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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice

Croatia

The Adult Education Act (OG 144/2021) stipulates that adult education can be performed by an institution established exclusively for the purpose of adult education, a school institution, a university, as well as an institution that performs other activities in addition to adult education. 

In the Republic of Croatia, the responsibility for adult education and training is distributed at the national, regional and local levels, which includes a network of ministries, agencies and other public bodies. These institutions jointly ensure the development, implementation and monitoring of adult education policies and programmes.

Adult education in Croatia is regulated by the Adult Education Act which entered into force in January 2022. 

The new legislative framework aligns the system of adult education with the Act on the Croatian Qualifications Framework and the methodology of creating the adult education programs is based on the regulations governing the Croatian Qualification Framework (CROQF).

Organisation of doctoral studies

The third-cycle programmes in higher education include university specialist studies and doctoral studies. 

University specialist study

The university specialist study is carried out in the third-cycle of higher education, lasts at least one year, or at most two, and upon its completion, 60 to 120 ECTS credits are earned. 

University integrated undergraduate and graduate study programmes

University integrated undergraduate and graduate studies (first and second-cycle programmes) usually last five years during which students earn a minimum of 300 ECTS credits or six years during which students earn at least 360 ECTS credits.

Professional short-cycle studies last two years, during which students earn up to 120 credits. 

 

Branches of study

According to the Register of Study Programmes in 2023, there were 4 accredited professional short-cycle studies in the field of social and technical sciences: Founding, Polytechnics and Internet Marketing (in Croatian and English).

 

The first cycle of study, leading to a bachelor’s degree, includes university and professional undergraduate studies. It prepares students for employment in certain professional jobs and prepares them to continue their studies at the graduate level.