Serbia: High-paying mining faculties face low student enrollment

In Serbia, there is a notable discrepancy between student enrollment trends and labor market demands. While popular faculties such as Organizational Sciences, Electrical Engineering, and Medicine see high application numbers, several other institutions remain underpopulated despite offering high earning potential.

The Faculty of Mining and Geology is a primary example. Despite the mining industry being one of the top three highest-paying sectors in Serbia—with average February salaries reaching approximately 180,000 dinars (over 2,000 euros)—the faculty saw only 99 applicants in the June enrollment round, leaving more than 200 spots vacant. Professor Čedomir Beljić noted that while specialized fields like oil and geotechnics remain popular, fundamental sciences such as geophysics and certain geology tracks struggle to attract students.