On the basis of the Framework Law on Higher Education, the Law on higher education was harmonized in the Republika Srpska, the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing the full implementation of the Bologna Process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Types of higher education institutions

The higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina include universities and higher schools. The term “university”:

- is limited to the higher education institutions involved in both lecturing and research work, offering academic degrees in all of the three cycles, with goals including improvement of knowledge, thought and education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, education, cultural, social and economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, promotion of the democratic civil society and accomplishment of the highest standards in lecturing and research work;

- pertains to a higher education institution which implements at least five various study programs from at least three scientific areas – natural sciences, engineering sciences, biomedicine and health, bioengineering sciences, social sciences and humanistic sciences.

The university may have organizational units such as faculties, academies, higher schools or scientific institutes, which conduct the lecturing, scientific research and artistic work in one or more educational and scientific areas.

The term “higher school”:

- is limited to the higher education institutions accredited to issue diplomas and degrees of the first cycle, with goals including preparation and training of individuals for expert, economic and cultural development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and promotion of the democratic civil society, as well as accomplishment of high standards in lecturing and study;

- pertains to a higher education institution which implements at least one study programs from one scientific area and meets other requirements pursuant to the law.