Croatian Government Scholarship Benefits 2027/28: What's Covered

What is covered

Free tuition

The hosting public Croatian university or research institute waives tuition fees completely. This is typically the most valuable part of the scholarship — Croatian university tuition for international students can run to several thousand euros a year, depending on the programme and institution. You pay nothing. (Full-degree holders on B and C1 must keep earning credits: at least 35 ECTS a year to renew the scholarship, and 55 ECTS to keep a full tuition waiver — with 30–54 ECTS you pay for the credits you missed.)

Subsidised dormitory

You're placed in a student residence hall at subsidised rates. Croatia has a national student housing network, and scholarship students get access. The range is wide depending on city and room type:

These are approximate rates, not figures from the call; the student centre in your city sets the actual price. Zagreb dorms tend to be at the higher end of this range. Smaller cities like Osijek are cheaper. If you'll live in the student halls in Zagreb or Rijeka, you'll need a health examination at home and a filled-in Health Certificate to bring with you.

iksica / X-card — subsidised meals

The iksica (also called the X-card or student e-card) is Croatia's national student benefit card. Subsidised meals are part of the package for A1, A2, B, C1 and C2 holders (types D and E get subsidised housing but no meal subsidy; F includes free meals). The card isn't just for meals — it also gives access to some cultural discounts. Typical prices:

Three meals a day at student cafeterias costs roughly EUR 100–150/month. This is significantly below what you'd pay at normal restaurants or cooking privately without bulk supplies.

Monthly stipend by scholarship type

*Type F: tuition, accommodation, meals and a cultural programme included. No monthly stipend payment. To receive the full monthly support you must spend at least 15 full days in Croatia that month, and it is paid only into a Croatian bank account you open after arrival (you'll need an OIB tax number first).

The monthly budget reality

Let's be honest about the numbers. A scholarship student in Zagreb on type A2 or B, living in the dorm and eating at student cafeterias:

Doable, but there's little slack for weekend trips, flights home, or anything unexpected. The call itself advises arriving with enough money to cover at least two months of living costs. A2 and B students who supplement through Student Service work significantly improve their situation.

What's not covered

• Travel to and from Croatia. No flight allowance and no travel reimbursement from Croatia. For students coming from China, Türkiye or Israel this is a real expense — factor EUR 300–600 round trip into your planning. In bilateral programmes the sending country often covers its citizens' travel, so ask your nominating institution.
• July and August stipend. Mobility runs from October to September, but July and August are excluded from stipend payments for A1, A2, B, C1 and C2. You receive payments for the months you're actually in academic session. Plan your cash flow accordingly.
• Private accommodation costs above the dorm rate. If you choose not to live in the assigned dorm (or can't get a spot), you're renting privately at EUR 200–500/month in Zagreb. The scholarship doesn't compensate for this.
• Visa fees and other costs of your stay. The call says neither visa-related fees nor any other costs of your stay are compensated (students coming to study are exempt from the visa fee itself).
• Health insurance (for many non-EU students). See the next section.

You also can't stack it: the scholarship can't be held alongside another scholarship for the same mobility, including other Croatian-budget schemes such as CEEPUS, or alongside support from another programme such as Erasmus+.

Health insurance

EU/EEA students

Get your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at home before you arrive; it's valid in Croatia and gives you the same access to public healthcare as Croatian citizens. EU nationals on full degrees (B and C1) can transfer their health cover to Croatia for complete care.

Countries with health care agreements

Croatia has social security agreements covering health care with North Macedonia, Montenegro and Türkiye. Citizens of these countries should get a patient's certificate from their public health insurer before arriving. More details are on the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (hzzo.hr) site.

Everyone else

You'll need to arrange and pay for private health insurance yourself. Basic international student coverage typically costs EUR 30–80/month. Factor it into your budget. AMPEU only covers health insurance where a specific bilateral programme says so — otherwise it's your responsibility before arrival, and regulated health cover is a condition for a temporary residence permit.

Working while on the scholarship

Croatia's Student Service centres (Studentski servis) are the standard student employment system: you're paid per hour, with a minimum rate set each year. But only holders of A2 and B scholarships, enrolled as full-time students, may work this way. Holders of A1, C1, C2, D, E and F cannot be employed through the Student Service. Exchange students should also check with their host institution whether occasional student work is allowed.

At the 2026 minimum rate, 10–15 hours a week brings roughly EUR 280–430 a month on top of the stipend (about 4.3 weeks a month), which puts total monthly income in a far more comfortable range for Croatian living costs. 20 hours a week would bring roughly EUR 570 a month.