Serbian universities record surge in applicants despite government anti‑campus campaign

Over 3,750 prospective students applied to the University of Niš for the June 19‑25 entrance exams, with 4,446 budget places across 14 faculties. Psychology drew the most interest, receiving 275 applications for 90 seats, far above the allocated quota. Medicine, dental medicine and pharmacy also saw strong demand, with 336, 112 and 78 applications respectively.

At the University of Belgrade, 17,016 candidates signed up for 15,315 seats, the greatest concentration at the Faculty of Economics, followed by the Faculty of Organizational Sciences and the Faculty of Philosophy. Government officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić and Minister Darek Glišić, publicly urged parents not to enroll children at "blocked" universities, referencing a recent student death. Despite these warnings and instances of police confrontations with students, applicant numbers rose compared with previous years, indicating sustained public interest in higher education.