Study in Montenegro
Legislation covering the field of tertiary education The Montenegrin Higher Education Act was adopted in October 2003, in the same year that Montenegro officially became a Bologna signatory country.
The number of students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate study programmes doubled in 2005/06, since 2003.
Types of tertiary education programmes and qualifications
Higher education in Montenegro is structured as a three-cycle system and includes:
- Bachelor studies (osnovne studije)
- Master studies (magistarske studije)
- Doctoral studies (doktorske studije)
A Diploma Supplement (DS) based on the official European model is issued to graduates. As of 2006/07, the DS was made mandatory for all degree programmes and it is free of charge. The content of the DS is bilingual, in both Montenegrin and English. If the student studies in one of minorities' languages, then a diploma and a diploma supplement is issued in the minority's language.
Bachelor study programmes are organised as three year courses. After one additional year, the student may be awarded a specialist diploma (the first stage of postgraduate studies), and after a further year, he or she may be awarded a Master degree.
Doctoral programmes include obligatory course work and individual research. The doctoral dissertation is the final part of the study programme, except in arts, which is an artistic programme.
Study programmes in Montenegro can be divided into two streams:
- Academic study programmes (akademske studije)
- Applied study programmes (primijenjene studije)
Only academic study programmes can lead to the diploma of Doctoral studies, while applied study programmes can lead to the level of Master.
General application requirements
Student enrolment is based on the open public competition of the universities for all study programmes.
Applicants who want to enroll for a particular study programme need to submit the following documents:
- original high school graduation certificate,
- original diploma on passed “matura”, or final examination
- birth certificate
- diploma “Luca” (the highest award issued to the best pupils based on all the best marks gained throughout the whole secondary school study period).
The matriculation or professional exam is valued with at least 15% of the total number of points obtained at admission.
Enrolment is competitive, in accordance with the results achieved during secondary school, and accordingly a ranking list is established. For enrolment in certain study programmes, additional examinations may be required.
Foreign citizen may enrol under the same conditions as Montenegrin citizens, but they need to have their diplomas recognised. If the process of diploma recognition is not finished, foreign citizen may enrol provisionally, provided that the process for diploma recognition had already been initiated. Foreign students have the status as self-financing students.
Find additional information about higher education in Montenegro.
Types of tertiary education institutions
There is only one public higher education institution in Montenegro.
The first private university started to operate in Montenegro in 2006, while the second opened in 2010.
Apart from the private universities, there are also 7 individual private faculties in Montenegro, at which around 2,400 students are studying.
Assessment, progression, certification and degree
The most common form of assessment for students is written examinations, but there are also oral examinations. Students financed from the state budget who do not fulfil the criteria to continue their studies as a budget-funded student may continue as self-financing students.
Conversely, self-financing students who pass all exams may become budget-funded students if there are places available on their study programme. Those students are chosen on credits gained and academic performance during their studies.
The final examination is an individual elaboration of a particular issue in a field related to the study programme.
English language courses in MontenegroFind a wide selection of English language courses offered in Montenegro in order to meet English language requirements for university admission. Compare all types of language learning options in English language schools in Montenegro, from general or intensive English lessons, exam preparation English classes, business English courses, teacher training, and more. Select one of the diverse English class options in Montenegro:
- English language courses in Podgorica
Study visa
Foreign citizens may apply for a Montenegrin visa at the competent diplomatic or consular post of Montenegro in their country.
In countries where Montenegro has no diplomatic or consular post, Montenegrin visa applications may be submitted to the Serbian diplomatic or consular post. Foreign citizens in Armenia, Azerbaijan or Georgia may apply for a Montenegrin visa at the Embassy of Bulgaria in these countries.
Required documents for visa application include:
Ask your local embassy or consulate for detailed information about student visa application in Montenegro.
Living in Montenegro
- Foreign student tuition fees cost 1000 to 3000 Euro per year.
- A regular meal in an inexpensive restaurant is about 8 EUR
- Renting a one-room apartment outside the city centre is over 225 EUR per month.
- A three-room apartment outside the city centre is about 325 and up.
- There are four National Parks in Montenegro. The National Park Durmitor attracts many tourists because of its amazing natural beauty.
- Hiking, Biking, Mountaineering, Walking, Swimming, Skiing, Bungee Jumping, Rafting are only part of the activities in which you can enjoy in Durmitor.
- A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Bay of Kotor is Europe"s southernmost fjord and the largest natural harbour in the eastern Mediterranean.
- The official language is Montenegrin, essentially the same as Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian.
- Stunning mountainous landscapes, dramatic coastlines, historic monuments and beautiful walled towns.
- Montenegro is an ecological state.
- Through the numerous event and festivals, the tourist gets the opportunity to learn more about the traditions and customs of this country.
- Our Lady of the Rock (Gospa od Skrpjela) is a little island in Boka Bay, with an amazing church and museum.
- Many small restarurants on the Perast coast will offer you great fish specialities. This is for sure, one of the TOP places in this part of Europe.
- Skadar/Scadar/Scutari Lake is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula.
About Montenegro
Montenegro covers solely around 14.000 km2 and it only has about 670.000 citizens.
During centuries of its rich history, Montenegro has survived and remained one of the brightest models for the fight for freedom, for its own existence, and a place of which people always spoke with respect. Christian, Muslim, Illyrian, Byzantine, Turkish, and Slav civilizations merged here making Montenegro forever a crossroad of culture and history.
Montenegro has changed its name many times, from the Latin era under the mane of Prevalis, to the medieval state Zeta, and then to the modern name Crna Gora (MONTENEGRO). As the name changed, so did the land, thanks to the influence of all the civilizations, which for a shorter or longer period settled the territory of Montenegro, turning it into a mosaic of cultural heritage.
Montenegro, under this name, dates back to the 15th century, and for hundreds of years it managed to keep its independency from the Ottoman Empire. After World War I it became part of the Kingdon of Serbs, Croats and Slovens and part of Yugoslavia in 1929. After the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1992, Montenegro formed a loose union with Serbia and became completely independent after the referendum in 2006.
Even though small, with only 411 km of state borders, Montenegro opens towards Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Croatia as land neighbours.
Through the integration processes, Montenegro is becoming the full right member of the South-Eastern Association of states. Its political and strategic position and peace loving orientation make it a factor of stability in the region, and a partner for bigger and more powerful countries. As a young state, in terms of independence, in just a few months it managed to get the acceptance from the North–Atlantic International Institution, which gave hope to the goal of the Montenegro state – to preserve itself and its cultural identity, and to in a best possible way contribute, with its existence, to the progress of the entire region.
Podgorica is the capital and biggest city in Montenegro. Bigger towns on the shore, observed from the south, are Ulcinj, a medieval fortification, which is surrounded by many romantic legends and stories about people who have visited it, defended it and conquered it. Bar is the centre of early medieval culture, and the biggest harbour in this part of the Mediterranean.
Montenegro is a republic with a President elected for 5 years and a Prime Minister headig the Government for the executive branch. For a legislative body, Montenegro has an unicameral Assembly of 81 members. It has a Constitutional Court and a Supreme Court as judicial branch.
Montenegro is a member of the UN and a candidate for membership of the European Union and NATO.
Interested in scholarships for Montenegro? Check out our scholarship search page.
How to Apply to a Master's in Montenegro
If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Montenegro, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.
What documents do I need to provide to apply in Montenegro?
To apply to a university in Montenegro you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- your passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in Montenegro so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.
Prove your English skills
Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Montenegro
The deadlines for applying to a Master's in Montenegro are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.
To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.
