The education system of Serbi a described and compared with the Dutch system Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia This document contains information on the education system of Serbia. We explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from Serbia for the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education. Disclaimer We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of errors or incomplete information in this document. Copyright With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this website is subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence. Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/copyright for more information on the reuse of this publication. Education system Serbia | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2016 | version 1, December 2016 2 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia Education system Serbia – flow chart PhD L8 Diploma o L7 stečenom akademskom 3 nazivu specijaliste (Specialist academic study) 1 Integrated master L7 Diploma L7 (Master academic study) Specialist professional L6 postgraduate study 1-2 1 Diploma L6 Diploma L6 (Basic academic study) (Basic professional study) undergraduate 5-6 3-4 3 Entrance examination L4 Diploma o stečenom srednem obrazovanju / Diploma/Uverenje o položenom maturskom ispituL4 Diploma o položenom L4 završnom ispitu Secondary general education L2 Secondary general and L2 (Secondary general and vocational education 4 4 vocational education) 3 Basic education L1 8 0 Duration of education Education system Serbia | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2016 | version 1, December 2016 3 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia Evaluation chart The left-hand column in the table below lists the most common foreign qualifications applicable to admission to higher education. The other columns show the Dutch equivalent along with the comparable levels in the Dutch and European qualifications frameworks. Foreign qualification Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF level Diploma o stečenom srednem VWO diploma 4+ 4 obrazovanju or Diploma/Uverenje o položenom maturskom ispitu for secondary general education and for secondary general and vocational education Diploma o položenom završnom HAVO diploma for its 4 4 ispitu general education component Diploma of a basic professional HBO bachelor’s degree 6 6 study Diploma of a basic academic study HBO or WO bachelor’s 6 6 degree Diplomirani (programme HBO or WO bachelor’s 6 6 commenced before 2007) degree Diploma of a master academic HBO or WO master’s 7 7 study degree Diploma o stečenom akademskom WO master’s degree 7 7 nazivu specijaliste NB • The information provided in the table is a general recommendation from which no rights may be derived. • NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework. EQF = European Qualifications Framework. • The EQF/NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content; rather, it is an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having completed a certain programme of study. • Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our website: education and diplomas the Netherlands. • The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market (SBB), evaluates statements on foreign qualifications and Education system Serbia | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2016 | version 1, December 2016 4 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands. Education system Serbia | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2016 | version 1, December 2016 5 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia Introduction Serbia, officially named Republika Srbija (the Republic of Serbia) is situated in south-eastern Europe. For 85 years it was part of (the Federal Republic of) Yugoslavia, and became an independent state in 2006. History From 2003-2006, it was part of the confederation of Serbia and Montenegro. It must not be confused with the ‘Serb Republic’ (Republika Srpska), which forms part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The breakup of Yugoslavia from 1992-1999 was accompanied by civil wars. In 1999, the autonomous region of Kosovo declared itself independent. Kosovo is not covered by this document. Government The Serbia of today is a parliamentary democracy led by a president, and is home to approximately 7.5 million people. At the end of 2011, Serbia was recognised as a candidate member state for the European Union, and negotiations for entry commenced in 2014. Language The official language is Serbian (Serbo-Croatian), however Albanian and Hungarian are also spoken. A mixture of the Cyrillic and Roman alphabets is used, with a slight preference for Cyrillic. Education Education is the responsibility of the Ministry for Education, Science and Technological Development (Министарство просвете, науке и технолошког развоја/Ministarstvo prosvete, nauke i tehnološkog razvoja). The current Higher Education Act was adopted in 2005, and amendments added later. The bachelor’s-master’s structure was implemented, as well as ECTS and the diploma supplement. As of 2007/2008, all new students fall under this system. Schools enjoy quite a lot of autonomy in how they organise and implement education programmes and activities. General features • Language of instruction: is usually Serbian, however in minority-rich areas Albanian, Hungarian or Romanian may also be used. • Compulsory education: for children aged 7-15 (basic education). • School year: starts on 1 September, and generally runs until the end of June. • Academic year: commences on 1 October and is divided into 2 semesters. Education system Serbia | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2016 | version 1, December 2016 6 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia Primary and secondary education Basic education Basic education starts at the age of 7, and lasts for 8 years. The school year starts on 1 September, and generally runs until the end of June. Most schools are public and free, however there are also private specialist schools, such as Montessori. The language of education is usually Serbian, however in minority-rich areas it may also be Hungarian, Romanian or Albanian, based on the principle that education should be fully accessible to all. During the first 4 years students are taught in class groups; in years 5-8 education is subject-based. Basic education concludes with an exam (Завршни испит/Završni ispit, or Мала матура/Mala matura). The exam includes 3 sections: language, mathematics and a combination test. Students who achieve a high enough score may proceed to secondary education. After primary school, education is no longer compulsory. Secondary education Secondary education generally lasts 4 years, and is not compulsory. Students are usually 15 years old when they start. Students may attend general secondary schools (gymnasia) or schools for both general and vocational education. Around 90% of students move on to secondary education after primary school, approximately one-quarter of whom attend a gymnasium. The remainder attend schools for both general and vocational education. Secondary general education At a 4-year gymnasium, students take around 19 compulsory subjects, however not all subjects are taken in all years. Subjects given in all years include: • Serbian • English • A second foreign language • History • Biology • Mathematics • Physics • Chemistry • Physical education Students prepare for their matura exam (Матурски испит/Maturski ispit), which is necessary for admission to higher education. The matura exam involves a language and literature exam in the students ’own language (Serbian or another language), and one in mathematics or English. Students also write a final assignment in a subject of their choice. Upon satisfactory completion, students are awarded the Диплома о стеченом среднем образовањy/Diploma o stečenom srednem obrazovanju (Diploma of Education system Serbia | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2016 | version 1, December 2016 7 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Serbia completed secondary education). It may sometimes be called the Диплома/Уверење о положеном матурском испиту/Diploma/Uverenje o položenom maturskom ispitu (Diploma/Statement of the completed matura exam). Students also receive reports every school year. From the 2017/2018 school year another final exam has been introduced, which will also serve as the entrance exam for higher education. In terms of level, the Secondary General Education Diploma o stečenom srednem obrazovanju of Diploma/Uverenje o položenom maturskom ispitu is comparable to a VWO diploma. Secondary general and vocational education This type of schooling is offered at schools with a specialist focus in a certain area, and offers programmes 3-4 years in length. In principle they prepare students for the workforce, however the 4-year variant also grants access to higher education. Art schools also fall under this category. There is also a 3-year variant of these combined general/vocational programmes, which provides no entry to higher education. In both types, general subjects constitute 35-40% of the curriculum, which itself depends on the nature of the specialisation. After a 4-year programme, students can complete the same exam as the gymnasium students. Successful students are awarded the Диплома о стеченом