Studying in Novi Sad balances university quality with cost. It is Serbia’s second-largest city (about 369,000 people in the urban area according to the 2022 census) and the capital of the northern province of Vojvodina. It is home to the state University of Novi Sad, founded in 1960, with 14 faculties and about 48,000 students, the second-largest university in the country. Its best-known programmes for international students are medicine and dentistry in English at €7,000 a year, law in Serbian at €1,200, and a Serbian language year at only €480. Living costs including housing run €415 to €905 a month, and the express train reaches Belgrade in about 40 minutes.
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Novi Sad at a glance for international students
- University: the state University of Novi Sad, 14 faculties in Novi Sad, Sombor, Subotica and Zrenjanin, and about 320 accredited programmes.
- In English: medicine and dentistry at €7,000 a year (limited places).
- In Serbian: law €1,200, economics €2,100.
- Serbian language year: €480 (A1 to B2), one of the cheapest options in Serbia.
- Living costs including housing: €415 – €905 a month.
Why do students choose Novi Sad?
Novi Sad is a true university city: the main campus is concentrated in one place near the Danube, and the city is smaller, calmer and cheaper than Belgrade, with an active cultural life. It was European Capital of Culture in 2022, and every July it hosts the EXIT music festival at the Petrovaradin Fortress. Its closeness to Belgrade (about 40 minutes on the Soko express train) means you can easily reach the capital and its airport.
The main drawback: the number of English-taught bachelor’s programmes is limited, and most are in medicine and dentistry with few places (see the faculty’s admission announcement for the current number of places). If you want another programme in English, you may find more options in Belgrade.
Programmes and fees at the University of Novi Sad
| Faculty and programme | Language | Annual fee for international students |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Medicine – General medicine (6 years) | English | €7,000 |
| Faculty of Medicine – Dentistry (6 years) | English | €7,000 |
| Faculty of Law – Law / Law and Security / Law and IT | Serbian | €1,200 |
| Faculty of Economics (Subotica, also taught in Novi Sad) | Serbian | €2,100 |
| Faculty of Philosophy – Serbian language centre for foreigners (two semesters) | Serbian | €480 |
The university also includes the Faculty of Technical Sciences (FTN), one of the largest engineering faculties in the region, offering programmes in software engineering, information technology, electrical engineering, architecture and civil engineering, mostly in Serbian. Check the fee for foreigners and the language of each programme in the admission announcement. Details are on our University of Novi Sad page.
A nearby private university
In nearby Sremska Kamenica, next to Novi Sad, you will find the private Educons University. Check its programmes, language of instruction and fees on its official website before you apply.
Monthly cost of living in Novi Sad
| Item | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Student housing | About €95 – €140 (at the rates applied to foreigners) |
| Apartment or room | €200 – €360 |
| One-bedroom apartment in neighbourhoods near the centre | €300 – €600 |
| Food and daily expenses | €320 – €550 (excluding housing) |
| Total including housing | €415 – €905 |
Each year, add the residence permit fee (about 23,880 dinars, roughly €204) and health insurance (estimated €100 – €250). Work out your first year in your own currency with the study cost calculator.
Housing in Novi Sad
Student housing
The Studentski centar Novi Sad foundation runs the dormitories close to the campus. The subsidised prices reported in the media (2,150 – 2,790 dinars a month) apply to Serbian students funded from the budget; self-funded foreigners usually pay a different rate and have a limited number of places. Ask the foundation and your faculty early. World in Serbia scholarship holders receive housing and meals as part of the scholarship.
Private rental
Neighbourhoods such as Detelinara and Sajmište are next to the centre with good transport links, and a one-bedroom apartment there costs roughly €300 to €600 depending on location. Many students share apartments or houses in Novi Sad and Petrovaradin to cut costs. When renting, ask for a written contract, make sure your residence is registered with the police within 24 hours, and ask about heating bills. Read our student housing guide for Serbia.
Transport and getting around
Public buses run within the city, distances between the centre and the campus are short, and many students cycle or walk. Between Novi Sad and Belgrade the Soko express train takes about 40 minutes, the easiest route to Belgrade airport. Novi Sad has no regular international flights, so you arrive via Belgrade airport.
Life for Muslim students in Novi Sad
The Muslim community in Novi Sad is small, places to pray are limited and halal food is scarce, so many students rely on cooking at home and on contact with other Muslim students at the university to find out where Friday prayers are held. Muslims make up about 4.2% of Serbia’s population (2022 census), mostly in the Sandžak region in the south-west. The nearest large historic mosque is the Bajrakli Mosque in Belgrade. Read Is Serbia suitable for Muslim students?
Language: Novi Sad is an excellent choice for a Serbian language year
The Serbian language centre for foreigners at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Novi Sad offers a course from A1 to B2 over two semesters for about €480, far cheaper than Belgrade (€1,200). If you plan to take a programme in Serbian, a language year in Novi Sad saves you money on both fees and living costs. Read the Serbian language certificate required for university.
Application deadlines and the academic year
The academic year at Serbian universities starts in October. Self-funded applications are usually made between April and June, state faculties hold entrance exams in late June and early July, with a second round in September if places remain, while private universities usually accept applications until September. The World in Serbia scholarship opens once a year, roughly between May and June, through the nominating body in your country. After your admission letter arrives, apply for a D visa one to two months before travelling, and start preparing and translating your documents about four months before the application deadline so you do not miss it.
Steps before travel and after arrival
- Get your admission, then a D study visa before you travel.
- The Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad requires a decision recognising your secondary-school diploma from the Serbian Qualifications Agency (AZK); the application fee is 8,900 dinars.
- On arrival, register your address with the police within 24 hours, then enrol at your faculty and apply for temporary residence.
Details are in the Serbia student visa guide and secondary school diploma recognition.
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What the D study visa application requires
According to the official Welcome to Serbia portal, a D visa application for studying requires a completed application form, an invitation letter, proof of adequate and valid health insurance, proof of the funds you have to cover living costs, the registration certificate of the Serbian educational institution, and your previous education certificate with a certified translation. If you are applying only for a Serbian language course, you also need proof that you will continue your education in Serbia (source).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Novi Sad as a student?
About €415 to €905 a month including housing, which is less than Belgrade and slightly more than Niš.
Can I study medicine in English in Novi Sad?
Yes, medicine and dentistry are taught in English at €7,000 a year, but places are limited.
How far is Novi Sad from Belgrade?
About 40 minutes on the Soko express train, which makes Belgrade airport easy to reach.
How much does the Serbian language year cost in Novi Sad?
About €480 for two semesters at the Serbian language centre for foreigners at the Faculty of Philosophy.
Novi Sad or Belgrade?
Novi Sad is cheaper, calmer and has a compact campus, while Belgrade has more programmes in English and more job opportunities. Compare them in Study in Belgrade.
Last updated: October 2026. University data comes from its official website, fees from faculty websites, rents from October 2026 listings and population from the 2022 census.
Sources
- University of Novi Sad: about and history
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad: admission
- Serbian language centre for foreigners – Novi Sad
- EXIT festival: location
- Statistical Office of Serbia: 2022 census