Signing the Bologna Declaration in 2003, Montenegro established the structure of the educational process through three study cycles and the European credit transfer system ECTS, as a measure of the scope of studies.

The field of higher education is regulated by the Law on Higher Education (hereafter: the Law), which was adopted in October 2025, and in accordance with which study programs are implemented at institutions of higher education as: basic, postgraduate and doctoral.

• The basic study program is 180 ECTS or 240 ECTS.
• The postgraduate study programs are: specialist, 60 ECTS and master's, 60 ECTS or 120 ECTS.
• The doctoral study programs can be accredited as academic (180 ECTS).
• The integrated study program is 300 ECTS or 360 ECTS.

Basic and postgraduate study programs can be accredited as academic and applied. Study programs of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies can be interdisciplinary and are organized from at least two scientific fields.

Programs in the field of regulated professions (Medicine, Dentistry, Architecture, Pharmacy, Medical School) are aligned with the special regulation of the European Union governing regulated professions, namely the Directive 2005/36EC and the Directive 55/13EC.

The study program must contain practical teaching, as well as learning outcomes for the scientific field to which the study program belongs, i.e. competencies for performing activities.

Practical teaching is organized in the scope 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. Practical teaching must be organized in a way that is accessible to persons with disabilities and in accordance with their individual needs.

The undergraduate and postgraduate study programs contain at least two elective modules each.

The institution implements classes during the academic year, which, as a rule, begins on September 1, in accordance with the Academic Calendar (see sub-chapter 6.6) The Academic Calendar is determined by the professional body of the institution before the beginning of the study year. Teaching in the academic year is carried out in two semesters, each of which lasts 14 weeks.

The Strategy for the Development of Higher Education 2024-2027 envisages three strategic objectives for the further development of higher education, namely:

Strategic objective 1: Improving the alignment of study programs with the needs of the labor market, adequate recognition of higher education qualifications and improvement of infrastructure. This strategic objective is divided into Operational objectives with the aim to reform the undergraduate and master study programs with a special focus on learning outcomes, improve student standards and employability of higher education students, ensure adequate connectivity and accessibility between secondary and higher education, ensure sustainable and adequate financing of public institutions and student dormitories, apply practical teaching, increase the participation of persons aged 25 to 64 in lifelong learning within higher education, and strengthen the infrastructure in the field of higher education. 

Strategic objective 2: Improvement of the higher education system in accordance with EHEA and ERA standards. This strategic objective is divided into Operational objectives with the aim to improve the work organization and management at higher education institutions in accordance with European practice, implement principles of academic integrity among the academic community and students and achieve equity, accessibility and equity of inclusive and quality higher education for students with disabilities. 

Strategic objective 3: Strengthening the role of higher education institutions at the international level. The Operational objective within this Strategic objective aims to increase the number of joint study programs and projects, study programs in English and improving the procedure for academic mobility.

The condition that a higher education institution needs to fulfill in order to be able to implement study programs and enroll students is the possession of an accreditation certificate issued by the Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education (hereafter: the Agency) and a work license issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (hereafter: the Ministry).

The Agency, among other things, implements:
• study program accreditation procedures and issues a study program accreditation certificate
• the procedure of external evaluation of the institution of higher education and issues a certificate of re-accreditation of the institution of higher education based on the re-accreditation report
• periodic evaluation of the quality of work of licensed institutions of higher education at the request of the authorized body of the institution or the Ministry
• determination of the list of experts for the accreditation of study programs or the reaccreditation of institutions on the basis of a public call
• determines the methodology based on which it classifies institutions of higher education in Montenegro.

In accordance with the new Law, the tasks of reviewing the state and development of higher education are carried out by the Council for Higher Education (hereafer: the Council). The Council is appointed and dismissed by the Government of Montenegro (hereafter: the Government) for a period of four years. The Council has 11 members. Seven members of the Council are representatives of the academic staff, one member of the Council is a representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro with an academic title, one member is a representative of students and two members of the Council are appointed by function, and they are made up of the president of the Council for Scientific Research and a representative of the Ministry. 

The Council, among other things:
• analyzes the situation and achievements in higher education and makes expert proposals to the Ministry and the Government;
• determines conditions and criteria for selection into academic and scientific positions;
• gives individual opinions on academic titles acquired abroad in relation to the conditions and criteria for selection into academic titles in Montenegro;
• gives an opinion on regulations in the field of higher education;
• cooperates with institutions in ensuring and improving quality.

In 2019, the Council for Higher Education determined the Conditions and criteria for selection into academic titles.

Students as partners are involved in the process of decision-making, study improvement and study quality. According to the Law and the statute of the institution, the student has the right to elect and be elected to the institution's bodies. Students have their representatives in the board of directors, the highest governing body of the institution, the senate and the faculty council. The representation of students in professional bodies and management bodies is at least 20% in relation to the total number of members.

In order to carry out work on the preservation, improvement, protection and promotion of academic integrity and prevention of all forms of violation of academic integrity, in accordance with the Law on Academic Integrity, the Government appoints the Ethics Committee for a period of four years.