Croatia records surge in university applications while 900 students face housing shortage

In the latest enrollment round, 33,422 candidates applied for university places in Croatia, 1,028 more than the previous year, choosing from 1,400 study programmes with a total quota of 40,445 seats. The most sought‑after first‑choice programmes, relative to quota, were drama acting at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, physiotherapy at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Split, radiology technology at the University of Zagreb School of Health Studies, speech therapy at the Educational‑Rehabilitation Faculty in Zagreb, nursing at the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health in Osijek, as well as business economics and electrical engineering at the University of Zagreb. Applicants who miss the summer round can still apply for the autumn round, which runs until 16 September.

Meanwhile, the Croatian Science and Education Council (MOST) warned that the closure of pavilions 5 and 6 of the Stjepan Radić student dorm and renovation of pavilion 8 will leave about 900 students without accommodation in the next academic year. The council says the number of students eligible for dorm housing but unable to obtain it could rise to nearly 4,000. A monthly subsidy of €152 for private housing is deemed insufficient compared with rents of €600‑€800. MOST calls for the subsidy to be increased to at least €300 and for new student dorms to be built, citing the stalled Borongaj campus project as a missed opportunity.