Bosnia and Herzegovina

Higher education can take several forms in BiH. Students who have pursued an academic program or an art, music, or ballet-focused course of study at the secondary level are eligible for admission to Faculties of higher education or Art Academies after successfully passing their exams. These programs last three to six years in the Federation and four to six years in the RS. Pedagogical Academies and Senior Secondary Schools are another option for students graduating from the secondary education programs in BiH; programs in these institutions last two years. The final levels of higher education include Masters degree programs (lasting two years) or Specialization studies (lasting one year), with the Masters programs followed by doctoral studies for some students leading to the Ph.D. degree. In the RS 13,883 postsecondary students were enrolled in 2 public universities (including 28 faculties, schools, and academies) and 4 public non-university educational institutions during the 1999-2000 academic year.

Foreign Students: Before the war Yugoslavian universities and schools, including the renowned University of Sarajevo, attracted many foreign students, including students from developing countries who received academic grants from the formerly socialist government of Yugoslavia. However, because of the widespread destruction of schools, universities, and libraries during the war and the general degradation of economic and social conditions in the country, this picture of foreign enrollment in Bosnian educational institutions changed completely in the 1990s. In contrast, many Bosnia students found placements in colleges and universities abroad, often sponsored by international peace and development-related organizations such as the Fellowship of Reconciliation.