Branches of study

Undergraduate study programs are provided by licensed higher education institutions in compliance with the Law on Higher Education in the following areas:

• natural sciences

• technical and technological sciences

• medical sciences

• social sciences

• humanistic sciences

• agricultural sciences

• interdisciplinary sciences

Undergraduate study programmes are organized as three year courses – 180 ECTS for the majority of study programmes. Exceptions are some undergraduate Bachelor study programmes like Teacher training, Teacher training in Albanian Language, Architecture and Pharmacy which are organized in duration of five years (300 ECTS). Studies of Medicine and Dentistry are organized in duration of six years (360 ECTS). Students who complete undergraduate studies in duration of five or six years can be enrolled in doctoral studies directly.

Admission requirements

For admission requirements please refer to sub-chapter 6.2 - First cycle programmes. 

Curriculum

An institution is entitled to determine study programmes to be carried out and courses to be taught and independently develop and carry out study programmes.  

Studies at institutions are carried out on the basis of an accredited study programme. Undergraduate study programmes can be accredited as academic and applied. The accreditation is done by the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, in accordance with the abovementioned Law and bylaw acts.

A study programme must include practical training, as well as learning outcomes for the scientific area to which the relevant study programme belongs, i.e. competences for performing the relevant activities. Programmes of undergraduate studies shall include at least two elective modules. An institution can perform its activity and admit students after the Ministry identifies that the institution has met the requirements prescribed by the Law and renders a decision on licensing in accordance with the Rulebook on detailed conditions for the establishment, performance of activities, licensing procedure and the manner of keeping a register of higher education institutions.

The license determines the type of institution, accredited study programmes, maximum number of students that can be admitted to certain study programmes, levels of education and degrees that can be obtained at the institution.

Within the programme implemented, a higher education institution provides students with conditions for acquiring knowledge of at least one foreign language on the level of proficient user.

Teaching methods

An institution is entitled to determine the methods of teaching and the assessment of students’ knowledge. An institution organizes lectures, exercises, practical training and other forms of instruction for all students, except in case of distance learning, in accordance with study programmes for achieving learning outcomes.

Practical knowledge, skills and competences, or practical training may be acquired at the premises of the institution and outside of the institution. Practical training outside of the institution is provided by legal entities on the basis of agreement on practical training. The manner and time of organizing all forms of instruction are regulated by a general act of a institution.

At the beginning of an academic year, an institution duly informs students on the manner, time and place of conducting instruction, knowledge assessment and examination, examination results and other matters relevant for the organization of studies.

Also, a public institution may, with the approval of the Government of Montenegro, organize studies in cooperation with a domestic or foreign higher education institution. A private institution may organize studies in cooperation with a domestic or foreign higher education institution. In organization of the these studies an institution is entitled to carry out a programme of double or joint degrees. A double degree is acquired upon completing a study programme at two higher education institutions and is verified by two diplomas issued by these institutions. A joint degree is issued by at least two or more higher education institutions, according to a study programme for joint degree acquisition, that hold the license to implement such study programme.  

Teaching may also be organized remotely (distance learning), whereas exams are held at the premises of an institution. The conditions and manner of teaching, organization and exam taking are prescribed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (hereafter: the Ministry) following the prior opinion of the Council for Higher Education (hereafter: the Council).

The Decree on norms and standards of funding public higher education institutions and funding students of higher education institutions, passed by the Government, norms and standards for financing of public higher education institutions and students at this institutions, as well as financing students of those study programmes at private higher education institutions that have been determined as programmes of public interest, are prescribed. 

By this bylaw act the number of students in study groups is determined in accordance with study programme groups, number of study groups, activities of academic staff at public institution financed from the Budget, number of employees (academic staff) at public higher education institutions, number of teaching assistants at public higher education institutions, number of technical staff at public institution, number of non-academic staff at public institution, overheads and material costs of the public institution necessary for its activities, costs per student at public institution, costs of a study programme at public institution, costs per student at private higher education institution at study program of public interest.

Progression of students

On the occasion of the enrolment in an institution a student shall opt for a certain study programme. A study programme determines courses for an individual year of studying. 

By passing exams from the courses a student obtains a certain number of ECTS credits in compliance with a study programme. A student funded from the budget of Montenegro who has obtained at least 45 ECTS credits in an academic year enrolled for the first time is entitled to be funded from the budget in the next academic year as well. 

A student funded from the budget of Montenegro who has obtained less than 45 ECTS credits in an academic year enrolled for the first time can continue studies with the status of self-funding student. Self-financing students who pass all exams, i.e. achieve 60 ECTS, have the right to be financed from the budget in the following year.

An institution may approve enrolment in the following study year to a student who failed to earn at least 45 ECTS credits, if they did not pass one exam in a course worth more than 15 ECTS credits, in compliance with statute of the institution.

A student who fails to pass an elective course, may take the same course again or choose a different elective course.

Rules of studying are determined in more details by a general act of an institution.

In accordance with the Amendments to the Law on Higher Education, institutions that have accredited study programs of specialist studies until the day of the entry into force of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Higher Education, can enroll students in specialist studies until the academic year 2021/2022. Students who are enrolled in specialist studies until the day this Law enters into force and students referred in Paragraph 1 of this Article, have the right to complete their studies according to the study program valid at the time of enrollment, according to the law under which they are enrolled, and no later than 2023/2024.

Employability

In order to prepare students for easier inclusion in the labor market, the study program contains mandatory practical classes. Practical teaching is organized to the extent of at least 30 ECTS per study program of basic studies, and is realized in a real working environment or in the premises of the institution, in accordance with the study program.

The institution is obliged to conduct a labor market survey at least once during the validity of the accreditation or re-accreditation by surveying graduates, employers' associations, business entities and entrepreneurs on the applicability of acquired knowledge, skills and competences that are necessary for the labor market. The results of the research are considered when preparing the self-evaluation and reaccreditation report and are published on the institution's website.

Since 2012, in accordance with the Law on Vocational Training of Persons with Higher Education, the Professional Training Program for Persons with Higher Education has been implemented. The program enables persons with higher education, who do not have work experience, to acquire knowledge, skills and competencies during the period of nine months of professional training, which will help them to independently perform their work activities in the future. The beneficiaries of the Program are enabled to gain appropriate work experience, while employers in the public and private sector are able to recognize high-quality workforce, which could continue working with them after the end of the Program. The nine-month Program, during which beneficiaries receive a monthly financial compensation in the net amount of 600 EUR, is an incentive for the education and employment of young people. The program is a very good indicator and a good source of information, along with other important information, and contributes to more adequate decision-making on the creation of enrollment policy at institutions of higher education in Montenegro from the aspect of producing qualifications in accordance with the real needs of the labor market.

Student assessment

A student takes an exam upon completion of instruction from that study course in a manner determined by a study programme, in compliance with statute of institution.

The success of students to master a course and overcome all forms of knowledge assessment before the exam shall be valued and expressed in points. The total number of points a student can earn through all pre-exam forms of knowledge assessment, or study results ranges from 30 to 70, in compliance with the rules of studying.

On the basis of all pre-exam forms of knowledge assessment, or learning outcomes and by taking exams, a student can earn a maximum of 100 points, in compliance with the rules of studying.

Students’ performance on exam and other forms of knowledge assessment shall be expressed in letter grades, specifically: A, B, C, D, E and F. Grade F is an insufficient grade.

Letter grades are equivalent to numerical grades, namely:

1. A (excellent) is equivalent to grade 10
2. B (very good) is equivalent to grade 9
3. C (good) is equivalent to grade 8
4. D (satisfactory) is equivalent to grade 7
5. E (sufficient) is equivalent to grade 6.

The average grade during the studies is determined as quotient of the sum of numerical grades multiplied by ECTS credits for each course, and the total number of obtained ECTS credits.

Certification

After completing the undergraduate programmes students are awarded by the diploma of undergraduate study programmes of academic or applied studies and a Bachelor degree of education. After completing the Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy study programs, students are awarded by a diploma of undergraduate study programes and a Doctor of medicine/dentistry/pharmacy education degree. As part of the diploma, a Diploma Supplement (DS), based on the official European model, is issued to graduates. As of 2006/2007, the diploma supplement was made mandatory for all degree programmes. The content of the Ddiploma supplement is bilingual, in both Montenegrin and English. If the student studies in the language of minorities, then diploma and diploma supplement is issued in the language of minorities as well.

The content of diploma and supplement diploma is prescribed by the Rulebook on the contents and form of diploma and supplement, keeping a register of students.

Qualifications acquired after completing an undergraduate study program (of 180 ECTS), regardless if it is an applied of academic study program, are accommodated in VI level of National Qualification Framework, and the qualifications acquired after completing the basic academic or applied study programs of 240 ECTS are placed in the VII-1 sublevel of the National Qualifications Framework.