Pool 1 — Bilateral Countries
If your country has a bilateral agreement with Croatia, you're in Pool 1. This is the main pool — all 8 scholarship types are available, durations range from a few weeks to 4 years, and you can apply for undergraduate, graduate, PhD, or postdoctoral programs.
The 18 Bilateral Partner Countries
Germany — Bavaria Only
The bilateral agreement covers Bavaria specifically, not Germany as a whole. If you're enrolled at a Bavarian university (Munich, Augsburg, Erlangen-Nuremberg, etc.), you're eligible. If you're at a university in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, or anywhere else in Germany, you're not in Pool 1. You'd need to check if Pool 2 applies to you — which means studying Croatian or Slavic Studies at your institution.
Government Nomination — Non-Negotiable
Pool 1 applicants cannot approach AMPEU directly as the first step. Your home country has a designated nominating authority — typically your ministry of education or national scholarship agency. You apply to them first. They pre-select candidates. Then the Nomination Letter goes from your institution to AMPEU, not from you.
Skipping this step doesn't just hurt your chances — it invalidates the application entirely. Find your nominating body before you open the AMPEU portal.
Pool 2 — Language Students
Pool 2 is open to any nationality worldwide. The catch: you must be currently enrolled in a Croatian language or Slavic Studies program at your home university. Not studying Croatian yet but interested? This pool doesn't apply to you — enrollment has to exist before you apply.
Pool 2 Requirements
Currently enrolled in Croatian language or Slavic Studies
At your home institution — not something you plan to do. It must be ongoing.
Recommendation from your Croatian language professor
The professor must be teaching you Croatian language at your current institution. They submit the letter through the system.
Only types A1 and F are available
A1 = language semester (4–5 months, €300/month). F = summer seminar in Dubrovnik (2 weeks, August, free).
Age Limits by Scholarship Type
Age is calculated as of October 1 of the academic year you're starting — not the application date.
| Type(s) | Category | Age Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| A2, B | Partial/full BA or MA | 18–30 years old |
| C1, C2 | Full/partial PhD | Under 30 years old |
| A1 | Croatian language semester | 18+ (no upper limit) |
| D, E | Postdoctoral research | 18+ (no upper limit) |
| F | Dubrovnik summer seminar | 18+ (no upper limit) |
Academic Prerequisites
Minimum enrollment requirement
You must have completed at least 2 semesters at your current institution before applying. You can't apply in your first semester of university. This applies to all types.
Level-specific prerequisites
- B: Must be applying for the same level you're enrolled in at home, OR be in a transitional stage (finishing BA, applying for MA).
- C1/C2: Must hold or be completing an MA degree. You can't jump straight from BA to a Croatian PhD scholarship.
- D/E: Must hold a completed PhD. Postdoc types are strictly post-doctoral.
Language for type A1
Type A1 (Croatian language semester) requires B1 level of Croatian language proficiency. You need to demonstrate this when applying — a certificate from your university's language department or a recognized proficiency document.
Who Is Excluded
These categories are explicitly ineligible regardless of nationality or pool:
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Croatian residents
If you live in Croatia — regardless of citizenship — you're not eligible. The scholarship is for international mobility.
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Already enrolled in a Croatian institution
Currently studying in Croatia? Not eligible. This scholarship is for people coming to Croatia, not staying in it.
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Targeting a private Croatian university
Only public institutions are eligible. Applications mentioning a private university will be rejected.
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Previous scholarship recipients
Not excluded, but ranked lower. If you've held this scholarship before, your application goes into a lower priority category. This is by design.