1. Is it possible to make an equivalence of foreign qualification to Croatian one?
No. Recognition of foreign education qualifications in the Republic of Croatia, from July 1st 2004, is conducted in accordance with the Act on Recognition of Foreign Education Qualifications (Official Gazette, no. 158/2003, 198/2003 and 138/2006) and should not be identified with the previous Act on equivalence of qualification, which ceased to apply upon entry into force of this Act.
2. Which foreign higher education qualifications can be recognized in Croatia?
It is possible to recognize each foreign qualification which is: considered as higher education qualification in country which issued it, obtained upon successful completion of a higher education programme and issued by a foreign competent authority which is recognised/accredited by a competent accrediting government body wherein the qualification is acquired.
3. What is accreditation of higher education institution and study program?
Accreditation is a result of a review/evaluation of the education program or institution which monitors realization of standards previously agreed upon. It can be defined as recognition of a program or institution if it meets set standards. Most countries have established a system of formal evaluation of its higher education institutions, that is, the issuing of a license for a certain study program. Concerning the ever wider range of higher education institutions, the establishment of a great number of private higher education institutions in many countries, and significant differences in laws and practice for evaluation and recognition of higher education institutions, qualifications cannot be suitably estimated unless the institution that issued the qualification is taken into account, and whether that institution occupies a recognized position in the national higher education system.
In the Republic of Croatia accreditation of a higher education institution implies that the institution is registered as a higher education institution and listed in Register of Higher Education Institutions. If a study program is to gain accreditation, the institution which organizes it needs a license for organization of the study program, issued by the competent foreign accreditation government body. The license is a certificate which determines that a public scientific institute or a higher education institution meets the standards and terms for organization of a particular program. In the Republic of Croatia the competent accreditation body is the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports.
4. How can I find out if a higher education institution has accreditation?
In the Republic of Croatia the Register of Higher Education Institutions is available on the web pages of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, containing a list of all higher education institutions in the Republic of Croatia with accreditation, that is, a license for work issued by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. There are similar lists of higher education institutions abroad, of which some are available on the Internet while others are not. More information about a particular country can be found on the web pages of the ENIC/NARIC Network.
5. Is it necessary to recognize qualifications acquired in the area of former Yugoslavia?
The date of issue of a foreign higher education qualification is the depending factor in whether recognition is necessary or not. All foreign higher education qualifications issued up to October 8, 1991, in educational systems of former Yugoslavian states, are legally equal to higher education qualifications of educational institutions of the Republic of Croatia and are therefore not subject to recognition procedure.
6. What does the procedure of recognition consist of?
The recognition procedure comprises several steps. After receiving and processing the application ENIC/NARIC Office sends the information on required supplement if the application is not complete. As soon as the application documentation is complete is the recognition procedure may commence. The complete application is sent, together with instructions issued by the ENIC/NARIC Office, for evaluation to an expert body for the area in question, which is obliged to submit its evaluation to the ENIC/NARIC Office within 60 days. After receipt of the evaluation, the ENIC/NARIC Office forwards the application, together with the evaluation of the expert body, to Agency for Science and Higher Education, which makes a final decision and issues a Decision on Recognition of Foreign Higher Education Qualification.
7. What is evaluation?
Evaluation is a procedure conducted in the framework of the process of recognition, wherein an Expert Body, competent for a particular area, evaluates a qualification based on inspection of the submitted documentation for recognition, in accordance with Criteria for evaluation of foreign higher education qualification and information received from the National ENIC/NARIC Office. Following evaluation the Expert Body submits its recommendation regarding evaluation of the qualification.
8. Is it possible to obtain Croatian academic title in the process of recognition?
In accordance with the provisions of the Act on Recognition of Foreign Education Qualifications, professional and academic titles as well as academic degrees are not awarded in the process of professional recognition, but the value of a foreign education qualification is acknowledged formally for the purpose of accession to the labour market in the Republic of Croatia.
9. Does the Decision of the Agency gives me the right to access the labour market or do I have to fulfil any additional requirements?
Decision of the Agency enables the access to the labour market; but if the fulfilment of additional requirements is requested for the purpose of employment in a specific profession (e.g. regulated professions as doctors, lawyers, etc.), the same are decided by the competent authorities for each profession.
10. What is the length of the procedure of recognition of foreign higher education qualifications?
Optimal length of the process of recognition is up to three months from the date of receipt of complete documentation.
11. Is it possible to obtain confirmation that I submitted documents for recognition?
On your formal request, if the application is complete, National ENIC/NARIC office will issue a formal confirmation that the process of recognition is in progress. If the application is incomplete, you will be informed in writing regarding the required supplementary documentation.
12. Could I get back my original documents, which were required for the recognition of higher education qualification?
At the end of the procedure, if you decide not to appeal on Decision on Recognition of Foreign Higher Education Qualification you may submit written request by E-mail, Fax or Post for returning the original documents with the information of the address to which you want documents to be delivered.
13. May I pay an administrative fee for recognition via the Internet?
Yes. It is only important that all the required data for payment are visible (payer, purpose of payment). You can submit the payment printout as payment proof.
14. Do I have to recognise a lower education degree in order to obtain recognition of a higher degree?
Recognition of lower education degrees acquired abroad is not a requirement for recognition of a higher degree. For example, to recognize a Doctorate degree it is not necessary to have a Masters degree recognized in the Republic of Croatia.
15. I wish to have my Masters degree and Doctoral degree issued by a foreign institution recognized. Is it possible to submit one application for recognition of both qualifications?
No. Each foreign higher education qualification is recognized individually, meaning that for each qualification a separate application must be submitted and administrative fee paid. If you simultaneously submit more applications it is not necessary to submit documentation for each one separately, but you can refer to the documentation submitted in one application.
16. I finished studying in Croatia under the old program and acquired the title of graduate economist. How can I acquire a new title in accordance with the titles acquired by completion of studies introduced by the so-called Bologna Process?
In accordance with Article 14 of the Act on Academic and Professional Titles and Academic Degree (Official Gazette no. 107/2007) and Article 120 of the Act on Scientific Activity and Higher Education (Official Gazette no. 123/03, 198/03, 105/04 and 174/04) you are entitled to request, from the institution which issued your qualification, the issue of confirmation of a new title which you could use.
17. I want to recognise my qualification obtained in the Republic of Croatia in a foreign country. Who do I need to address?
For information about recognition of Croatian qualifications abroad, we suggest that you address the ENIC/NARIC Office in the country in which you wish to have your qualification recognized, or the embassy of that country in Croatia, should one exist. Further information on whom to address for recognition of your qualification in a particular country may be found on the web pages of the ENIC/NARIC Network.