EDUCATION SYSTEM IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Types of Higher Education Institutions

1 : Univerzitet : University

Description:The university may have organizational units such as faculties, academies, higher schools or scientific institutes, which conduct the lectures, scientific research and artistic work in one or more educational and scientific areas.

2 : Visoka škola : College (Higher School)

Pre-Higher Education System

Age of

entry:7

exit:15

Structure of School System

Primary : Primary School (osnovna škola)

Length of program:9

Age level from:7

Age level to:15

General Secondary : General Secondary School (Gymnazija

Length of program:4

Age level from:15

Age level to:18

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Matura

Specialized Secondary : Vocational and Technical Schools (srednje stručne i tehničke škole)

Length of program:4

Age level from:15

Age level to:18

Certificate/Diploma awarded at end:Diploma

Description of School System

The legislation in the area of pre-higher education system governs the principles of preschool, primary, secondary and upbringing, adult education, and the establishment and functioning of the education service providers, as well as supplementary education for the children of BiH citizens abroad. They are the following:
Framework Law on Preschool Education in BiH (“Official Gazette of BiH”, No. 88/07), Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education in BiH (“Official Gazette of BiH”, No 18/03), Framework Law on Secondary Vocational Education and Training in BiH (“Official Gazette of BiH”, No 63/08), Law on the Agency for Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education ( “Official Gazette of BiH”, No. 88/07).

Primary education lasts for nine years. Pupils enrol in primary education when they are between 5 and 6 years old. Secondary education is provided by general, vocational and technical secondary schools. Pupils graduating from general secondary schools, art schools and theology schools obtain the Diploma o završenoj srednjoj školi and can enrol in any faculty or academy by passing the qualification examination prescribed by the institution. Vocational secondary schools offer courses lasting for three or four years and including a period of practical instruction. Technical secondary schools offer courses lasting for four years. Pupils graduating from technical secondary schools obtain the Diploma and can enrol in any Faculty or Academy by passing the qualification examination prescribed by the institution.

Higher Education System

Structure

According to the Framework Law on Higher Education in BiH (“Official Gazette of BiH”, No. 59/07), higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina comprise universities and colleges. The title “university” is limited to the higher education institutions undertaking both teaching and research, offering academic degrees in all three cycles, while the title “college" (visoka skola) is limited to higher education institutions accredited to offer first cycle diplomas and degrees. All higher education activities are subject to national (Republic Srpska) or cantonal (in the Federation of B&H) laws. Access to higher education is granted to all students having completed four years of secondary school.

Laws/Decrees

Law on Higher Education - revised text (Official Gazette of the Sarajevo Canton 42/13) (2013)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Central Bosna Canton, No. 4/13) (2013)

Law on Higher Education in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (Official Gazette of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, No. 4/12) (2012)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska, No. 73/10, 014/11, 84/12, 108/13) (2010)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Posavina Canton, No. 1/10) (2010)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Bosnia-Podrinje Canton, No. 2/10) (2010)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Zenica Doboj Canton, No. 6/09) (2009)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Una-Sana Canton, No. 8/09) (2009)

Law of Higher Education in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 30/09) (2009)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the West Herzegovina Canton, No. 10/09) (2009)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Canton 10, No. 9/09) (2009)

Law of Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Tuzla Canton, No. 8/08, 12/09, 13/12) (2008)

Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 59/07, 59/09) (2007)

Languages of Instruction

Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian

Stages of Higher Education

University level first stage : First cycle

Description:The first cycle leading to the academic title of completed undergraduate studies (Bachelor's degree) is obtained after three to four years of full time study following a secondary school leaving certificate. It is valued between 180 and 240 ECTS credit points. Studies in Medical Sciences are longer and valued at 360 ECTS credit points.

University level second stage : Second cycle

Description:The second cycle leads to the academic title of Master or equivalent. It is obtained after the completion of undergraduate studies and one or two years' study and has a value of 60 to 120 ECTS credit points, in such a way that the total number of credits obtained when adding the ones obtained in the first cycle amounts to 300 ECTS points.

University level third stage : Third cycle

Description:The third cycle leads to the academic degree of Doctor or equivalent. The studies last for three years and are valued at 180 ECTS credit points. The public defence of a doctoral thesis is required.

Bodies

Governing bodies and other organizations / associations

Ministarstvo Civilnih Poslova BiH

Street:TRG BiH l

City:Sarajevo

PostCode:71000

Tel:+387(33) 221-073

Fax:+387(33) 221-074

www:http://www.mcp.gov.ba

Contacts:Ankica Gudeljević (Head), Job title : Minister

Federalno Ministarstvo Obrazovanja i Nauke

Street:Dr. Ante Starčevića bb

City:Mostar

Tel:+387(36) 355-700

Fax:+387(36) 355-742

www:http://www.fmon.gov.ba

Contacts:Elvira Dilberović (Head), Job title : Minister

Ministarstvo prosvjete i kulture Republike Srpske

Ministarstvo obrazovanja, nauke, kulture i sporta Unsko-sanskog kantona

Ministarstvo prosvjete, znanosti, kulture i športa Županije Posavske

Ministarstvo obrazovanja, nauke, kulture i sporta Tuzlanskog kantona

Ministarstvo za obrazovanje, nauku, kulturu i sport Zeničko-dobojskog kantona

Ministarstvo za obrazovanje, mlade, nauku, kulturu i sport Bosansko-podrinjskog kantona

Ministarstvo obrazovanja, nauke, kulture i sporta Srednjobosanskog Kantona

Ministarstvo obrazovanja, nauke, kulture i sporta Hercegovačko-neretvanskog kantona/županije

Ministarstvo obrazovanja, znanosti, kulture i športa Županije Zapadnohercegovačke

Ministarstvo za obrazovanje, nauku i mlade Kantona Sarajevo

Ministarstvo znanosti, prosvjete, kulture i športa Hercegbosanske županije

Agencija za Razvoj Visokog Obrazovanja i Osiguranje Kvaliteta Bosne i Hercegovine

Role:The Agency for the Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance, as an autonomous administrative organization, shall among other things assist the relevant education authorities in the process of accreditation and licensing of higher education institutions, establish criteria and standards for quality assurance, provide advice and recommendations for removal of drawbacks in the quality of studies and higher education institutions, and the like.

Street:Ulica akademika Jovana Surutke 13

City:Banjaluka

PostCode:78000

Tel:+387(51) 430-510

Fax:+387(51) 462-302

www:http://www.hea.gov.ba

Contacts:Enver Halilović (Head), Job title : Director

Centar za informisanje/informiranje i priznavanje dokumenata iz oblasti/područja visokog obrazovanja

Street:Kneza Višeslava bb

City:Mostar

PostCode:88000

Tel:+387(36) 333-980

Fax:+387(36) 333-991

www:http://www.cip.gov.ba

Contacts:- Borko Sorajić (Head), Job title : Director
- Dženan Omanović (International Relations Officer), Job title : Head of Department for Information and Cooperation

Bodies Responsible for Recognition

Ministarstvo prosvjete i kulture Republike Srpske