short-cycle professional programme or undergraduate professional programme, or integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme, and whose average grade for all the passed exams is at least 4.5, with a minimum of 55 ECTS-credits awarded in the current year by the date of the application to the call, and the average 55 or more ECTS-credits awarded during the previous years of the programme;
4. Students to enrol in the first year of a graduate university programme or the first year of a specialist graduate professional programme, and whose average grade for all the passed exams in the previously completed cycle of study (undergraduate university or undergraduate professional cycle) was at least 4.5, and who were awarded at least 55 ECTS-credits in each of the previously completed years of study;
5. First-year students of graduate university programme or specialist graduate professional programme whose average grades for all the passed exams in the previously completed cycle of study (undergraduate university or undergraduate professional cycle) and in the first year of the graduate or specialist graduate professional study programme was at least 4.5, with a minimum of 55 ECTS-credits awarded in the current academic year, by the date of the application, and an average of 55 or more ECTS-credits in the previous years of study;
6. Exceptionally, first-year students of graduate university study programmes who have enrolled only in the summer semester and whose average grade for all the passed exams in the previously completed study cycle (undergraduate university cycle) and in the summer semester was at least 4.5, with a minimum of 27 awarded ECTS-credits in the current academic year, by the date of application, and an average of 55 or more ECTS-credits during the previous years of study.

The right to accommodation is granted to students from households whose income per a household member in the previous year did not exceed 60% of the budgetary basis and who meet one of the following requirements: 1) Students who are children of a killed Croatian Homeland War soldier, students who are Croatian disabled Homeland War veterans of the 1st category and students-Croatian Homeland War veterans who were awarded 55 or more ECTS-credits in the previous years of study. 2) Students who are children of the killed, deceased or missing, in accordance with the circumstances laid down in the Act on the Protection of Disabled Civil and Military War Victims, students who are disabled civil war victims and whose disability occurred in the circumstances specified in the abovementioned act as well as the students who are children of peacetime disabled military and civil war victims of the 1st group with a 100% disability, who were awarded 55 or more ECTS-credits in the previous years of study; 3) Students who are beneficiaries of the Scholarship Foundation for Croatian Homeland War soldiers and their children, provided that they were awarded 55 or more ECTS-credits in the previous years of study and that they have an agreement with the Foundation on the scholarship award (not applicable to the students who are to enrol in the first year of a study programme and who have an agreement on the award of the scholarship for the upper secondary education).

The right to accommodation is also granted to students meeting one of the following criteria: 1) Students whose both parents are deceased, missing or unknown; students whose parents are divorced (including the children from common-law marriages), and whose parent which was the legal guardian and with whom the student lived has passed away; Students who were placed in foster homes or foster families until the age of 18; Students with disabilities ranging between 1st and 5th category (50% of disability and more), including the students with disabilities enrolled in postgraduate specialist study programmes. These students are also eligible for subsidised accommodation during the period 15 July to 1 September.

Students who are not directly granted accommodation in a student dormitory, but who meet the prescribed general requirements, may be awarded a place in a dormitory based on the total number of points assigned in the assessment procedure. The total number of points is assigned on the basis of the average grade, academic performance, won awards, enrolment in a programme leading to a qualification in high demand (shortage occupation), based on the socio-economic status and the status of a Croatian Homeland War veteran or a child of a Croatian War veteran. Points for awards and academic performance in upper secondary and higher education are awarded for the results in the secondary education leaving examination (državna matura), for the upper secondary education curriculum-related national and international awards, to the winners of the Rector’s Award, and the winners of the Dean’s Award. Points for students in shortage occupation study programmes are awarded to the top 10 qualifications on the list of qualifications and professions in an area of skill shortage issued by the National Bureau of Statistics. Points based on the socio-economic status are assigned to students whose one parent is deceased, missing or unknown; students who have a sibling of the preschool age or in full-time education; students who are children of divorced parents living in a single-parent household; students who have a sibling with disabilities due to which the sibling does not participate in full-time education; students who have one or both parents with a 100% disability; disabled students in 6th – 10th category of disability; students whose household is a beneficiary of the minimum income allowance; a student – mother or father of a child younger than 18; students whose total monthly income per household member in the previous calendar year did not exceed 65% of the budgetary basis. Points for students-Croatian war veterans or children of Croatian war veterans who are not granted direct accommodation in a dormitory are assigned to students-Croatian Homeland War veterans who were prisoners of war, students who were injured while serving as Croatian soldiers in the Homeland War and students who are disabled Croatian Homeland war veterans, children of killed Homeland War veterans and children of disabled Croatian Homeland war veterans as well as to students who are children of Croatian Homeland War veterans.

The following groups are not eligible for accommodation:

1. Students who have not enrolled in a full-time study programme in the academic year for which the call has been announced are not entitled to accommodation regardless of the results of the assessment process.
2. Students in undergraduate, graduate or integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme and short-cycle professional programme as well as those in professional or specialist graduate professional programme who have been awarded less than 18 ECTS-credits in the current academic year (in accordance with the programme in which they are enrolled) – with the exception of first-year students of the second cycle who enrolled in the second cycle in the summer semester.
3. Students who have changed the study programme (without completing the previous one) and who are to enrol in the first year of another programme if they apply with their secondary education grades. Students who are switching to another study programme should submit the information on the average grade and the awarded ECTS-credits in the previous study programme.

200 points will be deducted in case of the students against which a disciplinary measure has been taken in previous years. Students who have conducted a serious misdemeanour of abusing the awarded dormitory accommodation shall be penalised by the termination of the right to accommodation. Students who were granted the direct right to accommodation and who have conducted a grave disciplinary offence shall lose the direct right to dormitory accommodation.

Vacancies in student dormitories are filled based on a public call. The public call for awarding accommodation in student dormitories and a public call for awarding accommodation subsidies are announced by student centres for each academic year. The call for the dormitory accommodation and accommodation subsidy is carried out by the Public Call Committee and the Appeal Committee, appointed by student centres in accordance with their internal regulations. The public call for dormitory accommodation and accommodation subsidies is announced on notice boards and websites of all student centres.

The Public Call Committee publishes the ranking list proposal (preliminary ranking list) on the notice boards and the website of each student centre. During the 8-day appeal period following the announcement of the preliminary ranking list, the students who were not granted dormitory accommodation or accommodation subsidy can submit a written appeal to the Appeal Committee of the student centre, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the public call. The Appeal Committee considers the appeals made within the set deadline and, no later than 15 days following the appeal period, reaches a decision on accepting or rejecting the appeals, defining the final ranking list. The final ranking list is announced on notice boards and the website of each student centre.

Students are granted the right to subsidised accommodation rented from a private owner based on the total number of points assigned, the same as the students applying for the accommodation in a student dormitory. The subsidy quota for a particular town is decided by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, based on the number of students who study in that town and whose permanent address is not in the same town as well as based on the available funds in the state budget.

The amount secured for an individual accommodation subsidy for student dormitory and boarding home accommodation as well as for accommodation subsidy for private accommodation is stipulated by the Minister, who passes a special decision based on the available funds in the state budget. The Minister may determine a subsidy amount depending on the socio-economic status of a student. Students are entitled to subsidised accommodation in the period 1 September to 15 July. A minimum of 50% of the vacancies in the accommodation facilities which were either renovated or built using EU Structural Funds must be filled with students whose total monthly income per household member (all persons with the same registered address) does not exceed 65% of the budgetary basis.

Student food

Rules on the subsidy towards the cost of student meals (Official Gazette no. 51/02) set out the criteria and the method for acquiring and exercising students’ rights to the Ministry’s subsidy. Pursuant to individual decisions of the Minister and according to the geographical and traffic characteristics of a student’s place of residence, a student is awarded level 2 rights, or the right to two subsidised meals a day.

The right to the subsidy towards the cost of student meals is granted to full-time students in a university undergraduate programme, university graduate programme, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme, short-cycle programme, undergraduate professional programme and specialist graduate professional study programme at a higher education institution in Croatia, who is a citizen of an EU-member state and who meets the prescribed requirements.

Higher education institutions may conclude an agreement with student meal service providers, regulating the way in which the HEI provides subsidy towards the student meals of full-time students who are citizens of a non-EU member state or a full-time student whose stay in Croatia is arranged under an agreement concluded between a Croatian and a foreign HEI. Exceptionally, the beneficiary of the subsidy may be a student who is a foreign citizen and who is a Ministry scholarship holder, based on the reciprocity principle, if the right to subsidy was agreed under international student exchange programme agreements (Erasmus, CEEPUS and international bilateral agreements) or under a special decision by the Ministry. The duration and the period during which this right is granted to the beneficiaries stipulated in item 4 of this Article are regulated under a special Ministry’s decision.

The right to the subsidy is not granted to: a student who is to enrol in the next academic year or a new study programme of the same level, and who has accumulated less than 18 ECTS-credits in the previous academic year; a student who has accumulated less than 36 ECTS-credits during two consecutive academic years; a student who is changing the academic programme for the second time, enrolling in a study programme of the same level for the third time.

The subsidy covers a part of the cost of daily meals in the restaurants with which the Ministry or an institution authorised by the Ministry (a student centre, HEI) has concluded an agreement on the provision of student meals. The subsidy beneficiaries are granted different subsidy amounts, depending on the level of awarded rights, expressed as the number of subsidised complete meals per day. The level of right to a subsidy is marked by the following numbers: 1, 2 and 2.5, signifying the right to a subsidy of one, two or 2.5 subsidised meals a day, respectively.

The level 1 right is granted to all subsidy beneficiaries, including those who were granted the right to accommodation in boarding homes providing meals. The level 2 right is granted to the following categories of students: beneficiaries with a temporary address in the town in which they study, but with a permanent address outside of the county in which they study; beneficiaries who have a permanent or temporary address registered in a place with poor public transport connections with the town in which they study; foreign citizens who are beneficiaries of international exchange programmes (Erasmus, CEEPUS and international bilateral agreements) as Ministry’ s scholarship holders; foreign citizens from non-EU member states studying in Croatia. The level 2.5 rights is granted to the following groups of beneficiaries: the students who were, under the public call, granted the right to accommodation in student dormitories or boarding homes providing student meals; students of very low socio-economic status; students who are top athletes, if proved that they temporarily live in the town in which they study and that this town is different than the place of their permanent address.

The subsidised amount – the subsidy provided by the Ministry covers: 71.24% of the commercial price of a set meal and individual dishes included in the set meal; 50% of the commercial price of individual dishes and other food items which are not included in set meals.

Student transport

In accordance with the Regulation on the conditions and procedures for the realisation of the right to the subsidy towards transport cost for full-time students with disability, the right to subsidised transport is granted to full-time students enrolled in an undergraduate university programme, graduate university programme, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme, a short-cycle programme, an undergraduate professional programme or a specialist graduate professional programme and to full-time students of postgraduate programmes at HEIs in Croatia who meet the prescribed requirements.

The right to the subsidy is granted to full-time students with a disability degree of least 60%, in accordance with the Ordinance on the methodology of expert evaluation (Official Gazette no. 153/14). The right to the subsidy may be used in the period of the duration of the full-time study programme and during 12 months following the period, and it is determined based on the confirmation of the student’s status issued by the HEI. The students who are not enrolling the given year of the study programme for the first time are entitled to the subsidy if they accumulated at least 30 ECTS-credits in the previous year.

The right to the subsidy is not granted to: the students who, over the course of the study programme, accumulated a number of ECTS-credits which, divided by the number of years of study that the student has enrolled in, amounts to less than 30 ECTS-credits. Any academic year in which the student requested a suspension of student rights, in accordance with the Act on Scientific Activity and Higher Education, is not included in this criterion; students who have changed the study programme more than twice and who are enrolled in the first year of a third study programme of the same level; students enrolling in a degree programme of the same level as the programme in which they already acquired a degree and for which they used the right to the subsidy; students receiving a financial support for transport from another source; students who do not meet the prescribed requirements; students who have requested a suspension of the student status for the period for which they are requesting subsidised transport; students of postgraduate study programmes who fail to enrol in the next semester at the beginning of in the new academic year.

The subsidised amount towards the cost of student transport is stipulated by a minister’s decision before each academic year, in accordance with the earmarked funds in the state budget. The Minister may revise the amount of funds to be allocated for the subsidies towards student transport costs over the course of an academic year, depending on the balance of the earmarked funds in the state budget.

Grants and scholarships

In accordance with the Ordinance on the conditions and procedures regulating the right to state scholarships, the right to a state scholarship is granted to full-time students who are citizens of Croatia or another EU-member state with a registered address in Croatia and an approved status of a foreigner with residence in Croatia, enrolled in HEIs in Croatia:

• in an undergraduate university programme, graduate university programme, integrated undergraduate and graduate university programme, a short-cycle programme, an undergraduate professional programme or a specialist graduate professional programme and to full-time students of postgraduate programmes
• in a postgraduate university programme, in case of students with disabilities and students without adequate parental care, in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance.

The students of the specified status may apply for a state scholarship in the following categories:

• D-1 – the students who are children of the killed, deceased and missing, under the circumstances laid down in the Act on the Protection of Disabled Civil and Military War Victims, and children of peacetime disabled military and civil war victims whose disability occurred under the circumstances specified in the same Act;
• E – students of a low socio-economic status;
• P – students with disability and students without adequate parental care enrolled in postgraduate study programmes.

Furthermore, students who meet the following general conditions may apply for a state scholarship: full-time students, who are citizens of Croatia or another EU-member state with a registered address in Croatia and an approved status of a foreigner with residence in Croatia, enrolled in HEIs in Croatia.

State scholarship applications are assessed and awarded in different categories to the students who meet the following specific requirements: D-1 – the category with three specific requirements: average monthly income per household member may not exceed 60% of the minimum budgetary basis, determined annually, based on a special regulation; proof of the status of a child of a killed, deceased or missing person or the status of a child of a disabled peacetime military or civil victim enclosed to the application; Statement on the members of the household. E – the category with two specific requirements: average monthly income per household member may not exceed 60% of the minimum budgetary basis, determined annually, based on a special regulation; Statement on household members enclosed to the application. P – the category with five specific requirements: disability evaluation certificate, or, in case of students without adequate parental care, confirmation of the student’s placement in a foster home or a foster family by the age of 18; enrolment in a postgraduate university programme, as attested by the certificate issued by the HEI providing the programme; the unemployment status, as proved by the statement of the competent employment authority; in case of disabled students, the average monthly income per a household member should not exceed 100% of the budgetary basis determined annually, based on a special regulation; the Statement on household members should be enclosed to the application in case of students with disabilities.

The following categories of students are not eligible for the award of state scholarships in any of the categories:

• students who collected less than 45 ECTS-credits in the previous academic year, unless the student is enrolling for the first time in the first year of a programme (the period during which the student has requested the suspension of the student status does not count);
• students who have in the course of the study programme accumulated a number of ECTS-credits, which, when divided by the number of previously enrolled academic years, is smaller than 45, not including the current academic year; who, in the academic year in which they are applying for the scholarship, enrolled in the first year of a same-level programme in the full-time student status for the second time (applicable only to students who changed the study course in the year in which they are applying for the scholarship);
• students who have changed the study programme more than twice and thus enrolled in a study programme of the same level three times, in the full-time student status.

Students who have suspended their student status in the academic year of the scholarship award are not eligible candidates.

Application assessment for the category E state scholarship – for students of low socio-economic status – is carried out as follows: 1) Students whose income per household member is HRK 500 or less will be assigned 1,500 points; for the income per household member between HRK 500.01 and HRK 650.00, 1,350 points will be assigned; for between HRK 650.01 and HRK 800.00, 1,200 points are assigned; for between HRK 800.01 and HRK 950.00, 1,050 points are assigned; for between HRK 950.01 and HRK 1,100.00, 900 points are assigned, for between HRK 1,100.01 and HRK 1,250.00, 750 points are assigned, for between HRK 1,250.01 and HRK 1.400,00, 600 points are assigned, for between HRK 1,400.01 and HRK 1,550.00, 450 points are assigned, for between HRK 1,550.01 and HRK 1,800.00, 300 points are assigned, for between HRK 1.800.01 and HRK 2,161.90, 150 points are assigned. 2) For students-parents, 300 points are assigned for each child. 3) For students whose one parent is deceased, killed or missing, 30 points are assigned; for students whose both parents are deceased, killed or missing and for students without adequate parental care, 600 points are assigned. 4) Students who have a sibling with disabilities due to which the sibling does not participate in full-time education, in accordance with the social care provisions, 200 points are assigned for each such sibling living in the same household. 5) For students living outside the place of their permanent residence, 200 points are awarded. 6) For students whose family is a beneficiary of the minimum income allowance, in accordance with the social care provisions, 200 points are assigned, provided that they belong to the same household as their family. 7) For students whose both parents have 100% disability, 300 points are assigned, and for one parent with a 100% disability, 150 points are assigned, provided that they belong to the same household. 8) For students who have a sibling of preschool age or enrolled in a full-time primary, secondary or higher education programme, 150 points are assigned for each sibling living in the same household. If two or more students have an equal number of points, the preference in awarding category E scholarships shall be given to the student with a lower income per household member.

State scholarships are paid out in at least nine monthly payments in the minimum amount of HRK 1,200.00. If the sufficient funds are earmarked in the state budget for that purpose, the Minister may, in the call for the award of state scholarships, specify a higher monthly amount and/or a higher number of monthly payments. In the call for the award of state scholarships, the Minister also specifies the period during which the scholarships will be awarded.

State scholarships are awarded based on the public call specifying the documents to be enclosed to prove the compliance with the set requirements.

The Minister announces the public call for the award of state scholarships. The Minister may announce more than one public call in a single year. The selection procedure is implemented by the State Scholarship Award Committee, appointed by the Minister.

The Committee consists of seven members, including the chairman, out of which, three are student representatives - two are university student representatives and one is a representative of the students of polytechnics and schools of professional higher education; one representative of the Rectors’ Conference and one representative of the Council of Polytechnics and Schools of Professional Higher Education; and two representatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. The members of the Committee are made public in the call. The call for the award of state scholarships is announced on the Ministry’s and HEI’s websites. A student may apply for the state scholarship award in only one category. For the purpose of ensuring the transparency of the procedure, a preliminary ranking list of the students who applied for the award of state scholarships and specifying the students to be awarded scholarships is published on the website of the Ministry. During the eight-day period following the publication of the preliminary ranking list, the students who were not listed as the winners of scholarships may submit a written appeal to the Ministry. The State Scholarship Award Committee will consider the timely appeals and submit to the Minister the following lists, no later than 30 days following the end of the appeal period:

• the list of candidates whose appeal has been accepted, by scholarship categories;
• the total and final list of scholarship holders by state scholarship categories, based on the selection procedure and the accepted appeals.

At the time of the conclusion of the state scholarship award agreement, as well as during the agreement period, the student may not be a beneficiary of any other scholarship. In exceptional cases, students studying on the same level of study at a HEI abroad may receive another scholarship for the period of the placement and/or the period of mobility and international student exchange.

Very few scholarships are awarded in Croatia. Only a small proportion of students receive state grants (4.5%). A study on social inclusion in higher education identified a connection between the higher education academic performance and the socio-economic status of the students. Due to a lack of funds, students of a lower socio-economic status are less likely to enter higher education, and, if they do, they face a higher risk of dropping out. Policy measures, introduced in 2012 and 2013 mark a transition from the indirect support approach (equal subsidy level of accommodation and meals for all students, regardless of their socio-economic status) to a direct support approach (scholarships for students of a lower socio-economic status).

Mobility

As for mobility, the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes implements: Erasmus+, which offers possibilities for spending a study period or a placement period abroad; Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus, enabling the successful candidates to complete a study programme in at least two European countries; CEEPUS, offering possibilities for spending a study or a placement period in one of the countries of the Central or Eastern Europe; and bilateral programmes of mobility in higher education, offering possibilities for completing a semester, an academic year or a complete undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree programme abroad; and Europass, a set of documents facilitating recognition of study/placement periods aboard.

Croatian higher education system is characterised by low outbound (1.9%) and inbound mobility. The identified obstacles refer primarily to insufficient funds, which are primarily secured under the Erasmus programme. In the period 2014 to 2020, the Erasmus+ programme will include 5% of outgoing students, whereas only 0.7% of students will be mobile in 2014/2015. Incoming students represent a significant aspect of “internationalisation at home”. According to the estimates, foreign mobile students currently account for less than 0.05 % of the total number of students in Croatia. The Education, Science and Technology Strategy set the benchmark of 10% of mobile students for the outbound mobility by 2015 and 5% for the inbound mobility. The ESF funds will target outbound mobility of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM fields), ICT as well as other priority fields as specified in the smart specialisation strategy, national economic development strategies and key development technologies defined under the Industry Strategy 2014 – 2020.

Student loans

Pupils and students have access to student loans which are offered by almost all the banks. Local and regional government units can negotiate subsidised loans or lower interest rates on student loans. Similar incentives are present at the university level, where universities make such agreements independently, or in cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, the county or the town. On the Croatian marker, interest rates on student loans, including those subsidised by the local government, range between 4.5 and 8.5 percent.

A positive example of a local authority initiative is the City of Osijek, which has entered into a business agreement with a bank, undertaking the obligation of co-financing the subsidised interest on student loans for full-time students of university, professional and postgraduate study programmes who meet the requirements prescribed by the City of Osijek. The loan may be used during the period which is equal to the period of the study, or the remaining period of the study of loan beneficiaries, with the additional benefit of the possibility to defer the repayment schedule by up to 12 months. In this way, the repayment of the principal amount may not begin until after the study programme. The repayment period is 120 months, regardless of the study period.

The city subsidises the interest in the amount of 2.81 %, so that the annual interest rate for the students amounts to 2.95 %. The interest rate is variable and payable in the Croatian currency. For undergraduate and graduate students, the loans to cover living expenses are available, ranging between HRK 500 and HRK 1 500 a month, to students living in the Osijek area. For those studying in Croatia, but outside of Osijek, the loans are approved in the monthly amount of HRK 1,000 to 3,000, and between HRK 2,000 to HRK 4,000 for students studying aboard. For undergraduate and graduate degree programmes, the maximum annual loan for the tuition fee is HRK 18,000 for the programmes provided by Osijek HEIs, HRK 30,000 for the programmes provided by other Croatian HEIs (outside of Osijek), and HRK 48,000 for the programmes provided by HEIs in another country. In case of postgraduate degree programmes, the loans for tuition fees payable to Croatian HEIs can be granted in the maximum annual amount of HRK 42,000, and for programmes provided by foreign HEIs, in the amount of HRK 60,000. Based on the public call for the award of student loans, the Student Loan Committee of the City of Osijek processes applications and issues approvals for the issuance of reduced-interest student loans.

Another valuable initiative is the foundation established by the University of Rijeka, the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the City of Rijeka and other legal and natural persons, for the purpose of issuing student loans. The intention of the foundation is to use the yield to subsidise the interest on Rijeka University student loans. The interest is subsidised in such a way so that the loan beneficiary does not pay the intercalary interest during the repayment period. The University secures 100% subsidy of the interest on used funds during the repayment period and the deferred repayment period for all the listed loan beneficiaries. The maximum repayment period is ten years, with the option of activating a maximum 12-month deferred repayment period following the completion of the programme.

Eligible loan candidates include students who need the loan to credit living expenses and tuition. The maximum monthly loan for living expenses is EUR 300, provided that the amount includes any other scholarships, grants and loans used by the beneficiary. For the candidates who were awarded subsidised accommodation in student dormitories, a loan in the maximum monthly amount of EUR 150 can be granted. In addition to crediting living expenses, the loan may be used to allow students to pay the tuition, to the full amount, and may amount to as much as EUR 11,000. Tuition crediting can be requested for only one academic year, separately for each academic year or for the entire duration of the programme.

The loan beneficiaries shall be entitled to subsidised interest rates during the entire repayment period if they meet the condition of having a temporary or permanent address registered in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County after the completion of the study programme and if the income per the beneficiary’s household member does not exceed 150% of the average salary. Additionally, excellence (academic performance) is another criterion based on which the interest may be subsidised beyond the referenced fixed interest rate of 3.31 %. On the basis of excellence criterion, the interest can be subsidised by the foundation, up to the full amount. On the Croatian market, interest rates on student loans, including those subsidised by the local government, range between 4.5 and 8.5 percent.

Private Education

A private university, polytechnic and professional school of higher education is founded based on a founder’s decision, in accordance with the provisions of the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act and the provisions regulating the establishment of institutions. Counties, towns and municipalities may establish a professional school of higher education based on the decision by a representative body. The provisions regulating private HEIs apply to professional schools of higher education.

Private HEIs may be financed from the state budget, based on a previously concluded agreement, provided that the HEI: a) provides an activity in which the social demand exceeds the available public provision by public HEIs or an activity of special national interest; b) meets all legal requirements; c) complies with the criteria and priorities determined by the National Council, taking into account the level of available funds and the quality of the HEI. Religious higher education institutions established pursuant to general regulations of religious communities have equal rights and obligations as the HEIs regulated under the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act, if they meet the conditions specified under this act. The position of a religious higher education institution which is a faculty/department within one of the public universities is regulated under an agreement between a university and the founder of the institution. The position and the activity of Catholic faculties of theology which are constituent units of public universities and other religious HEIs operating within public universities is regulated in accordance with the valid international agreements and the agreements between the founder and the university, pursuant to the consent of a competent state and Church authority. Religious communities may establish higher education institutions and organise non-religious study programmes, in accordance with the provisions of the act regulating private HEIs.

Religious communities are free, in accordance with the competent law, to establish schools and education institutions of any education level and have the right to establish religious schools and religious education institutions of any level which have been granted the legal status and accredited for the provision of public services in accordance with the legally prescribed conditions. In the higher education sector, there is an increasing number of private institutions, mostly offering professional first-cycle (bachelor) and short-cycle programs. In accordance with the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act, the HEIs established by Church authorities are always private HEIs. Universities provide non-religious study programmes, and therefore these HEIs are considered private accredited higher education institutions, to which, in accordance with the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act, the provisions regulating private HEIs apply.

In accordance with the Agreement on Cooperation in Education and Culture, on 12 October 2004, the Croatian Bishops’ Conference passed a decision on the establishment of the Catholic University. The founder of the University is the Zagreb Archdiocese, and the Croatian Bishops’ Conference is the sponsor. The Zagreb Archdiocese, pursuant to a decision by the Croatian Bishops’ Conference, entered into an agreement with the Croatian Government in 2007, stipulating that the Zagreb Archbishop, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, established the University, pursuant to a decree by the Archdiocese and in accordance with the canon law of the Catholic Church in Croatia.

As for the financing, the agreement stipulates that the Republic of Croatia shall allocate monthly funds for the salaries and other allowances for the staff providing undergraduate and graduate programmes, for 40 students per a year of each study programme, and for the salaries and other allowances for professional and other staff, in accordance with the provisions regulating salaries of civil servants and employees; and that the contracting parties agree that the University shall be granted funds under the provisions of the Agreement between the Holy See and Croatia.