SERBIA: The World in Serbia Scholarship 2024/2025

The Government of the Republic of Serbia is offering scholarships to candidates from 127 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, which are member and observer states of the Non-Aligned Movement at the identified higher education institutions for the 2024/2025 academic year. Five of these scholarships will be awarded to South Africans.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is the Nominating Agency for South Africans who wish to apply for the "World in Serbia" project.

The information below is for South African applicants only.

Applicants from other eligible countries should contact their government or local representative of the Government of Serbia for information on how to apply.  

Please visit https://prosveta.gov.rs/skolski-i-studentski-zivot/stipendije/stipendije-srbije-stranim-studentima/stipendije-svet-u-srbiji/ to obtain detailed information and application instructions.

Degree level

• Bachelor's
• Master’s
• PhD

NB: All levels of study will be taught in Serbian.

Deadline 

The deadline for application and submission of application forms with supporting documents is 24 May 2024.

Note: Please note that the above deadline differs from what is contained in the guidelines below due to the processing of applications and selection processes that need to be completed by the DHET as the nominating agency. Failure to submit applications and supporting documents by the above due date will result in your application not being considered. 

Who can apply?

• South African Citizen;
• Must be nominated by the South African Government through the Department of Higher Education and Training;

Must be under the age of:

• 21 for first degree studies - basic academic studies, integrated academic studies, basic vocational studies;
• 25 for specialist vocational studies of the first degree and for the second degree studies: Master’s degree academic studies  - master's academic studies, master's professional studies, specialist academic studies;
• 35 for third degree studies – Doctoral academic studies.

 Applicants must hold:

• for basic academic/integrated/vocational studies - have a four-year secondary education;
• for master's academic studies:
  in the scope of 60 ESPB points - has a suitable diploma from a higher education institution with at least 240 ESPB points achieved, i.e. four-year diploma from a recognized higher education institution;
  in the scope of 120 ESPB points - has achieved ESPB points of at least 180 in basic academic studies at a higher education institution 
• Specialist vocational studies programme - must have at least 180 ESPB points obtained from a higher education institution in basic academic and vocational studies;
• Master's vocational studies - must have an appropriate diploma from a higher education institution in basic or specialist vocational studies or basic academic studies, and have achieved a minimum score of 180 ESPB;
• Doctoral studies -  must have completed both basic and master's academic studies, i.e. integrated studies, with an overall average grade of eight.
• English or Serbian language proficiency at least at A1 level upon arrival;
• All applicants must be in good health, and produce a medical certificate not older than 6 months, confirming that they have not contracted an infectious/contagious disease and a Negative HIV test.

 Fields of Study

Various fields of study.

Please refer to the list of Higher Education Institutions in Serbia for available courses. 

 Note: Applicants are strongly advised to visit the websites of the Universities of choice for more information on the fields of studies offered, eligibility and admission requirements.

Medical degrees will not be considered.   

What the scholarship offers 

The World in Serbia scholarship covers the following:

• Free Serbian language preparatory course (Serbian on-line course and intensive Serbian language course upon arrival in the Republic of Serbia);
• Tuition at basic academic, integrated academic and professional studies, specialist professional studies, master's academic and professional studies, specialist academic or doctoral studies;
• Monthly stipend to the value of 18,000,00 Serbian dinars (approximately R 3124);
• Student accommodation and food service in institutions of student standard;
• Voluntary health insurance for scholars studying the Serbian language;
• Mandatory health insurance for scholarship holders up to the age of 26, and voluntary health insurance for scholarship holders over the age of 26;
• Free residence Visa; and
• Free verification of secondary and higher education diplomas. 

The Department will provide support to successful awardees with travel costs to and from Serbia, as well as a settlement allowance for those nominated by the Department.

 Application process

The Department of Higher Education and Training is the nominating authority for South African citizens who wish to apply for the World in Serbia Project Scholarship. 

Applicants should apply via the link https://bit.ly/World_in_Serbia and submit the scanned original documents as well as translations into the Serbian or English certified by an authorized person to the e-mail address  worldinserbia@prosveta.gov.rs. The copies of original documents together with completed documents should be  e-mailed to SerbiaApplications@Dhet.gov.za.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• A complete application form with two selected study programme;
• A curriculum vitae with a motivational letter;
• A copy of travel document (passport); 
• Certified copies of all acquired education - transcripts of grades at both levels of studies and diploma supplements
  • for  Bachelor studies - secondary school certificates, secondary school diplomas
  • for Master studies - higher education diplomas
  • for PhD studies - Master's degrees 
• Confirmation of obtained average assessment mark in previous education levels;
• English or Serbian Language proficiency certificate;
• Medical certificate not older than 6 months with indicated test results

Documentation that is submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training

• A filled out and signed application form;
• A curriculum vitae with a motivational letter;
• A copy of travel document (passport); 
• Certified copies of all acquired education - transcripts of grades at both levels of studies and diploma supplements
  • for  Bachelor studies - secondary school certificates, secondary school diplomas
  • for Master studies - higher education diplomas
  • for PhD studies - Master's degrees 
• Confirmation of obtained average assessment mark in previous education levels;
• English or Serbian Language proficiency certificate;
• Copy of a medical certificate not older than 6 months with indicated test results
• Confirmation of the successful submission of the application via the link provided (confirmation email or screenshot); and
• Confirmation on the successful admission of the documentation delivered through the e-mail address worldinserbia@prosveta.gov.rs. must accompany the original documents. 

Applicants must complete the application form via the link and attach the required supporting documentation translated into English or Serbian by e-mail to SerbiaApplications@Dhet.gov.za. All documents submitted must be clear and in PDF format (no photographs of documents will be accepted). 

Note: Candidates who do not complete the application via the link and do not submit the required documentation translated into English or Serbian by e-mail will not be considered.

Contact 

Forward all queries by e-mail to SerbiaApplications@Dhet.gov.za 

Documents and links 

Project "World in Serbia" in 2024

The list of Higher Education Institutions

The "World in Serbia" application form

The "World in Serbia" medical certificate 

Note 

Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the relevant professional bodies. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.