Croatia

To which Dutch diplomas can you compare certain Croatian diplomas? Use the overview or download the PDF with more detailed information.

PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the Croatian education system:

Education system Croatia‌ (258.77 kB)

Overview of Croatian diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Croatian diplomas. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can work in the Netherlands with a certain Croatian diploma? Go to Working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your Croatian diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Svjedodžba o zavrsnom ispitu (secondary vocational education - 4 years)

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma for the general education component (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Svjedodžba o državnoj maturi (general education)

  • Comparable to: a VWO diploma (NLQF 4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Svjedodžba o zavrsnom ispitu (secondary arts education)

  • Comparable to: a VWO diploma for the general education component (NLQF 4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education (art education).
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education, upon successful completion of entrance examinations.

Stručni Pristupnik/Pristupnica (professional short-cycle degree)

  • Comparable to: 2 years HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 2 to 2.5 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study of the 1st cycle in higher professional education (Professional Baccalaureus/Baccalaurea).

Professional Baccalaureus/Baccalaurea (Stručni Prvostupnik/Prvostupnica)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6 / EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study of the 2nd cycle in higher professional education (Stručni Specijalist).

University Baccalaureus/Baccalaurea (Sveučilišni Prvostupnik/Prvostupnica)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to further study of the 2nd cycle within higher education (Magistar/Magistra, Sveučilišni Specijalist or Stručni Specijalist).

Magistar/Magistra (1-2 years)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Magistar/Magistra (5-6 years)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 to 6 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Sveučilišni Specijalist

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.

Stručni Specijalist

  • Comparable to: an HBO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.