Choosing to study in Croatia has its perks. Some of these are its impressive public safety, affordable cost of living, and numerous job opportunities. You’ll find that it’s also a haven for introverts, with its uncrowded cities.
Additionally, Croatia has its fair share of top universities that offer Computer Science programs. When choosing a university, though, note that Croatian universities don’t always use the terms Computer Science all the time. In some higher education institutions, Computer Science is offered as an Engineering course, while other universities have a more specific sub-field. In this article, we will be looking at the best universities for computer science in Croatia!
Top Universities for Computer Science in Croatia
1. University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the largest and oldest in Croatia and in Southern Europe, having been established in 1669. Its long history started after the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I issued the decree to establish the university in its first-ever name, the Jesuit Academy of the Royal Free City of Zagreb. Fast-forward to the present times, the University of Zagreb is among the top institutions for computer science in Croatia that operates through its 29 faculties, three art academies, and one university center. It also has more than 70,000 students.
The university offers Computer Science through Bachelor’s programs in Information Technology and Computing. These programs are taught in the English language and take three years to complete. Students are only allowed to attend 20 hours of classes every week but are required to undergo assessment through Homeworks, periodical tests, and midterm and final exams.
The master’s studies in Computer Science offer more specialized programs that include Data Science, Robotics, and Control Systems. The courses are also delivered in English and the program lasts for at least four years. To complete the program, students are required to submit a thesis in their final semester. After which, students can apply for doctoral studies. Here, students are expected to work in research and scientific studies either full-time or part-time. Thus, the study duration takes three to seven years, depending on the student’s study mode.
2. University of Rijeka
The University of Rijeka, established in 1973, is another institution for higher education where you can study Computer Science. Its history can be traced back to 1627 after the Jesuits built the first higher education school in Rijeka. It has nine faculties providing education in Economics, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Tourism, among others. The University of Rijeka is an excellent university for computer science in Croatia that has more than 16,000 students in its 90 square kilometers campus area.
You can study Computer Science at the university through its Faculty of Engineering. The bachelor’s degree includes training in basic and specialized computer knowledge, and applied skills. It takes three years to complete the program, awarding the baccalaureate degree in Computing. The graduate studies, meanwhile, provide highly specialist education, teaching students to perform complex Computing tasks in the industry. It allows students to adopt an interdisciplinary approach in information processing, system integration, and innovative solutions. As such, students can choose a further specialization, like Software Engineering and Computer Systems. After two years of study completion, successful graduates will receive a Master in Computing degree.
Finally, doctoral studies in Computer Science trains students to perform research on original topics and implement projects with superior industry knowledge. Moreover, the program is carried out in English and Croatian. Doctoral candidates can take either a full-time or part-time study load and can take at least three years. Part-time doctorate students have only up to ten years to finish their degrees.
3. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Croatia
Rochester Institute of Technology Croatia is the satellite university of the New York-based Rochester Institute of Technology. Established in 1997, the institute is located in Zagreb and Dubrovnik and grants Croatian and American degrees. As such, the RIT Croatia is recognized as a leading university for computer science in Croatia. The graduates from the institute are assured they can take their degrees anywhere.
The institute offers several programs, including Web and Mobile Computing. This essentially covers Computer Science, teaching skills in computer programming, and developing mobile apps, web, and software. Students also learn about back-end coding and improving the front-end user experience. Lessons are delivered in English and students are expected to complete 800 hours of internship or co-op placements in Croatia.
The Master’s program, on the other hand, is offered through the Information Technology and Analytics program. It takes 18 months to complete and requires 10 courses completion, including a capstone project or thesis. At the end of their studies, students will be granted a Master of Science degree.
4. Juraj Dobrila University of Pula
One of the top universities for Computer Science in Croatia is the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula. Founded quite recently in 2006, the university is the manifestation of an improved and restructured Croatian higher education system. It has 11 constituents, consisting of faculties, institutes, departments, an academy, the university library, and the student center. It is also home to nearly 2,500 students.
The university offers Computer Science as a Computer Engineering course, available in both English and Croatian. There’s also an undergraduate degree program in Computing but it’s only available in the Croatian language. Both programs cover programming courses, operating systems, and computer networks. The undergraduate studies at the university take three years of full-time study mode.
The Master’s program, on the other hand, requires two years of study and covers advanced Computer Science courses. Some of these are Computer Network Design, Advanced Web Technologies, Optimization Models, and Advanced Computer Architectures. Students are required to write a thesis in their last semester.
5. Algebra University College
Established in 1998, Algebra University College is a private institution for higher education and a top school for computer science in Croatia that offers professional undergraduate and graduate programs. Its main campus is located in Zagreb, while some of its programs are provided in its satellite institutions in Rijeka, Pula, Osijek, Split, and Dubrovnik. The annual average student population at the college is around 15,000.
You can study a specialized Computer Science program at the college as it offers undergraduate programs in Software Engineering, System Engineering, and Multimedia Computing. These programs take six semesters to complete and award a Bachelor of Computer Engineering, along with other industry-relevant certifications.
The master’s degree is also available through several focused programs, such as Software and System Engineering, Game Development, Data Science, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence. The study duration for any of these programs is four semesters or two years, and both undergraduate and graduate programs are taught in English.
We hope that this article on Best Universities for Computer Science in Croatia was helpful. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students and learn more about studying Computer Science abroad.
