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Last modified: 2026-09-28

# Cost of Studying in Serbia for International Students in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs and First-Year Budget

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International students pay tuition in Serbia even at public universities. Serbian-taught programmes usually cost foreign citizens $1,705–3,410 (€1,500–3,000) a year: for 2026/27 the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law charges $2,802 (€2,465) and the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad $2,273 (€2,000). English-taught programmes and medicine cost more — English-taught medicine in Belgrade is $9,094 (€8,000) a year. Study in Serbia estimates living costs at $853–1,648 (€750–1,450) a month in Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac and $966–2,273 (€850–2,000) in Belgrade. Our calculation from these figures puts a first year with tuition, living costs and paperwork at roughly $13,000–37,000, depending on city, programme and lifestyle.

Below: fees by faculty, one-off costs, living expenses, four budget scenarios and how to pay. For the country overview see [studying in Serbia](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-serbia); to compare budgets, see our cost guides for [Czechia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-czechia), [Slovakia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-slovakia) and [Hungary](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-hungary).

Knez Mihailova, the pedestrian street in central Belgrade, Serbia. Photo: Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knez_Mihailova_Street_(13809248913).jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

## Cost summary {#section-1}

| Item | Amount | Scope and source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual tuition, Serbian-taught programme at a public university | $682–4,092 (€600–3,600), most often $1,705–3,410 | Fee for foreign citizens per 60 ECTS; University of Belgrade 2025/26 table and 2026/27 calls |
| Annual tuition, English-taught programme or English-taught medicine | $3,978–10,230 (€3,500–9,000) | Same sources, by programme |
| Private university | $2,387–4,433 (€2,100–3,900) | Singidunum, 2026/27, per 60 ECTS |
| School certificate recognition | $86 (8,900 dinars) | Qualifications Agency fee |
| Entrance exam fee | $97–205 | Belgrade Law $97 (10,000 dinars); Novi Sad FTN $135–205 (€120–180) for foreigners |
| Temporary residence for study | $248 (25,640 dinars) | State fee $225 (23,450 dinars) + permit issue $21 (2,190 dinars) |
| Living costs per month | $853–2,273 (€750–2,000) | Study in Serbia estimate incl. rent, utilities, food, transport |

## Tuition at public universities {#section-2}

Fees are set by each faculty and published before the admission call. Under the Law on Higher Education, the annual fee (školarina) covers 60 ECTS and the regular services defined by the university. Foreign citizens almost always have a separate euro tariff paid in dinars at the exchange rate on the payment date.

| University and faculty | Programme | Annual fee for foreign citizens | Academic year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Belgrade, Law | Law | $2,802 (€2,465) | 2026/27 |
| Belgrade, Organisational Sciences (FON) | Management, information systems | $1,932 (€1,700) | 2025/26 |
| Belgrade, Electrical Engineering | EE & Computing / Software Engineering | $2,273 / $3,410 (€2,000 / €3,000) | 2026/27 |
| Belgrade, Economics | Economics, business, statistics | $2,046 (€1,800) | 2026/27 |
| Belgrade, Philology | Language, literature, culture | $2,842 (€2,500) | 2025/26 |
| Belgrade, Architecture | Architecture | $4,092 (€3,600) | 2025/26 |
| Belgrade, Physics | Physics | $682 (€600) | 2025/26 |
| Novi Sad, Technical Sciences (FTN) | Nearly all academic programmes | $2,273 (€2,000) | 2026/27 |
| Novi Sad, Economics | All Serbian-taught programmes | $2,387 (€2,100) | 2026/27 |
| Novi Sad, Law | Law | $1,364 (€1,200) | 2026/27 |
| Novi Sad, Agriculture | All first-cycle programmes | $2,273 (€2,000) | 2026/27 |

Why do foreigners pay more than Serbian citizens? At the Belgrade Faculty of Law a fee-paying Serbian student pays $1,132 (117,000 dinars), a foreign citizen $2,802. On top of that, 2025 amendments to the law refund half the fee at public universities — but only to Serbian citizens.

Mind the length of study as well: bachelor's degrees take 3–4 years, integrated medicine and dentistry 6. Compare total cost, not year one.

## English-taught programmes and medicine {#section-3}

| Programme | Serbian-taught | English-taught | Academic year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medicine, Belgrade (360 ECTS) | $2,842 (€2,500) | $9,094 (€8,000) | 2025/26 |
| Dentistry, Belgrade | $5,684 (€5,000) | $5,684 (€5,000) | 2025/26 |
| Pharmacy, Belgrade (300 ECTS) | $2,842 (€2,500) | $3,978 (€3,500) | 2025/26 |
| Medicine and dental medicine in English, Novi Sad | — | $7,957 (€7,000) | 2026/27 |
| Electrical Engineering master's, Belgrade (60 ECTS) | $2,842 (€2,500) | $10,230 (€9,000) | 2025/26 |

Over six years of medicine the gap runs to tens of thousands of dollars, which is why a Serbian language year often pays for itself. See [medicine in Serbia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-medicine-in-serbia).

## Private universities {#section-4}

Private universities usually charge everyone the same. For 2026/27 Singidunum set $2,387–2,728 (€2,100–2,400) per 60 ECTS on most Serbian-taught programmes, $3,410 (€3,000) for pharmacy and $4,433 (€3,900) for English-taught programmes, including current-semester textbooks. Check the programme's accreditation, including its language version, in NAT's guide — see [universities in Serbia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-serbia).

## What the fee covers — and what it doesn't {#section-5}

The university's decision defines the regular services included; everything else follows the faculty's price list (cenovnik). Typical extras:

- application and entrance exam fees;
- enrolment fee — at Novi Sad FTN, $171 (€150) for foreigners on Serbian-taught and $256 (€225) on English-taught programmes;
- forms, the student record book (indeks), photos;
- services beyond the regular package, priced on the faculty website.

You don't always pay upfront. Novi Sad FTN splits the fee into two 50% instalments. Novi Sad's Faculty of Economics takes payment in dinars at the National Bank of Serbia middle rate on the day of payment, so the final amount in your currency moves with exchange rates.

## One-off costs around admission {#section-6}

| Cost | Amount | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recognition of school certificate (Qualifications Agency) | $86 (8,900 dinars) | Per application; see [diploma recognition in Serbia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-diploma-recognition-in-serbia) |
| Court-certified translation in Serbia | Interpreter's rate | Translations made abroad are not accepted by the Agency |
| Degree recognition for a master's (University of Belgrade) | $319 (33,000 dinars) + $144 (14,900 dinars) | University fee plus state fee, 2026/27 |
| Entrance exam fee | $97–205 | Depends on faculty |
| Serbian language course | $682 (€600) per semester | Centre for Serbian as a Foreign Language, Belgrade; exam $171 (€150) |
| Temporary residence | $248 (25,640 dinars) | Fees under the Law on Republic Administrative Fees; Serbian government scholarship holders are exempt from the residence fee |
| Health insurance | Insurer's rate | Required for enrolment and for residence status |

## Living costs {#section-7}

Study in Serbia, the platform of the Tempus Foundation and the Ministry of Education, gives these benchmarks:

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Room in a shared flat, smaller town | from $171 (€150), utilities extra |
| Flat in Belgrade outside the centre | from $341 (€300) |
| One-bedroom flat in central Belgrade | up to $1,364 (€1,200) |
| Student canteen meal with a student card | $1.1–3.0 (€1–2.6) |
| Groceries if cooking at home | $114–227 (€100–200) a month |
| Transport pass with student discount | about $11 (€10) a month |
| Books and materials | $114–284 (€100–250) a year |
| Monthly total: Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac | $853–1,648 (€750–1,450) |
| Monthly total: Belgrade | $966–2,273 (€850–2,000) |

Don't budget for a dormitory as a fee-paying foreigner. Places in public dormitories across Serbia are allocated through the Ministry of Education's annual call, and for 2026/27 they go to state-funded students with Serbian citizenship or citizenship of a state in the region. A fee-paying student from Russia or Kazakhstan does not meet these conditions. Accommodation and meals are included in government scholarships.

## First-year budget: four scenarios {#section-8}

StudyU calculation. One-off costs include the annual fee, known faculty charges, certificate recognition and residence fees; living costs cover 12 months at the Study in Serbia range. Flights, insurance, translations and rental deposits are excluded.

| Scenario | Tuition and one-off costs | Living, 12 months | First-year total |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Novi Sad, FTN, Serbian-taught | $2,915 (€2,564) | $10,230–19,779 | $13,145–22,693 |
| Belgrade, FON, Serbian-taught | $2,267 (€1,994) | $11,594–27,281 | $13,861–29,547 |
| Belgrade, Faculty of Law | $3,233 (€2,844) | $11,594–27,281 | $14,827–30,514 |
| Belgrade, medicine in English | $9,428 (€8,294) | $11,594–27,281 | $21,022–36,709 |

If you need a Serbian language year in Belgrade first, add another year of living costs and about $1,535 (€1,350) for two semesters of classes plus the exam.

The lower end of the Study in Serbia range reflects a shared flat, canteen meals and a transport pass; a central Belgrade flat of your own pushes the budget towards the top.

## Ways to spend less {#section-9}

- Serbian-taught instead of English-taught. For medicine in Belgrade that is $2,842 rather than $9,094 a year.
- City. Study in Serbia puts living costs in Niš, Kragujevac and Novi Sad below Belgrade. Fees can be lower too — law costs foreigners $1,364 in Novi Sad versus $2,802 in Belgrade — but not always: economics is cheaper in Belgrade.
- Faculty, not brand. Fees within one university differ several-fold.
- Canteen and student transport pass. The largest monthly savings.
- Scholarships. Serbia funds students from certain countries through government programmes; see [free education in Serbia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-education-in-serbia).
- Part-time work. Study-based residence allows up to 16 hours a week — useful for day-to-day costs, not for tuition.

## How to pay {#section-10}

Faculties quote fees in euros but receive them in dinars on their Serbian account, usually at the National Bank of Serbia rate on the payment date. Two legitimate routes:

1. A bank transfer from a bank that processes payments to Serbia, using the faculty's exact details and payment reference from the call or payment instructions.
2. A non-resident account at a Serbian bank. According to Welcome to Serbia, foreigners in their first year can open dinar and foreign-currency accounts as non-residents. The bank decides under its own policy, but may not refuse on grounds of nationality and must explain a refusal in writing on request.

Keep every receipt: the faculty asks for proof of payment at enrolment, and immigration authorities may ask for proof of student status.

## Common budgeting mistakes {#section-11}

- Counting tuition only. In Belgrade a year of living costs more than the fee on most Serbian-taught programmes.
- Applying one faculty's fee to the whole university. At the University of Belgrade fees range from $682 to $4,092 a year.
- Counting on a dorm. For fee-paying foreigners it is the exception.
- Ignoring exchange rates. Fees are in euros, payments in dinars.
- Forgetting the full length of study. Six years of English-taught medicine in Belgrade at today's price exceed $54,000 in tuition alone.
- Planning to cover tuition with work. The limit is 16 hours a week.

## FAQ {#faq}

### How much does a year of study in Serbia cost?

Serbian-taught programmes at public universities mostly cost $1,705–3,410 (€1,500–3,000) a year; English-taught programmes and medicine up to $10,230 (€9,000). With living costs, our estimate for year one is about $13,000–37,000.

### Is university free for foreigners in Serbia?

No. Foreign citizens pay for the whole degree, and the law's 50% refund applies only to Serbian citizens. Free study is possible through government scholarships for eligible nationalities.

### How much do I need to live in Belgrade?

Study in Serbia estimates $966–2,273 (€850–2,000) a month including housing, utilities, food and transport. A flat outside the centre starts at $341 (€300); a canteen meal with a student card costs $1.1–3.0.

### Is Novi Sad cheaper than Belgrade?

Living costs are lower in Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac according to Study in Serbia. Fees depend on the faculty: law costs foreigners $1,364 (€1,200) in Novi Sad and $2,802 (€2,465) in Belgrade.

### Can I pay tuition in instalments?

Often yes. Novi Sad FTN accepts two 50% instalments; the payment schedule is in each faculty's call or price list.

### What does StudyU do when planning a budget?

Under a service contract we match faculties to your budget, calculate the full cost of the degree with housing and paperwork, and check current price lists. Admission and residence decisions belong to the faculty and Serbia's Ministry of Interior.

## Sources {#section-13}

- [University of Belgrade: 2025/26 tuition by programme](https://www.bg.ac.rs/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/skolarine-tabela-2025-26.pdf) — checked 25.09.2026
- [University of Belgrade Faculty of Law: 2026/27 call](https://prijemni.ius.bg.ac.rs/konkurs-26-27/) — checked 25.09.2026
- [University of Novi Sad: 2026/27 call (fees, charges, instalments)](https://www.uns.ac.rs/images/doc/upis/oi/02/konkurs_oi.pdf) — checked 25.09.2026
- [Singidunum University: 2026/27 fees](https://singidunum.ac.rs/page/skolarine-i-tekuci-racuni) — checked 25.09.2026
- [Law on Higher Education, Article 71: tuition and the 50% refund for citizens](https://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon_o_visokom_obrazovanju.html) — checked 24.09.2026
- [Qualifications Agency: recognition of school documents and fee](https://azk.gov.rs/stranica.php?id=95) — checked 25.09.2026
- [University of Belgrade: recognition of foreign degrees and fees](https://www.bg.ac.rs/priznavanje-stranih-visokoskolskih-isprava/) — checked 25.09.2026
- [Law on Republic Administrative Fees, tariff 37 (consolidated text)](https://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon_o_republickim_administrativnim_taksama.html) — checked 25.09.2026
- [Centre for Serbian as a Foreign Language: fees](http://www.learnserbian.fil.bg.ac.rs/admissions.php?id=d) — checked 25.09.2026
- Study in Serbia (Tempus Foundation): [finance and living costs](https://studyinserbia.rs/living-in-serbia/finance-and-living-costs/), [accommodation](https://studyinserbia.rs/living-in-serbia/accommodation/) — checked 25.09.2026
- [Ministry of Education: 2026/27 student dormitory call](https://www.scns.rs/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Konkurs-2026-2027.pdf), [Belgrade Student Centre: call conditions](https://www.sc.rs/konkursi) — checked 28.09.2026
- 2026/27 fees: [University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics](https://www.ekof.bg.ac.rs/upis/konkurs-2026/), [School of Electrical Engineering](https://prijemni.etf.bg.ac.rs/upis-na-elektrotehnicki-fakultet/) — checked 28.09.2026
- [Welcome to Serbia: bank accounts for non-residents](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/RedirectToLocalizedContent?targetCulture=en&contentItemUrl=%2F%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5-%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%83-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B5), [students' right to work](https://welcometoserbia.gov.rs/right-to-work-and-income-tax) — checked 24.09.2026
- Exchange rates: ECB reference rate of 29.09.2026, €1 = $1.1355; for dinars, National Bank of Serbia middle rate of 29.09.2026, €1 = 117.5386 RSD

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Universities in Serbia for International Students: List, Fees, Language and How to Choose](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-serbia)
- [Studying Medicine in Serbia: Faculties, Fees and Admission for International Students](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-medicine-in-serbia)
- [School Certificate and Diploma Recognition in Serbia: How Nostrification Works](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-diploma-recognition-in-serbia)
- [Free Education in Serbia for International Students: Who Qualifies and How to Get a Scholarship](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-education-in-serbia)
- [Study in Serbia for international students](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-serbia)
- [Cost of Studying in Czechia: 2026/27 and 2027/28 Tuition, Living Costs and a First-Year Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-czechia)

Updated: September 2026