Higher education in Montenegro is obtained at universities and other institutions of higher education, which are licensed and accredited in accordance with the Law on Higher Education (hereafter: the Law). 

A university or other institution is established as a public or private institution and has the status of a legal entity, which it acquires by being registered in the appropriate register.

Public and private institutions of higher education are established and function in accordance with the Law. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (hereafter: the Ministry) issues, changes and revokes the license for higher education institutions.

In Montenegro, higher education is obtained at four universities and six independent faculties, namely:

• University of Montenegro, public higher education institution 

• University Mediterranean, private higher education institution

• University Donja Gorica, private higher education institution 

• University Adriatic, private higher education institution

• Faculty for Montenegrin Language and Literature, public independent higher education institution 

• Faculty for State and European Studies, private independent higher education institution 

• Faculty for Business Management, private independent higher education institution 

• Faculty of International Management in Tourism and Hospitality Miločer - HEC, private independent higher education institution 
• ICEPS College of Medicine, Kotor, private independent higher education institution 
• Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences Budva, private independent higher education institution. 

Please find attached the List of the accredited and licensed higher education institutions and study programs.

The University of Montenegro is the only public university in Montenegro. It was officially established in 1974, comprising of three faculties (Economics, Engineering and Law). Today, this University consists of 19 faculties and 2 research institutes, which are located in different towns throughout Montenegro. The seat of the University is in Podgorica. Around 21,000 students are currently enrolled at this university.

Currently, a total of 287 study programs according to the 3+2+3 model are being implemented at all institutions of higher education in Montenegro. Of the total number of study programs, 42% are conducted at undergraduate studies (123), 43% at master's studies (122) and 15% at doctoral studies (42).

On average, about 23,000 students are enrolled annually (at all three levels of study), while about 4,700 students graduate. The largest number of study programs (173) is realized at the University of Montenegro, which consists of 18 faculties, one art academy and the Institute for Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Studies. This represents 60% of all study programs in the country. The remaining 40% of programs are conducted at private universities, private faculties, as well as at one state faculty.

According to MONSTAT data, the number of enrolled students at all levels of study in the 2024/2025 academic year is 20,361, of which:
• the number of students enrolled in basic studies is 16,221;
• the number of students enrolled in postgraduate studies (specialist studies and master's studies) is 3,941;
• the number of students enrolled in doctoral studies is 199.

The number of graduate students in 2024 is 3,548, of which:
• the number of graduate students in basic studies is 2241;
• the number of graduate students in postgraduate studies (specialist studies and master's studies) is 1284;
• the number of graduate students in doctoral studies is 23.

Out of the total number of students enrolled in the 2024/2025 academic year, as many as 66% of them are enrolled in the University of Montenegro, while of the total number of graduated students in 2024, 59% of them also graduated at the University of Montenegro.

Study programs implemented at institutions of higher education in Montenegro go through external quality assurance conducted by the Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education, through procedures: accreditation of study programs, re-accreditation of institutions of higher education, as well as through the licensing procedure of the institution and study program conducted by the Ministry.