The best cities in Serbia for international students are not one city: the right choice depends on your subject, your budget and your language of study. In short: Belgrade for the most programmes in English and the most job opportunities, but the most expensive (€450–1,100 a month including housing); Novi Sad for a balance between a strong university and cost (€415–905); Niš for medicine and electrical engineering in English at lower cost (€345–750); Kragujevac for the cheapest medicine in English and Serbian; and Novi Pazar for anyone who wants a Muslim-majority city and low fees in Serbian. This guide compares them using official fees and living-cost estimates, and shows which city suits which student.
🧮 Calculate your study cost in your own currency – official fees, housing, admission chances and application deadlines in one minute: Study cost calculator
Quick comparison of the university cities
| City | State university | Best-known programmes in English | Living costs per month (including housing) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrade | University of Belgrade (31 faculties) | Medicine €8,000, dentistry €5,000, pharmacy €3,500, economics €1,500 | €450–1,100 | Those who want the widest choice and job opportunities |
| Novi Sad | University of Novi Sad (14 faculties) | Medicine and dentistry €7,000 | €415–905 | Balance, and a cheap language year |
| Niš | University of Niš (14 faculties) | Medicine €6,000, dentistry €7,200, electrical engineering €3,500 | €345–750 | Medicine and engineering on a lower budget |
| Kragujevac | University of Kragujevac | Medicine €6,000, pharmacy €3,000, engineering €3,000, economics €3,000 | €345–750 | The cheapest medicine in Serbian (€1,800) |
| Novi Pazar | State University of Novi Pazar | Mainly programmes in Serbian | €345–750 | Muslim students, and limited budgets |
Fees are annual fees for self-financed international students from the universities’ websites (2025/2026), and living-cost estimates include housing, food and basic expenses.
Belgrade: the widest choice and the highest cost
The capital and largest city (about 1.68 million people in the urban area, per the 2022 census). It has the University of Belgrade with its 31 faculties, the best-known private universities (Singidunum, Metropolitan, Union Nikola Tesla) and the University of Arts. It is the only city where you find English-taught programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, economics and information technology together, as well as English-taught master’s programmes such as the master’s in electrical engineering and computing (€9,000) and the international master’s in economics (€6,000).
- Pros: the most programmes, more internships and part-time jobs (especially in information technology), an international airport, and free public transport for everyone since January 2025.
- Cons: the highest rents in Serbia (a studio costs about €270–495) and competition for student housing.
- For Muslim students: the historic Bajrakli Mosque in the Dorćol district, but halal food is limited.
Details in Studying in Belgrade.
Novi Sad: the balance between quality and cost
The second-largest city (about 369,000 people), the capital of the Vojvodina province and the European Capital of Culture in 2022. The University of Novi Sad is the country’s second-largest university with about 48,000 students, and its campus is concentrated near the Danube. The fast train connects it with Belgrade in about 40 minutes.
- Pros: cheaper than Belgrade, a compact campus, and a Serbian language year for only about €480 (versus €1,200 in Belgrade).
- Cons: few bachelor’s programmes in English, and limited places in medicine in English.
- For Muslim students: the community is small and places to pray are limited.
Details in Studying in Novi Sad.
Niš: medicine and engineering in English on a lower budget
The third-largest city (about 250,000 people). The University of Niš was founded in 1965 and has 14 faculties and about 23,500 students, with 9 accredited programmes in English, including medicine (€6,000), dentistry (€7,200), pharmacy, applied nursing, and bachelor’s programmes in electrical engineering and information technology (€3,500). The number of places for medicine in English changes each year, so see the Faculty of Medicine’s admission announcement.
- Pros: low living costs (€345–750), a quiet city with short distances, and accredited English-taught programmes in medicine and engineering.
- Cons: fewer options outside medicine and electrical engineering, and fewer part-time jobs in English.
- For Muslim students: the Islam Aga Mosque in the city centre; the community is small.
Details in Studying in Niš and University of Niš.
Kragujevac: the cheapest medicine
A city in central Serbia, home to the state University of Kragujevac. Its Faculty of Medical Sciences offers medicine in English for €6,000 and in Serbian for only €1,800, the cheapest medicine in Serbian among the large state universities, and pharmacy in English for €3,000 and in Serbian for €1,600. The university also offers engineering and economics in English for about €3,000, and economics in Serbian for about €1,020.
- Pros: low fees and living costs, and English-taught options in medicine, pharmacy, engineering and economics.
- Cons: a smaller city with a quieter social and international life, and a very small Muslim community.
Details in Studying in Kragujevac and University of Kragujevac.
Novi Pazar: the Muslim-majority city
A city in the Sandžak region of south-west Serbia, where most residents are Bosniak Muslims, with historic mosques, the best known being the 16th-century Altun-Alem Mosque. The State University of Novi Pazar teaches in Serbian, with fees of about €1,068 a year for most programmes, €1,282 for pharmacy and about €1,154 for master’s programmes.
- Pros: the easiest daily life for a Muslim student in Serbia, and the lowest university fees.
- Cons: programmes are almost only in Serbian, so you need a language year; fewer subject options; and the city is far from the major airports.
Details in Studying in Novi Pazar.
How to choose your city: five questions
- Is your subject available in English there? This is the first filter. Medicine in English is offered in the four large cities, while economics and information technology in English are mostly in Belgrade.
- What is your monthly budget? The difference between Belgrade and Niš in living costs alone can reach a few hundred euros a month.
- Will you study in Serbian? If so, fees at state universities in Serbian are much lower in every city, and the language year in Novi Sad is the cheapest.
- How important is Muslim life to you? Novi Pazar is the clearest choice, Belgrade has an active historic mosque, and the other cities have small communities.
- Do you want to work while studying? Part-time work (up to 20 hours a week without a separate permit) is most available in Belgrade, then Novi Sad.
What all the cities have in common
- The academic year starts in October, self-financed applications are usually made between April and June, and entrance exams at state universities take place in late June and early July.
- You enter on a D visa for most nationalities, then get a temporary residence permit that is renewed every year (about 23,880 dinars, roughly €204).
- You must register your address with the police within 24 hours of arrival.
- The World in Serbia scholarship covers study in Serbian at state universities in all of these cities, with housing, meals, insurance and a monthly allowance.
- Serbia is not in the European Union or the Schengen area, whichever city you study in.
Ready to start your journey to study in Serbia?
We help you with admission, paperwork and your visa, step by step
What stays the same wherever you study
Degree structure does not depend on the city. According to the official Study in Serbia platform, bachelor’s programmes last 3–4 years (180–240 ECTS), master’s programmes last 1–2 years (60–120 ECTS) and doctoral programmes last three years and require a prior bachelor’s and master’s totalling at least 300 ECTS. Because tuition is charged per year, a longer programme in a cheaper city can still cost less overall than a shorter one in Belgrade, so compare total cost over the whole programme, not just the monthly figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest city to study in Serbia?
Niš, Kragujevac and Novi Pazar are the cheapest to live in (about €345–750 a month including housing), and Novi Pazar has the lowest fees in Serbian.
What is the best city to study medicine in English in Serbia?
It depends on your budget: Niš and Kragujevac at €6,000 a year, Novi Sad at €7,000 and Belgrade at €8,000. Compare them in studying medicine in Serbia.
What is the best city for Muslim students in Serbia?
Novi Pazar, which has a Muslim majority, but its programmes are in Serbian. Belgrade has the Bajrakli Mosque, and Niš has the Islam Aga Mosque.
Is Belgrade better than Novi Sad?
Belgrade is better for the number of programmes and job opportunities, and Novi Sad is better for cost, quietness and a cheap language year.
Last updated: October 2026. Fees come from the universities’ official websites (2025/2026), living-cost estimates from StudyFlowX calculator data, and population figures from the 2022 census.