The cost of studying in Serbia in your first year ranges from roughly €5,500 to €21,000 (about US$6,200 – $23,500), including tuition, housing, living costs, residence permit and insurance. Most international students at state faculties studying in Serbian and living in student housing need between €5,500 and €9,000, while medicine in English with an apartment in Belgrade reaches €20,000 or more. In this guide we break down each item and give three ready-made scenarios.
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What is the first-year budget for studying in Serbia?
The following figures are estimates for a full year in euros (€1 ≈ US$1.12), taken from official university fees and StudyFlowX calculator data.
| Item | In euros | Approx. in US dollars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (bachelor’s) | €1,000 – €5,000 | $1,120 – $5,600 | Medicine in English €6,000 – €8,000 |
| Serbian language year (if you need it) | €480 – €1,200 | $540 – $1,340 | For those without B2 Serbian |
| Student housing | €1,150 – €1,700 per year | $1,290 – $1,900 | Free for World in Serbia scholarship holders |
| Or a private apartment | €1,440 – €5,940 per year | $1,610 – $6,650 | Highest in Belgrade |
| Living costs (food, transport, phone) | €250 – €600 per month | $280 – $670 | Public transport in Belgrade has been free since 2025 |
| Temporary residence permit | About €204 | About $230 | Roughly 23,880 dinars, renewed annually |
| Private health insurance | €100 – €250 | $110 – $280 | Estimate |
| Application fee | About €50 – €65 | $55 – $75 | Varies by faculty |
The figures do not include your flight, translation and legalisation of documents, D visa fee and medical examination, because they vary by country.
Three first-year scenarios
| Scenario | Components | First-year total (euros) | Approx. in US dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Low-fee state faculty + student housing in Niš, Kragujevac or Novi Pazar | €5,500 – €8,000 | $6,200 – $9,000 |
| Mid-range | Mid-fee faculty + student housing in Novi Sad | €7,500 – €13,500 | $8,400 – $15,100 |
| High | Medicine in English or a high-fee faculty + apartment in Belgrade | €14,000 – €21,000 | $15,700 – $23,500 |
If you need a Serbian language year before your main programme, add its fee (€480 – €1,200) and an extra year of living costs. To calculate your budget for a specific university and city in your own currency, use the study cost calculator.
Tuition fees
Most bachelor’s programmes at state universities cost between €1,000 and €3,600 a year, medicine in English between €6,000 and €8,000, and private universities roughly €2,100 to €5,000. The full table of official fees for each university is in university tuition fees in Serbia for international students.
Housing and living costs
You need roughly €350 – €750 a month in smaller cities, €415 – €905 in Novi Sad and €450 – €1,100 in Belgrade, including housing. Student housing (Studentski centar) is the cheapest option but places are limited, so apply early. Details are in the cost of living in Serbia and housing in Serbia.
Residence and visa fees
- D study visa: only if your nationality requires one; the fee varies by country and embassy.
- Temporary residence permit: about 23,880 dinars (≈ €204), renewed every year, with only a symbolic fee for World in Serbia scholarship holders.
- Proof of financial means: Serbian law requires proof of means of subsistence for the visa and residence permit without a published amount for students, so keep a bank statement covering at least one year.
The full procedures are in the Serbia student visa guide and the temporary residence guide for Serbia.
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Health insurance
You need valid health insurance for your residence permit. Private student insurance costs an estimated €100 – €250 a year, and World in Serbia scholarship holders are covered by insurance as part of the scholarship. Details are in health insurance for students in Serbia.
Can I study in Serbia for free?
It is not free for self-funded international students, but the World in Serbia scholarship covers study at a state university, housing, meals and insurance with a monthly allowance, for citizens of Non-Aligned Movement countries. See also our guide to studying free in Serbia.
How do you calculate your first-year budget?
- Choose the faculty, programme and language of study, and get the fee from the faculty website or from the fees page.
- Decide whether you need a Serbian language year before your main programme.
- Pick the city and type of housing (student housing or an apartment).
- Add monthly living costs × 12.
- Add the residence permit, insurance and application fees.
- Add your flight, translation and legalisation of documents and the visa according to your country, then keep about 10% for emergencies.
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What to prepare for the visa and residence steps
The official Welcome to Serbia portal lists the documents for a D visa for studying: a completed application form, an invitation letter, proof of adequate and valid health insurance, proof of the financial means available to cover your living costs, the registration certificate of the Serbian educational institution, and your previous education certificate with a certified translation (source). Translation and certification costs depend on your country, which is why they are not included in the budget table above.
For nationalities that have no social insurance agreement with Serbia, the official list of accepted proof of health insurance includes your own health insurance policy, proof of a scholarship, or proof of funds that can cover emergency medical assistance or treatment of chronic diseases (source).
If you stay longer than your visa allows, the temporary residence application is submitted on the same grounds as the D visa, while the visa is still valid, on the official eForeigner portal (source). The passport must remain valid for at least three months beyond the period for which residence is granted. Every foreign citizen must also register their address with the local police within 24 hours of arrival (source).
Degree length affects your total budget
Bachelor’s programmes in Serbia last 3–4 years (180–240 ECTS), master’s programmes 1–2 years (60–120 ECTS) and doctoral programmes three years, so multiply the yearly figures above by the length of your programme (source). There are more than 170 English-taught programmes across all study levels, searchable in the official programme database.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first-year budget for studying in Serbia?
Roughly €5,500 – €21,000 (about US$6,200 – $23,500) depending on the faculty, city and type of housing. Most students at state faculties with student housing need €5,500 – €9,000.
How much does the first year of medicine in Serbia cost?
Medicine in English: fees of €6,000 – €8,000, and with housing and living costs the first year comes to about €10,000 – €21,000 depending on the city and type of housing. In Serbian it is much cheaper, but it usually requires a language year.
Is Serbia a cheap country to study in?
Yes, Serbia is one of the cheapest European countries for studying, especially compared with Western Europe, and particularly in cities outside Belgrade.
Can I study in Serbia without knowing Serbian?
Yes, in English-taught programmes, which are fewer and cost more. Programmes in Serbian usually require B2 or a preparatory language year. Read Study in Serbia for the full picture.
Are there scholarships in Serbia for international students?
Yes, the main one is the World in Serbia scholarship, applied for through nomination by the official body in your country, and applications usually open between May and June.
Last updated: October 2026. Figures are estimates based on official university fees and StudyFlowX calculator data, and may change with the year and exchange rate.
Official sources
- Temporary residence — Serbian Ministry of Interior
- Visa requirements — Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- University of Belgrade fee table 2025/2026 (PDF)
- Study in Serbia guide — European Commission