The Croatian higher education system has a long educational tradition preserved primarily through the work of its public universities, which are (in alphabetical order): J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, University of Dubrovnik, University North, University of Rijeka, University of Slavonski Brod, University of Split, University of Zadar and University of Zagreb.
The University of Zadar was the first university in Croatia, founded in 1396. It remained active until 1807, when other higher education institutions took over the activities of the University until the foundation of the renewed University of Zadar in 2002.
The University of Zagreb, founded in 1669, is the oldest continuously operating university in South Eastern Europe. It is now the country's largest university, ranked 257th university in Europe according to the QS World University Rankings. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Ranking, it is ranked among the top 700 universities in the world. The University of Zagreb is also ranked among the world’s top 100 universities in Marine/Ocean Engineering, placing 39th globally in the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS). According to GRAS, it is within the 76–100 range globally in Food Science and Technology and Agricultural Sciences, and within the 101–150 range in Mathematics, among more than 500 ranked institutions worldwide.
The University of Split, the second largest Croatian university, is ranked among the top 450 universities in Europe in the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education rankings.
The Croatian higher education system is structured according to three cycles (undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate) and higher education studies in Croatia are organised according to the system of transferable credits (ECTS), thus making it easier for international students (from Europe and beyond) to study in Croatia and have their studies recognised in their home countries.
The Act on Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education adopted 2009 established the Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE) as the quality assurance agency for higher education in Croatia. The Agency provides the external evaluation of higher education institutions using different types of quality evaluations and on the basis of the European Standards and Guidelines. ASHE is a member of ENQA and listed in EQAR.
Please check the section “Study in Croatia” for more information about Croatian higher education system, institutions and enrolment.