How to apply for the World in Serbia scholarship takes six steps: check your eligibility, get a nomination from the official authority in your country, fill in the online form, and send your documents before the deadline (usually between May and June). After acceptance you study Serbian for a free year, then start your degree at a state university. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, meals, insurance and a monthly allowance of 18,000 dinars (about 150 euros). This guide is based on the conditions in the official announcement of the Serbian Ministry of Education.

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Step 1: Check your eligibility

• You must hold the citizenship of a member or observer state of the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Age limits: under 21 for a bachelor’s degree, under 25 for a master’s or professional degree, and under 35 for a doctorate.
• Qualifications: a 4-year secondary school diploma for a bachelor’s degree; a 240-ECTS bachelor’s degree for a 60-ECTS master’s, or a 180-ECTS bachelor’s degree for a 120-ECTS master’s; a master’s degree (or an integrated 300-ECTS programme) with an average of at least 8.5 in both cycles for a doctorate.
• Language: at least level A1 in English or Serbian on arrival.
• Health: a recent medical certificate (no older than 6 months in previous announcements) showing that you have no infectious diseases.

If you have already studied in Serbia on another scholarship, you may not be eligible for the same level. Check the text of the annual announcement.

Step 2: Get nominated by the official authority in your country

Direct individual applications are not accepted. The competent national body in your country (often the ministry of higher education or the body in charge of foreign scholarships) must nominate you and send the nominations to the Serbian side. The body differs from country to country, and each has an internal deadline that may fall before the Serbian one, so ask your ministry of higher education or the Serbian embassy early about the nominating body.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

1. A valid passport.
2. Your secondary school diploma (or university degree for postgraduate study) with transcripts.
3. Translations of your documents into Serbian or English, certified by an authorised body.
4. The recent medical certificate.
5. The nomination letter from the official body in your country.
6. Any extra documents the announcement asks for (such as a CV or a research proposal for a doctorate).

The scholarship includes free verification of your secondary school and university certificates in Serbia. Legalisation details are in Document translation and legalisation for Serbia.

Step 4: Fill in the online form and send your file before the deadline

The annual announcement publishes the link to the official online form and the email address to which you send scanned copies of your documents. Choose the programme and the state university from the published list, and send the complete file before the deadline. Incomplete or late applications are usually rejected.

Step 5: Wait for the result, then the Serbian language year

After selection, the nominating body informs you of the result, and you then receive your residence visa (free for scholarship holders). You start with an online Serbian course, followed by an intensive course after you arrive in Serbia, and at the end you sit the language test required to enter your programme. Learn more about the Serbian language year.

Step 6: Enrol at the university

After you pass the language test, you enrol in your chosen programme at a state university at the start of the academic year in October, and you renew your residence permit every year (reduced fees for scholarship holders: RSD 420 for the application, RSD 2,120 for issuing the permit and RSD 1,788 for the biometric card, RSD 4,328 in total instead of 23,880, according to the World in Serbia project description).

What does the scholarship cover?

Item	Coverage
Serbian language year (online + intensive in Serbia)	Free
Tuition fees	One study cycle at a state university
Monthly allowance	18,000 dinars (about 150 euros)
Accommodation and meals	In Studentski centar student residences
Health insurance	Compulsory for those under 26; optional for those over 26 and during the language year
Residence visa and certificate verification	Free
Flights and personal expenses	Usually not covered

Before you travel: official basics for scholarship students

Once you are selected for the World in Serbia scholarship, a few official rules shape your first weeks. This section collects them from Serbian government and study-promotion sites so you can plan your World in Serbia scholarship application and arrival with confidence.

Degree levels and credits

• Bachelor’s programmes last 3–4 years and carry 180–240 ECTS.
• Master’s programmes last 1–2 years and carry 60–120 ECTS.
• Doctoral programmes (PhD) last three years. Admission requires that your bachelor’s and master’s studies together total at least 300 ECTS, and the programme includes extensive research and a final thesis or artistic project.

Source: Study in Serbia (studyinserbia.rs). You can browse programmes in the official catalogue and the national education database.

Registration, funds and health insurance on arrival

• Your landlord or accommodation provider must register your address with the local police within 24 hours of your arrival, and the address must match the one in your application (registration upon arrival).
• For the visa documentation, proof of a scholarship is accepted as proof of means of subsistence and as proof of health insurance during your stay (welcometoserbia.gov.rs).
• Other accepted forms of insurance proof include your own health insurance policy or a valid Serbian health insurance card, so keep every document your university issues.

Working alongside your studies

Students with temporary residence for study may work up to 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month without a separate work permit (source). Always read your scholarship conditions first, because they may restrict outside work.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the Serbian scholarship without a nomination?

No. Nomination by the official body in your country is a basic requirement, and direct individual applications are not accepted.

When does the application open?

Once a year, usually between May and June; the next round is expected in May–June 2027. Follow the Serbian Ministry of Education website and the nominating body in your country.

Can I study medicine on the Serbian scholarship?

Yes, if the field is on the published list, but it is taught in Serbian at a state university after the language year. Paid English-taught programmes and private universities are not covered.

Do I need to know Serbian before applying?

No. Level A1 in English or Serbian on arrival is enough, and you learn Serbian during the free language year.

Can I work during the scholarship?

A student residence permit holder may work up to 20 hours a week without a separate work permit. Check the scholarship conditions before taking a job.

Can I apply again if I am rejected?

Yes, in the next round, as long as you are within the age limits and meet the eligibility conditions.

Last updated: October 2026. Conditions come from the official World in Serbia announcements and may change every round. The final reference is the text of the announcement on the Ministry of Education website.

Official sources

• Serbian Ministry of Education: World in Serbia scholarships
• Eurydice (European Commission): Serbian scholarship programmes
• Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa regime

See also: World in Serbia scholarship, scholarships in Serbia and student visa for Serbia.