Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a Balkan gem combining Ottoman heritage, Habsburg architecture, Adriatic mountain scenery, and one of the lowest costs of living in Europe.

Capital: Sarajevo

Region: Europe

Language: Bosnian

Currency: BAM (KM)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 27)

Emergency: 112

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

Public Nursery / Kindergarten KM 100–250/month (heavily subsidised by municipality)

Age: 1–6 years

Subsidy available

Municipal subsidy covers the majority of public vrtić costs. Cantonal governments set subsidy rates. Second and subsequent children receive higher discounts in many cantons. Income-based means testing applies in some municipalities.

Apply to the municipal social welfare department (Centar za socijalni rad or municipality office). Bring: birth certificate, vaccination record, parents' ID, residence confirmation and income statement. Child is assigned to the nearest vrtić with availability.

⏱️ Apply as early as possible — waitlists in Sarajevo Canton can be 6–12 months for popular districts. Applications open annually (typically March–May for September intake). Register at the local municipality child welfare office (Odsjek za društvene djelatnosti). Private kindergartens are easier to access without a waitlist.

Private Kindergarten KM 300–600/month

Age: 1–6 years

Contact the facility directly. Requirements typically: birth certificate, vaccination record and identification. No formal municipal process. Trial sessions often available. Most private facilities include meals.

⏱️ Shorter waitlists than public nurseries. Apply 1–3 months before intended start. Many private kindergartens in Sarajevo (Centar, Novo Sarajevo, Ilidža districts) welcome expat children.

International Pre-School (QSI / British School) KM 700–1,200/month (EUR 360–620)

Age: 3–6 years (Pre-Kindergarten onwards)

Contact the admissions office directly (QSI: qsisarajevo.com; British School: britishschool.ba). Submit: previous school records if any, birth certificate, vaccination record and passport copy. Assessment interview may be required for older pre-school children. Deposit required on acceptance.

⏱️ QSI Sarajevo and British School Sarajevo have limited enrolment. Apply as far in advance as possible — minimum 6 months for guaranteed placement. Spots are limited by class size and grade.

🏫 Schools

Public Primary School (compulsory) Free

Osnovna škola

Ages: 6–15 years (9 years, Grades 1–9) · Language: Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian (depending on canton and school) — officially distinct but mutually intelligible. International schools: English.

Register at the local primary school serving your residential district. Required: birth certificate, vaccination record (imunizacijska knjižica), proof of residence (privremeni boravak or address confirmation), and passport/ID. Children of expats are welcome but require functional knowledge of the local language for full participation. International schools (QSI, British School Sarajevo) offer English-medium education for expat families — apply directly and expect EUR 5,000–12,000/year fees.

Education is compulsory for all children resident in BiH from age 6. The curriculum is administered at cantonal level — resulting in 14+ different systems. Public school quality varies significantly by canton. United World College Mostar (uwcmostar.ba) offers the IB curriculum for ages 16–19 on full scholarship — highly prestigious and internationally competitive.

Secondary School (gymnasium or vocational) Free

Srednja škola (Gimnazija / Stručna škola)

Ages: 15–19 years (4 years, Grades 10–13) · Language: Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (public); English (international schools)

Public secondary: admission based on primary school grades and entry exam results. Apply to the relevant cantonal school administration. International students at QSI or British School Sarajevo continue on the same international track through A-Level or US curriculum. The matura (school-leaving exam) determines public university admission. IB students at UWC Mostar sit the full IB Diploma Programme (two-year residential programme, scholarship-based admission).

Gymnasium (general academic) track leads to university via matura. Vocational schools (strukovna škola) offer 3–4 year programmes in specific trades. For expat families, QSI International School Sarajevo and British School Sarajevo serve Grades 9–12 with internationally recognised qualifications (US SAT/AP or UK A-Level/IGCSE).

International Schools

Sarajevo has two main international schools: QSI International School Sarajevo (qsisarajevo.com) offers a US curriculum from Pre-K through Grade 12 with full US accreditation — fees EUR 7,000–12,000/year; located in the Dobrinja/Ilidža area and primarily serves the diplomatic and NGO community. British School Sarajevo (britishschool.ba) follows the British National Curriculum through GCSE and A-Level — fees EUR 5,000–10,000/year; smaller school with a strong community. Both have limited capacity — apply early. United World College Mostar (uwcmostar.ba) offers the IB Diploma Programme for ages 16–19 on scholarship and is one of the most prestigious secondary schools in the Balkans. International University of Sarajevo (IUS) and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) offer English-medium university degrees.

University

Tuition fee

Public universities (University of Sarajevo, University of Banja Luka, University of Mostar): EU students approximately €1,000–6,000/year; non-EU students approximately €2,000–6,000/year (2026 verified). Medical programmes in English at Sarajevo: €6,000/year. Private English-medium universities (International University of Sarajevo/IUS, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology/SSST): approximately €5,000/year (IUS) to EUR 7,000/year (SSST) for most programmes. No means-tested grant system comparable to Western Europe — most students fund studies through family support or student loans.

Semester fee

Public universities: KM 250–1,200 per semester depending on the faculty and programme. Private universities (IUS, SSST): EUR 1,500–3,500 per semester. Registration fees and library access may be charged separately. Student ID cards provide discounts on public transport and cultural facilities.

Student visa

EU/EEA and visa-free nationals enter visa-free and apply for a temporary residence permit on the basis of study (Odobrenje privremenog boravka — školovanje) at the local MUP. Required: letter of acceptance from the university, proof of accommodation, financial means, health insurance and a clean criminal record. Processing: 15–45 working days. Non-visa-free nationals apply for a student visa (Studentska viza) at the BiH Embassy before arrival.

Health insurance

Students must maintain health insurance — either through the public system (if employed part-time or covered by parent's contributions) or via private international health insurance. International students on residence permits typically purchase private health insurance. The International University of Sarajevo can advise on student health insurance arrangements. Public university students may be entitled to discounted health fund coverage — confirm with the faculty upon enrolment.

Application process

Public universities: admission via matura (school-leaving exam) results and faculty-specific entrance exams. International students apply to the relevant international student office. Bologna 3+2 year structure followed. Most public programmes in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian — IUS and SSST offer full English-medium degrees. Deadlines: typically June–August for October intake. Foreign qualifications require ENIC/NARIC recognition through the relevant education authority.

🗣️ Language Courses

Structured Bosnian Language Course for Foreigners

Provider: IBLV Sarajevo (Institut za bosanski jezik i književnost) · Duration: 60–120 hours per level · Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1

KM 200–500 per module

Academic institute offering structured courses in Bosnian for foreigners — grammar-focused with certified instructors. Issues official Svjedodžba certificates useful for citizenship applications. Website: iblv.ba.

Private Bosnian Language Tuition

Provider: Various private language schools in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar · Duration: Flexible — intensive or part-time · Levels: A1 to C1

KM 30–60/hour (individual); KM 200–400 for 20-hour group course

Quality varies — ask for recommendations in the "Expats in Sarajevo" Facebook group. Private tutors via italki.com or Preply offer flexible online sessions with native speakers at competitive rates.

University of Sarajevo — Bosnian Language Programme

Provider: Faculty of Philosophy (FF UNSA), University of Sarajevo · Duration: Semester-long or intensive summer programmes · Levels: Beginner to advanced; summer intensives available

KM 100–300 per module

Summer intensive programme for international students. Academic credits may be transferable. Website: ff.unsa.ba. Suitable for students wanting structured academic language learning.

Online Bosnian/Serbian — Duolingo and Self-Study

Provider: Duolingo (Serbian track), Pimsleur Bosnian, Anki decks · Duration: Self-paced · Levels: A1–B1 (Duolingo Serbian track is nearly identical to Bosnian)

Free (Duolingo, Anki) to USD 150/course (Pimsleur)

Duolingo's Serbian course is suitable for Bosnian learners — all three languages (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) are mutually intelligible. Pimsleur Bosnian is effective for pronunciation and spoken practice during commutes. Combine with a native speaker session for best results.

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