Croatia Government Scholarships 2026/2027

There’s a specific kind of scholarship that almost nobody talks about because it doesn’t fit the usual mould: no essay contest, no viral LinkedIn thread, just two governments quietly agreeing to fund each other’s students because it serves both countries’ interests.

The Croatia Government Scholarship, or Bilateral Scholarship, is exactly that kind of arrangement, and it’s been running for years without the same visibility as Chevening or Fulbright, despite covering everything from a two-week language seminar in Dubrovnik to a fully funded PhD. One detail worth knowing before anything else: the 10 April 2026 deadline for this specific cycle has now passed, with results typically communicated in the months that follow, so this guide explains exactly how the programme works, whether you’re checking on an application you’ve already submitted or planning for the 2027/2028 cycle in advance.

Below is everything the scholarship actually covers, the eligibility rules tucked away in the fine print that most other write-ups miss entirely, and the two genuinely different application pools you need to tell apart before you even think about documents.

What the Croatia Government Scholarship Involves

Croatia’s Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, working alongside the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes, funds these scholarships directly from the Croatian state budget as part of its bilateral education cooperation with a specific list of partner countries and regions. This isn’t a broad, open-to-everyone international scholarship.

Croatia restricts Application Pool 1 to citizens of countries that have an active bilateral education agreement with it: Belgium (specifically Flanders), Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Germany (specifically Bavaria), Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Alongside this sits an entirely separate track.

Application Pool 2, open to any international student studying the Croatian language or Slavic Studies, regardless of their home country’s treaty status with Croatia. Both pools fund study or research at accredited public Croatian institutions during the 2026/2027 academic year, running from October 2026 through September 2027, with July and August excluded from standard mobility periods.

Croatia Government Scholarships Summary

What This Scholarship Actually Covers

• Tuition-free study or research at your accredited Croatian host institution for the duration of your approved mobility
• Monthly financial support is described explicitly as a contribution toward living costs rather than a figure meant to cover every expense in full
• Subsidised accommodation in student residence halls
• Subsidised meals through student restaurants at your host institution

The specific study or research options available depend heavily on which category you fall into: short-term Croatian language study running four to five months, partial Bachelor’s or Master’s mobility of four to ten months, full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programmes, full or partial PhD study, postdoctoral research visits, and a two-week summer seminar in Croatian language and culture held in Dubrovnik each August. One detail worth noting for the summer seminar specifically: places are limited, and priority goes to students nominated through their national authority under Pool 1’s bilateral agreements.

What Makes You Eligible for Each Application Pool

Both pools share a few baseline conditions:

• You must be at least 18 years old by 1 October 2026
• You must not hold Croatian citizenship exclusively, nor already hold or be applying for a Croatian residence permit
• You must not already be enrolled in a study programme in Croatia
• Your study or research must take place at a public Croatian institution; private institutions don’t qualify under this scheme
• If you’re applying for Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD-level study specifically, you need to be under 30 years old. This age limit doesn’t apply to language study, research visits, or the summer seminar

Application Pool 1 (Bilateral Agreements) additionally requires:

• Citizenship of one of the listed partner countries or regions
• Nomination by your national authority responsible for the bilateral programme, the Agency gives priority to applications ranked by these national offices, so this nomination step isn’t a formality; it’s part of the actual selection process
• If you’re applying for BA or MA-level semester or full-degree study, you need to have completed a minimum of two semesters at your home institution already

Application Pool 2 (Croatian Language Studies) additionally requires:

• Current enrolment in the Croatian language or Slavic Studies at a university outside Croatia
• A Recommendation Letter from your current Croatian language professor, which functions as your nomination, there’s no separate national authority involved in this pool
• Completion of a minimum of two semesters at your home institution, same as Pool 1

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Required Documents

• Completed application form, submitted through the Agency’s online application system
• Academic transcripts and certificates
• A Nomination Letter from your national authority (Pool 1) or a Recommendation Letter from your Croatian language professor (Pool 2)
• Proof of your current enrolment or academic status
• A CV, ideally in Europass format
• A Letter of Interest outlining your study or research plans
• For PhD and postdoctoral applicants specifically: a detailed Work Plan and a Letter of Invitation from a host professor or mentor already secured in Croatia
• Any additional documents specific to your scholarship category

The nomination or recommendation letter is the document most applicants underestimate. Without it, your application, however strong on paper, isn’t eligible for the award, since the scholarship is explicitly structured around institutional nomination rather than individual merit review alone.

What the Application Process Requires

1. Confirm which application pool applies to you: Pool 1 if your country holds a bilateral agreement with Croatia, Pool 2 if you’re studying the Croatian language or Slavic Studies regardless of your country’s treaty status
2. For Pool 1, contact your national ministry, agency, or authority responsible for bilateral educational cooperation with Croatia as early as possible, since they need time to complete their own nomination process before the deadline
3. For Pool 2, approach your current Croatian language professor about preparing your Recommendation Letter
4. Register and complete your application in the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes’ online system
5. Upload all required documents, in English or Croatian
6. Ensure your Nomination Letter (Pool 1) or Recommendation Letter (Pool 2) reaches the Agency by the deadline. This can arrive by email or post from your nominating institution, separately from your own online submission
7. Submit your completed application before the deadline
8. Wait for the Agency and Ministry’s formal assessment. This typically extends well beyond the application deadline itself, with results generally communicated in the following months, and successful candidates receiving a Letter of Award, Letter of Acceptance, and a general information package

What to Do Before the Next Cycle Opens

• If you’re eligible under Pool 1, reach out to your national authority now to understand their internal nomination process and timeline, since this step often takes longer on their end than your own application does on yours
• If you’re pursuing Pool 2, build your relationship with your Croatian language professor well ahead of the next cycle, since their recommendation functions as your entire nomination
• Start gathering transcripts, your CV, and your Letter of Interest early, particularly if translation into English or Croatian is needed
• PhD and postdoctoral applicants should begin securing a host professor or mentor in Croatia and requesting a Letter of Invitation well before the next application window, since this document typically takes real relationship-building rather than a quick email request
• Bookmark the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes’ official call page and check it directly from around January onward, since the exact opening date can shift slightly year to year

What the Deadline and Selection Timeline Look Like

• 2026/2027 application deadline: 10 April 2026, applying equally to both Pool 1 and Pool 2 this cycle has now closed
• Results: Typically communicated in the months following the deadline, with first-time applicants generally given priority over repeat beneficiaries
• Mobility period: October 2026 through September 2027, excluding July and August, except for the August summer seminar
• Next expected cycle: Croatia has run this scholarship on a consistent annual pattern, with the call for the following academic year typically opening around February. Based on that pattern, expect the 2027/2028 call to open around February 2027, with a deadline likely falling in early-to-mid April 2027. Confirm the exact dates on the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes’ official site as the period approaches

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Croatia Government Scholarship still open for 2026/2027?

No. The deadline for this cycle was 10 April 2026. Based on the programme’s usual annual pattern, the next cycle is expected to open around February 2027.

Can I apply if my country doesn’t have a bilateral agreement with Croatia?

Only through Application Pool 2, and only if you’re currently studying the Croatian language or Slavic Studies at a university outside Croatia. Pool 1 is restricted to citizens of countries with an active bilateral agreement.

Do I need a university offer in Croatia before I apply?

Not necessarily for most categories, but PhD and postdoctoral applicants specifically need a secured host professor or mentor in Croatia and a Letter of Invitation as part of their application.

Is there an age limit for this scholarship?

Yes, for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD-level study specifically, candidates must be under 30. There’s no upper age limit for language study, research visits, or the summer seminar.

Can I study at a private university in Croatia under this scholarship?

No. The scholarship only funds study or research at accredited public Croatian higher education institutions and research institutes.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, dates, and figures in this post were verified from official Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth and Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes’ official website before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Government of Croatia.

Official Application Portal