The regulations covering Higher Education studies are set down and regulated by the Laws governing Higher Education (ZoVO) and the General Acts of the governing bodies of Higher schools, Universities, Faculties and other institutions. ZoVO was introduced on 30th August 2005 and is intended to reform and rationalize Education laws, in order to harmonize with the European Higher Education laws and standards, established through the Bolgnia process. The introduction of this law will be introduced in stages during the next two years. During this process some of the existing laws (Higher Education 1.V 2002) will remain in force.

General Information (ZoVO)

The right to Higher Education is extended to all students who have successfully completed their high school studies. Academic studies enable students, through science, to develop and ultimately learn to use the advances in Science and The Arts, conversely students of The Arts, may make practical use of the knowlege and Crafts through the creative process.

Basic studies are the first phase of Academic and Arts studies.The second phase of study is through specialization (Master studies), followed by the third phase which is Doctorate level.
The school year commences on the 1st October every year and lasts for 12 months. The length of the courses is 30 weeks divided into two or three semesters. The total time reserved for lectures may not be less than 600 hours a year, per course.

The length of time subjects are studied can vary between one, two or three semesters.

Enrollment

Enrollment into Institutes of Higher Education is dependent upon the results the candidates achieves from the examinations set by each individual Faculty. These examinations must be made available no later than 5 months prior to the beginning of the new school year.
Candidates are ranked according to their acheivements, both from the examinations and from their results during their previous 4 years of education.

Candidates may also be accepted without an enrollment test, if this is in accordance with the General Acts governing the Faculty.
Candidates who are continuing their studies, or who convert from another Faculty, may also be admitted, if in accordance with the General Acts governing that Faculty.

Applications from foreign nationals are subject to the same conditions of entry as domestic applicants and in addition, foriegn students must validate their documentation, provide a current medical certificate of health and documentry evidence of their ability to speak, write and understand the Serbian Language.

ESPB points and courses

Each task, within the framework of the study courses, has an individual value of points, known as ESPB or European system points convertion, which are allocated for each aspect of the course. The total score will show the level of the engagement of the student during the course year: For example: a score of 60 ESPB would indicate that the student performed at an average level during that school year.
The level of engagement means the participation of the student in all the required areas of study such as: attendance at lectures, colloquium and seminars, professional practice, practical work, individual study, completion of thesis and voluntary work within the local community (arranged by the Faculty.) Etc.

Basic academic studies have a value of between 180 and 240 ESPB points.
Graduate academic studies have a value of between 60 to 120 ESPB points. (The required total is: no less than 300 ESPB points from a combined total of Basic and Graduate studies.)
Doctorate requirements are; a score no less than 180 ESPB points, if, during previous studies no less than 300 points have been achieved.
The exception to these requirements is Medicine, where the requirements can be integrated between basic and postgraduate studies therefore the total score will not exceed 360 ESPB points.

Student Status

The status of student is obtained by enrolling in an accredited study programme at an accredited Institute of Higher education.
A Student may obtain either the status of a student financed through the Republic Budget or a self-financed student.
At the beginning of each school year a student selects their subjects, which must have a value of no less than 37 ESPB points (for a self-financed student) or 60 ESPB points (for a student financed through the Republic Budget).

A student financed through the Republic Budget, who achieves a score of 60 ESPB points or above, have the right to continue their studies retaining the status. While a student financed through the Republic Budget, who does not score 60 ESPB points or above, may continue their studies, but as a self-financed student.
A self-financed student who achieves 60 ESPB points or above, may apply to convert their status, to be financed through the Republic Budget, if the funding is available for the ranking of the student.

Student status may be terminated in the following cases: Graduation, leaving the university of institute, failing to enrol for the following year, not completing their studies in the period mandated by the Faculty, expulsion from the Faculty.

Examinations and marking

On the completion of the course lectures, students sit examinations which may be oral, written or practical examinations.
Examinations are held in: January, April, June, September and October.
A student may only retake failed examinations three times a year, with the exception of: a student has successfully passed all other examinations and only 1 examination has been failed, that subject may be retaken again.

By fulfilling pre-examination obligations, a student may gain up to 100 points. These points contribute no less than 30 and no more than 70 points to the overall total.

Examination marks are awarded between the numbers 5 (failed) and 10 (excellent) or in a non-numerical system which is compatible with the numerical system.

Student rights and obligations

A student has the right to:

• Enrol, excellent tuition and a fair system of marking.
• Correct and precise information regarding all aspects of their studies.
• Active involvement in all decision making in accordance with existing laws.
• Membership of organizations and freedom of expression.
• All benefits they are entitled to receive according to their status as students.
• Equal rights of study for all students.
• Education in their own language for national minorities, according to the law.
• The right to be different and free from discrimination.
• The right to elect and to stand for election for the Student Parliament and other student offices in the Institutes of Higher Education.

The obligations of the student

• To fulfill all pre-examination requirements and obligations.
• To respect and obey all rules laid down by the Acts of the Faculty
• To respect the rights of other students, Faculty and Institute members and staff
• Participation in decision-making activities in accordance with the Acts of the Faculty.

All complaints regarding any infringements of these rights, should be made in writing to the Faculty authorities.
A student has the right to complain about an examination mark they have been awarded, within 36 hours of receiving the mark, if, they consider that their examination was not carried out in accordance with the Acts of the Faculty.

The Faculty will inform the student of their decision 24 hours after a complaint has been lodged and if the complaint is upheld the student will have the right to retake the examination, within 3 days.

Temporary suspension of student status

At the request of a student, Faculty authorities will temporarily suspend a student's status in the event of: A serious illness, professional practical experience outside the Faculty for a minimum of 6 months, compulsory Army service, maternity leave, child-care until the child is 12 months old, and other conditions covered by the Faculty Acts.
A student who seeks temporary suspension in the event of illness or professional practice for a term of over 3 months, has the right to take their examinations in the first term of the following semester.

Student documentation

Documents: student Index book, graduation diploma and attachments which is issued in both the Serbian and English language.
Attachments to the graduation diploma contain detailed data regarding the successful completion, by the graduate, of all the component parts of the course in addition to a detailed description of the course.

Student Parliament

The Student Parliament is an organ of the University or Institute of Higher Education which protects and represents the rights and interests of all the students.

Every student, with the correct status, has the right to elect, or to be elected a member of the Parliament Elections are held through secret Ballot in April of each year. Members of the parliament hold a one year mandate and are responsible for nominating or dismissing the student representatives, who represent them to the governing bodies.
The manner of election and number of members of the Parliament is governed by the General Acts of the Faculty. A new law, in the process of being introduced, will extend the rights of the Student Parliament, especially in the area of student organizations.

The rules governing study; University Law (year 2002.)

Students, who are financed through the Republic budget, may fail two different years during the time of their studies and still retain their funding. However, if the student fails to complete those years then all funding is lost. The student may continue with their studies but as a self-financed student.

Self-financed students who have successfully completed their current year, have the right to apply for funding from the Republic Budget for the following year.

Students may enroll for the next year under the following conditions:

• Two failed examinations if in the previous year, seven subjects were studied
• Three failed examinations if in the previous year eight, nine or ten subjects were studied.
• Four failed examinations if in the previous a minimum of eleven subjects were studied.
• Students may enroll in their final year of study if they have passed a minimum of half of the previous year’s subjects.

Students have the right to complete their studies under the conditions that existed at the commencement of their studies. Students who fail two consecutive years lose this right and must accept any new conditions.

Student’s examination marks also reflect their work on seminars, practice, colloquium and the other elements of their studies. The marks are awarded between 5 (five) and 10 (ten) and are entered both into the student’s Index book and the Faculty archives. A mark of 5 is not entered into the student’s index .

Examinations are held in June, September and January. Faculties may extend the examination periods depending upon the Faculty.

A Student who achieves, in the first two years of study, a mark of 8.5 (eight and a half) or higher, has the right to graduate earlier than the regular length of the course.