The State University of Novi Pazar is an official Serbian public university founded in 2006 in Novi Pazar, in south-western Serbia. It is known for having some of the lowest tuition fees in the country and for its location in a Muslim-majority city of Bosniaks, which matters to many families. The State University of Novi Pazar suits international students who want a low-cost public university and a social environment close to their culture, provided they are ready to study in Serbian. This guide covers the university’s history, departments and programmes, admission requirements, the announced fees for 2026/2027, life in the city, scholarship options and how to apply.

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About the State University of Novi Pazar

The university was established by a decision of the Government of Serbia on 26 October 2006 to support development in the Sandžak region and improve educational opportunities for its young people. It started with three faculties and then became an “integrated university”, meaning the university is the only legal entity and the faculties operate as departments within it. Today it is the only integrated public university in Serbia.
Its programmes were first accredited in April 2008 for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, and accreditation has been renewed several times; it now offers more than 30 study programmes. The university has two buildings with a total area of 16,000 square metres, 17 specialised laboratories, a library and a sports hall. It is a relatively small university with a few thousand students, which means smaller classes and closer contact with professors.
Important note: there is another, private university in the city, the International University of Novi Pazar (uninp.edu.rs). The university discussed here is the public one, whose official website is np.ac.rs, so check the name before applying.

Departments and fields of study

The university organises its programmes in academic departments, including:

• Biomedical sciences: pharmacy (integrated 5-year programme), nursing, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
• Technical and technological sciences: architecture, civil engineering, software engineering, electrical and computer engineering, agriculture and food technology.
• Natural sciences and mathematics: mathematics, informatics, biology and chemistry.
• Economic sciences: economics, management and tourism.
• Philosophical sciences: psychology, early childhood education, physical education and sport.
• Language sciences: English language and literature, and Serbian language and literature.
• Legal sciences: law.

Master’s programmes are available in a number of these fields, and doctorates in mathematics, software engineering, civil engineering, biology and sport. If pharmacy is your interest, read Studying pharmacy in Serbia for comparison.

Language of study: are there programmes in English?

Study at the State University of Novi Pazar is mainly in Serbian. The only programme that combines English and Serbian is English Language and Literature, which is a language programme and not a substitute for the specialist programmes.
For that reason, international students usually need a preparatory language year before university, with details in The preparatory Serbian-language year and The Serbian-language certificate required for university. The positive side is that Bosnian, widely spoken in the city, is very close to Serbian, so you practise the language every day in the street and market.

Admission requirements for international students

The admission announcement requires applicants to have completed four years of secondary education and to pass the entrance exam. For international students the following are usually added:

1. Recognition of your secondary-school certificate in Serbia; read Recognition of a high school certificate in Serbia.
2. Certified translation of your documents into Serbian, together with your passport and birth certificate.
3. Proof of Serbian proficiency at a level that allows you to study.
4. An entrance exam, which for some programmes is a general-knowledge or aptitude test.

In 2026 the university held its first application round on 22–24 June, followed by a second round in September, and it organises free preparatory classes for the entrance exam in April. For the number of places and quotas, see the faculty’s admission announcement. Read Admission requirements at universities in Serbia for international students for general details.

State University of Novi Pazar tuition fees

The university says its fees are among the lowest in the region. According to the official 2026/2027 admission page:

Programme	Annual fee for a fee-paying student	Approximate equivalent
Most programmes	About €1,068 a year for most programmes (international students); please confirm the amount with the university.	About €1,068 (international students)
Pharmacy	About €1,282 (international students)	About €1,282 (international students)

These figures are announced for fee-paying students, fees for international students may differ, and the euro equivalent changes with the exchange rate. Contact the university at info@np.ac.rs to confirm the amount before applying, and compare it with university fees in Serbia for international students.

The city of Novi Pazar: why it matters for Muslim and international students

Novi Pazar is the centre of the historic Sandžak region, and the city and its administrative area have about 106,000 inhabitants according to the 2022 census. Most residents are Muslim Bosniaks: about 85,000 people were recorded as Bosniaks and about 82,000 as Muslims by religious affiliation, roughly three quarters of the population or more.
In practice, this means for international students:

• Many mosques across the city, the best known being the historic Altun-alem Mosque.
• Relatively easy to find halal food and to celebrate Ramadan and the Eids.
• A comfortable social environment for students who wear the hijab compared with some other cities.
• Lower living costs and rents than Belgrade and Novi Sad.

On the other hand, the city is small and relatively far from the capital, it has no airport or nearby railway line, and unemployment there is high, so don’t rely on part-time work to cover your costs. Read Studying in Novi Pazar for international students and Life as a Muslim student in Serbia.

Quick comparison with the large public universities

Criterion	State University of Novi Pazar	Large universities (Belgrade and Novi Sad)
Size	A small university with less crowded classes	Tens of thousands of students
Language of study	Almost entirely Serbian	Serbian, with English programmes in medicine and engineering
Fees	Among the lowest in Serbia	Higher, and higher still for English-language programmes
Cost of living	Low	Higher, especially for rent
Social environment	Muslim-majority	Diverse cities with a small Muslim minority

Bottom line: if your subject is available here and you are ready for Serbian, you will get a public-university degree at a lower cost. If you want to study in English, the larger universities suit you better.

Scholarships available for studying at the university

Because it is a public university, it is among the universities covered by the World in Serbia scholarship, a full government scholarship that covers tuition, accommodation, meals, a monthly stipend and a Serbian-language course. You can list the State University of Novi Pazar among your choices when applying, and the steps are in How to apply for the Serbia scholarship step by step.
The university also announces internal scholarships and competitions for students, and takes part in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.

How to apply to the State University of Novi Pazar

1. Choose a programme on the departments page of the university website, and check the faculty’s admission announcement for the available places.
2. Start certificate recognition and document translation early.
3. Get a Serbian-language certificate or join a preparatory year.
4. Apply when the admission announcement is published (June or September) and pass the entrance exam.
5. After admission, get a student visa for Serbia if you need one, then temporary residence for students.

Visa, temporary residence and working rules for students in Serbia

Serbia is not part of the EU or the Schengen area. After arrival, a student needs a temporary residence permit for study. According to the official Welcome to Serbia help page, the fees are 430 RSD at submission plus 23,450 RSD on approval, which makes 23,880 RSD in total (source).

A student with temporary residence for study may work up to 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month without a separate work permit (source: ILO NATLEX). Because Novi Pazar is a small city, local part-time jobs may be limited, so plan your budget without relying on them. For the documents required with a long-stay visa, including health insurance, see the official list (source).

Doctoral studies in Serbia

A doctorate in Serbia takes three years. Admission requires a bachelor’s and a master’s degree totalling at least 300 ECTS credits. The State University of Novi Pazar offers doctoral studies in mathematics, software engineering, civil engineering, biology and sport; confirm entry requirements with the university (source: Study in Serbia).

Frequently asked questions about the State University of Novi Pazar

Is the State University of Novi Pazar recognised?

Yes, it is a public university established by the Government of Serbia in 2006, and its programmes are accredited by Serbia’s national accreditation body.

Is study there in English?

Mostly no. Study is in Serbian, except for the English Language and Literature programme, which is taught in English and Serbian.

How much are the annual fees?

About €1,068 per year for most programmes and €1,282 for pharmacy for international students (2025/26), but confirm the amount with the university.

What is the difference between it and the International University of Novi Pazar?

The public university is funded by the state and its website is np.ac.rs, while the International University is an independent private university. The World in Serbia scholarship covers public universities only.

Is Novi Pazar suitable for Muslim students?

Yes, it is one of the most suitable Serbian cities for a Muslim student, because most of its residents are Muslim. Also read Is Serbia suitable for Muslim students?.
The State University of Novi Pazar is an economical and socially comfortable choice, but it demands serious preparation to learn Serbian and acceptance of life in a small city. If these conditions suit you, start planning the language and recognition steps early, and compare your options in the best universities in Serbia.