Croatian Government Scholarships 2027/28
Administered by AMPEU for the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth: free tuition, subsidised housing and meals, plus EUR 300–480 a month. Eight scholarship types, two application pools and one April deadline — the 2027/2028 call is expected around February 2027.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
5 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Where the cycle stands (October 2026)
The call for the 2026/2027 academic year was published on 20 February 2026 and closed on 10 April 2026. Those scholarship holders are now in Croatia. The next call, for the 2027/2028 academic year, has not been published yet. AMPEU says the call is usually open during March and April, and the last one opened in late February — so expect the 2027/2028 call around February 2027, with a deadline around 10 April 2027. Treat these as estimates based on the 2026 cycle and confirm them on the AMPEU open calls page once the call is out.
Pool 1 applicants should not wait for the call to start, though: your national nominating body may run its own pre-selection earlier, possibly closing in February or March.
The two-pool system
Croatia runs its government scholarships through two completely separate applicant pools. Which pool you're in determines everything — which types you can apply for, what documents you need, and who nominates you.
Citizens of 18 countries with an education co-operation programme with Croatia. All 8 scholarship types exist in this pool, but each country is offered only specific types and a set number of places. Requires a nomination from your home country's authority — you cannot nominate yourself.
Belgium (Flanders), Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Germany (one postdoc place; more places for Bavaria), Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Türkiye, Ukraine.
Any nationality worldwide — but only if you are currently studying Croatian language or Slavic Studies at a university outside Croatia. Only two types are available:
A1: one semester of Croatian language study in Zagreb or Rijeka.
F: two-week summer seminar in Dubrovnik (August).
If your country is not on the bilateral list and you're not studying Croatian language or Slavic Studies, this scholarship doesn't have a pathway for you. No workaround exists. The pools are fixed.
All 8 scholarship types
Benefits →Pool 1 (bilateral countries) can access every type, depending on what the agreement with your country offers. Pool 2 can only access A1 and F. Full degrees (B and C1) are reserved for citizens of China and members of the Croatian national minority in Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic.
| Code | Type | Duration | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Croatian language study (one semester) | 4–5 months | EUR 300 |
| A2 | Partial BA/MA (semester exchange) | 4–10 months | EUR 300 |
| B | Full BA or MA degree programme | BA: 36–48 months / MA: 12–24 months | EUR 300 |
| C1 | Full PhD programme | 36 months | EUR 320 |
| C2 | Partial PhD / PhD research stay | 1–10 months | EUR 320 |
| D | Postdoctoral studies and research | 1–10 months | EUR 480 |
| E | Short postdoctoral research visit | 3–29 days | EUR 30/day |
| F | Summer seminar in Dubrovnik (language students) | 2 weeks (August) | Free* |
*Type F covers tuition, accommodation, meals and a cultural programme. No monthly stipend is paid. Amounts are from the 2026/2027 call; the 2027/2028 call may change them.
What this scholarship actually covers
What's included
- Free tuition at the assigned public Croatian university or research institute
- Subsidised student dormitory — roughly EUR 35–130/month depending on room type and city
- Subsidised meals at student restaurants with the iksica / X-card (~EUR 1–3 per meal); types D and E get subsidised housing but not meals
- Monthly stipend — EUR 300 (A1, A2, B), EUR 320 (PhD types C1, C2), EUR 480 (postdoc D)
What's not included
- Travel — flights or any transport to and from Croatia (your nominating country may cover it; ask)
- July and August — no stipend is paid in these months
- Private accommodation — only the subsidised dorm rate is available
- Health insurance for students from countries without EHIC cover or a health care agreement with Croatia
- Visa-related fees and any other costs of your stay
Many scholarship listing sites call this “fully funded.” The official call describes the monthly support as “a contribution to the living costs” and advises holders to bring enough money to cover at least two months of living costs. It doesn't cover everything. If you're coming from abroad, factor in the flight cost yourself.
Is this scholarship right for you?
Two questions settle it.
- 1Are you a citizen of one of the 18 bilateral partner countries?
Yes: Pool 1 is open to you, for the types your country is offered. You need a nomination from your home country's nominating authority — contact them first, before touching AMPEU's portal. No: move to the next question.
- 2Are you currently studying Croatian language or Slavic Studies at your home university?
Yes: Pool 2 applies to you. You can apply for A1 (language semester) or F (Dubrovnik summer seminar). Get a recommendation letter from your Croatian language professor and apply through AMPEU. No: this scholarship has no pathway for you. Look at other options for studying in Croatia.
Explore the full guide
The 18 bilateral countries and what each is offered, age limits by type, the Germany and Bavaria rules, and who is excluded.
Stipend amounts, dorm costs, the iksica meal card, what's excluded, and the monthly budget reality.
Step-by-step for Pool 1 and Pool 2, the nomination trap, and the AMPEU portal walkthrough.
Every document by scholarship type, the Nomination Letter confusion, and the Europass CV.
The 8 mistakes that kill applications — including the July/August stipend gap nobody mentions.
20 honest answers — the two-pool confusion, language requirements, working rights, and more.
Contacting AMPEU
The Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU) runs the programme together with the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth. Its bilateral scholarships team is at Frankopanska 26, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; e-mail bilaterala@ampeu.hr, telephone +385 (0)1 5556 498. New calls are posted on the AMPEU open calls page.