Expat Serbia

Serbian school system

Serbia is a country with a great number of educated people, like teachers, lawyers, engineers, doctors, professors, journalists and others.

It means hat, beside a difficult economic situation, the present school system functions, giving expected results.

Pre-school/kindergarten
The preparatory preschool program is mandatory, meaning all children must be enrolled in kindergarten at the ages of between of five and a half and six and a half. At enrolment in the pre-school, the parents (guardians) need to provide a health examination certificate and birth certificate. This program is free of charge, and the parents/guardians can choose the kindergarten the child will be attending.

Primary education
Primary education is compulsory for the children between the ages of six and a half and seven and a half. It lasts eight years and consist of two education cycles: the first from first to fourth grade (organized through the classroom teaching) and the second cycle of fifth to eighth grade (through subject teaching).

A expat may enrol school under the same conditions and in the manner prescribed by law for citizens of Serbia. In the case of foreign citizens do not know the language the school organizes language lessons, or preparatory and additional classes.

1-5 grading scale is used for all grades except for the first grade. Highest on scale is 5 ,pass/ fail level is 2 and the lowest on scale is grade 1.

Children attending Belgrade elementary schools will from 1 September keep everything they need in the school lockers. Starting September a total of 179 schools and 288 buildings will be equipped with the lockers.

Secondary education
Persons that have acquired primary education and passed the final exam may enrol first grade of secondary school. Duration is 4 years, from 15 to 19 years. Type of schools providing this education are: grammar, vocational and art schools. A expat has the right to education under the same conditions as a citizens of Serbia. Grading system in secondary school is the same as the grading system primary education. The certificate awarded at the end is the "Diploma o Završenoj Srednjoj Školi".

Higher education
Higher education includes following institution of higher education: university, faculty and art academy, academy of vocational studies, college, college of vocational studies. Studies of the first degree are:

• undergraduate academics studies
• undergraduate vocational studies

Studies of second degree are:

• graduate academic studies - Master
• specialist vocational studies
• specialist academic studies.

Doctoral academic studies are studies of the third degree.

Organization of Studies

• Bachelor

The person that completes the undergraduate academic/vocational studies obtains the professional title of first degree of academic/ vocational studies in the appropriate field - Bachelor’s degree.

• Master

Graduate academic studies can be organized by a university, faculty and college.
and last one or two years (depending on the duration of undergraduate academic studies). After completing this studies the person gains the academic title - Master.

• Integrated Studies (single cycle program)

Academic study programs in medical sciences can be organized as integrated studies, as part of the undergraduate and graduate academic studies, with total not exceeding 360 ECTS points.

• Doctorate

Doctoral studies can be organized by universities or faculties and last at least one year, provided undergraduate and graduate academic studies lasted at least five years.

Main grading system used by higher education institutions 5-10 grading scale is used, with 6 as a pass level. Highest on scale is 10, pass / fail level is 6 and 5 and the lowest on scale is 5.

Read about the future reforms in the school system.

Source: Ministry of Education