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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
National reforms in higher education
Serbia

Serbia

13.Ongoing reforms and policy developments

13.4National reforms in higher education

Last update: 30 March 2026
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2026

There have been no reforms up to date in this area. 

2025

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia has adopted amendments to the Law on Higher Education, which aim to improve the quality of higher education by securing additional budget funds for higher education, developing the relevance of higher education, strengthening the autonomy of universities, and contributing to the further internationalization of higher education. 

The adopted amendments introduced, for the first time, the obligation of the state to provide funds for the accreditation costs of study programmes and institutions in the Republic of Serbia, as well as the costs of relevant international academic accreditations.

Also, the concept of artistic research has been introduced. 

The University conducts scientific and artistic research with the aim of developing science and creativity, improving higher education activities, enhancing the quality of teaching, advancing young researchers and artists, introducing students to scientific and artistic research, as well as creating material conditions for the work and development of the university. Artistic research is a systematically conducted and methodologically based process carried out through the application of knowledge, skills, and procedures from artistic practice, with the goal of discovering new artistic approaches and producing new knowledge and skills. The process of artistic research at the university includes research, creation, and interpretation.

Additionally, the amendments to the law introduce microcredentials (short study programmes with a clearly defined structure, purpose, and learning outcomes) for the professional training of individuals with secondary or higher education, in line with labor market needs, as lifelong learning programmes. Each subject within the microcredentials is expressed in terms of the corresponding ECTS credits, and the scope of the programme is expressed as the sum of ECTS credits. A microcredential can be conducted in a range from 1 to 15 ECTS credits. The verification of microcredentials is carried out by the National Accreditation Body. 

The amendments to the Law on Higher Education also more precisely define the aspect of ranking and admission of candidates to higher education institutions.

2024

In the beginning of 2024 the Serbian National Entity for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NEAQA) went through the preliminary application for accreditation to World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and it was found as eligible, after which an agreement was reached to begin submitting the main application. This process will provide the application to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and access to different opportunities for further training and a career abroad to graduates. 

During the 2024, NEAQA will conclude an agreement on cooperation with medical faculties in Serbia and proceed with the main application. According to the procedure and standards of the WFME, a medical faculty must start the accreditation procedure of the study programme of integrated academic studies in medicine, where the WFME, through a team of experts, supervises the procedure itself.