The University of Arts in Belgrade (Univerzitet umetnosti u Beogradu) is Serbia’s public university devoted to the arts. It has four faculties (music, fine arts, applied arts and dramatic arts), more than 2,800 students and 37 accredited programmes. Teaching is mainly in Serbian, and admission is through an aptitude exam at each faculty. For 2025/2026 the Faculty of Music charges students from outside Europe €3,600 for a bachelor’s, €4,320 for a master’s and €7,200 for a doctorate, with a 10% discount for paying in one instalment. One English-taught option is the master’s in Cultural Policy and Management (UNESCO Chair), at €2,100–2,300. This guide covers the faculties, the official fees, admission rules for foreign applicants and the application steps.
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About the university
It was founded on 10 June 1957 as the «Academy of Arts», a union of the existing art academies, and became the «University of Arts» in 1973 when the four academies turned into faculties. Today it has about 700 teaching staff and employees, 37 accredited programmes with more than 120 sub-tracks, and a centre for interdisciplinary studies (master’s and doctorate).
| Faculty | Founded | Example fields |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Music (FMU) | 1937 | Performance, composition, musicology, music education |
| Faculty of Fine Arts (FLU) | 1937 | Painting, sculpture, printmaking |
| Faculty of Applied Arts (FPU) | 1948 | Design, applied arts, stage and costume design |
| Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) | 1948 | Acting, directing, film and television, production |
Each faculty is a separate legal entity with its own website, admission announcement and fees, so check the faculty’s own site before you apply.
Tuition fees for international students
The 2025/2026 decision of the Faculty of Music council divides foreign students into three categories by country, and students from outside Europe fall into the «non-European countries» category:
| Level | Countries neighbouring Serbia | Other European countries | Non-European countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | €1,800 | €2,700 | €3,600 |
| Master’s | €2,160 | €3,240 | €4,320 |
| Specialist studies | €1,440 | €2,160 | €2,880 |
| Doctorate | €3,600 | €5,400 | €7,200 |
- Fees are paid in dinars at the National Bank of Serbia rate on the day of payment.
- You can pay in one go with a 10% discount, or in eight monthly instalments.
- The figures above are for the Faculty of Music. The other faculties set their fees in separate decisions (see the next table).
Bachelor’s fees for foreigners at the other faculties, according to their official admission announcements:
| Faculty | Year | Annual fee for foreigners | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Arts (FLU) | 2025/2026 | €3,300 | Paid in dinars; studies in Serbian only |
| Applied Arts (FPU) | 2026/2027 | €3,600 | Paid in full at enrolment (instalments are for citizens only); a declaration of proficiency in Serbian and the Cyrillic alphabet is required |
| Dramatic Arts (FDU) | 2025/2026 | 480,000 RSD (460,000 for Culture and Media Management) | About €4,100; studies in Serbian |
Programmes in English
Bachelor’s programmes at all four faculties are in Serbian only, and the admission announcements require proof or a declaration of proficiency in Serbian. The confirmed English-language options are at postgraduate level:
- Master’s in Cultural Policy and Management (Interculturalism and Mediation in the Balkans) under the UNESCO Chair: full-time, two semesters, 60 ECTS, in English. The fee is €2,100–2,300 and the application fee is 7,500 RSD (€65). You need a 240-ECTS university degree in social sciences, humanities or the arts and a good command of English; professional experience is an advantage. The 2026 intake ran in three rounds starting in June, with online interviews and classes starting in October.
- Doctorate in Musical Composition and Performing Arts at the Faculty of Music: taught in Serbian and English.
If you see an announcement for an English-language bachelor’s programme at the university, confirm it on the faculty’s official website before paying any agent.
Admission requirements for foreign students
The Faculty of Music’s study rules (Article 4) summarise the requirements for foreigners, and the other faculties are similar:
- Foreign applicants apply on the same terms as Serbian students, provided they are proficient in the language of instruction, which a faculty committee checks.
- You submit the decision recognising your foreign diploma, or proof that the recognition procedure has started. For a foreign secondary-school certificate the competent body is the Serbian Qualifications Agency (AZK).
- Foreign students study at their own expense unless an agreement between the two countries says otherwise.
- Health insurance is compulsory.
Entrance (aptitude) exams
Admission at every faculty involves a practical aptitude exam, and it is the deciding factor, not your school grades alone:
- Music: a test of musical inclination and aptitude, followed by specialist exams (instrument, voice, composition or theory).
- Fine and applied arts: drawing and sculpture or design tasks at the faculty during the exam days, with a portfolio in some departments. The Faculty of Fine Arts includes a «declaration for foreign students» form in its application papers.
- Dramatic arts: performance rounds and interviews for acting and directing, and written or filmed work for other departments.
Admission announcements for the new year are usually published in spring on the university’s website and in its council decisions. Exams are held in June, with extra rounds in September if places remain. Start preparing for the practical exam months ahead and check each department’s requirements carefully.
Language: why Serbian matters more here than in other subjects
Art studies depend on workshops and direct work with your professor, most programmes are in Serbian, and the faculty checks that you can handle the language of instruction. For that reason, the realistic route for most international students is a year of Serbian before the entrance exam. Read about the Serbian language year and the Serbian language certificate required by universities.
Application steps
- Choose the faculty and department, and read the entrance exam requirements on the faculty’s website.
- Have your secondary-school certificate legalised and translated into Serbian, then apply for recognition at AZK (fee 8,900 RSD). Read secondary-school certificate recognition in Serbia.
- Prepare a portfolio if your department asks for one.
- Register for the entrance exam within the announced dates and pay the exam fee.
- After admission: pay the fees (in one go with a discount or in instalments), then apply for a D visa and temporary residence. Read the Serbia student visa guide.
Student exchange
If you are a student at a partner arts university, the deadlines for exchange applications are 15 May for the semester starting in October and 15 October for the semester starting in February, with nominations from partner universities due earlier (1 May and 1 October).
What makes studying at the University of Arts special
It is the only public university in Serbia devoted entirely to the arts. Teaching is built on workshops, small groups and direct work with professors, with concerts, exhibitions and theatre performances involving students in Belgrade throughout the year.
Scholarships
The World in Serbia scholarship covers study in Serbian at public universities, including the University of Arts, for citizens of Non-Aligned Movement countries, but admission to the arts faculties still depends on passing the aptitude exam. The Dragan Klaić fellowship in the master’s in Cultural Management is reserved for the best candidate from the Balkan region. Read about the World in Serbia scholarship.
Living in Belgrade
All the university’s faculties are in Belgrade, where living costs run from about €450 to €1,100 a month including accommodation, depending on the type of housing and the neighbourhood. Public transport in Belgrade has been free since January 2025. Details in Study in Belgrade.
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Residence, work and insurance for international students
Serbia is not a member of the EU or the Schengen area, so non-visa-exempt students first need a D visa and then temporary residence for study. According to the official Welcome to Serbia portal, temporary residence costs 430 RSD at submission plus 23,450 RSD at approval, 23,880 RSD in total (source).
Health insurance is mandatory for the visa and residence procedure; the documentation is listed on the official portal (source).
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). The minimum wage is 371 RSD per hour net, rising to 405 RSD from 1 January 2027. Because arts studies are workshop-heavy, plan part-time work around your timetable and rehearsal or studio hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much are the University of Arts in Belgrade’s fees for international students?
At the Faculty of Music for 2025/2026: €3,600 for a bachelor’s, €4,320 for a master’s and €7,200 for a doctorate, with a 10% discount for paying in one go. The other faculties have their own decisions.
Are there programmes in English?
Yes, at postgraduate level, for example the master’s in Cultural Policy and Management, and the doctorate in composition and performing arts in Serbian and English. Bachelor’s programmes are mainly in Serbian.
Do I need to take an entrance exam?
Yes. Every faculty holds a practical aptitude exam, and it is the most important element of admission.
Can I apply without speaking Serbian?
For bachelor’s programmes, usually not, because the faculty checks your proficiency in the language of instruction. Plan a language year first.
Last updated: October 2026. Fees are from the Faculty of Music council decision for 2025/2026; the other information is from the university’s and faculties’ websites.
Sources
- University of Arts in Belgrade: history of the university
- University of Arts in Belgrade: university programmes
- Faculty of Music: fee decisions (including 2025/2026 fees for foreigners)
- Faculty of Music: study rules (Article 4)
- Master’s in Cultural Policy and Management (in English)
- University of Arts: exchange students
See also: Studying the arts in Serbia.