University School of Croatian Language and Culture: June 23 - July 18, 2025
The University School of Croatian Language and Culture is intended for young people of Croatian origin and any other participants who want to learn about Croatia, acquire or expand their knowledge of it and learn or improve Croatian as a foreign language (L2). It consists of academic instruction of the Croatian language organized by the University of Zagreb and a culture programme organised by the Croatian Heritage Foundation, including lectures on Croatian culture.
The University School may be attended by teachers of Croatian as a foreign language who wish to improve in the area of mastering a foreign language by participating in classes and attending classes designed specifically for them.
ORGANIZERS
The University of Zagreb – the University of Zagreb is the oldest university in Croatia and one of the oldest in Europe. Its history begins on 23 September 1669, when the Roman Emperor and Hungarian-Croatian King Leopold I granted the then Jesuit Academy in the free royal city of Zagreb the status and privileges of a university institution. Today the University of Zagreb has 29 faculties, three art academies and a University Centre for Croatian Studies.
The Croatian Heritage Foundation – the Croatian Heritage Foundation (CHF) was established in 1951 as the central national institution whose mission is to preserve the identity, language and culture of Croatians abroad through special cultural, educational, publishing, news, sports, humanitarian and other programmes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
The organizers hold the right to change dates and plans, and the right to cancel the project depending on the circumstances in Croatia and the world.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMME
The academic programme includes 120 hours of school instruction and field classes (each school hour lasts 45 minutes).
5 hours a day (Monday to Friday)
25 hours a week
120 hours (including examinations) over 4 weeks
1.1. Language instruction
Compulsory instruction - Students have five hours of compulsory language instruction each day, five days a week – Monday to Friday. Language instruction consists of specific grammar classes and proofreading classes in which one learns and practices grammar, expands their vocabulary, develops communication skills; and classes that are focused on specific language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Outdoor instruction is an integral part the instruction with field trips organised to Hrvatsko Zagorje region and Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Student obligations - Participants are expected to fulfil all classroom tasks (regular attendance, homework, completing project tasks) and to procure books and textbooks based on teacher recommendations.
1.2. Croatian language proficiency levels
At the University School of Croatian Language and Culture Croatian language proficiency is divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Each level is divided into three stages (beginner P1, P2, P3, intermediate: S1, S2, S3, advanced: N1, N2, N3), and there are sublevels, which provide for differentiation based on the types of language proficiency (P1.a, P1.b). The advantage of this branching level system is the visibility of progress in mastering the Croatian language, and the ability to connect to a common system (including the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, 2001). Students are advised to use the European Language Portfolio (with levels A1-C2). Instruction is adapted to knowledge and the interests of participants and real beginners are taught in a different manner than students with linguistic interests (such as students of Slavic languages).
Since classes are held in small groups (maximum of 12 students per group), the total number of groups depends on the total number of participants and their prior knowledge, therefore groups can be diverse or heterogeneous in terms of knowledge.
Important: The number of groups does not mean that there are as many different instructional levels, because depending on the number of participants and their knowledge instruction may be organised in a number of instruction groups of the same level of knowledge.
Group divisions - After submitting an application and paying the tuition for the University School students will receive an e-mail questionnaire, a short Croatian language classification test and an essay topic. Completed questionnaires and tests should be returned no later than June 9, 2025. Complete beginners should write in English that they do not speak Croatian.
Each student's level will be determined on the basis of the classification test, the short essay and an interview with a teacher at the beginning of the School.
CULTURE PROGRAMME
The Croatian culture and history programme is an integral part of the School organised by the Croatian Heritage Foundation.
The programme includes:
Lecture - There will be a lecture on Croatian culture and other elements of the Croatian identity.
Expert guided visits and tours – The following are organised under expert guidance: sightseeing in the Zagreb city core, visits to various museums, galleries, art exhibitions, cultural and scientific institutions, and visits to theatre plays and concerts.
Study trips - Trips to the Croatian Zagorje region and Plitvice Lakes National Park are undertaken with expert guidance. Outdoor instruction for all participants is organised in the frame of Croatian Zagorje trip.
TESTS
Weekly language quizzes - Every week participants take written Croatian language quizzes allowing teachers to monitor their progress. Weekly quizzes also serve to get participants used to taking tests and to make the final exam less stressful.
Croatian culture exam – Participants who wish to have the Croatia Culture subject listed on the University of Zagreb certificate will take the relevant Croatian Culture examination on July 11, 2025.
Final Exam - At the end of the academic program there is a final examination on the Croatian language. The final exam consists of two parts: written and oral.
Written Exam – The written exam consists of communication questions, grammar questions and an essay on a given topic. The written exam will be held on July 17, 2025.
Oral Exam - Speaking and listening proficiency will be tested on July 18, 2025, and the oral part includes a prepared speech and discussion with a panel of examiners.
DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES
Upon completing the School participants will receive various documents. They are all bilingual, in Croatian and English. The presentation ceremony will be held July 18, 2025.
University School Diploma - Students who pass the tests and examinations will receive a diploma from the University School of Croatian Language and Culture, signed by the Rector and the Head of the School.
Certificate with a transcript of grades - The certificates cite the grades received in the subject Croatian Language for each individual area of study: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The number of instruction hours completed is also cited.
Certificated issued to participants who have passed the Croatian Culture examination state that they attended 30 hours of Croatian Culture instruction, where they can, but need not have the grade that they received cited.
Confirmation of achieved ECTS credits - Participants who pass both parts of the Croatian Language exam receive confirmation of 8 ECTS credits if they require this confirmation for further study. Participants receive 1 ECTS credit if they pass the Croatian Culture exam.
Certificate of Attendance - Participants who do not pass both parts of the Croatian Language exam will only receive a certificate of attendance.
APPLICATIONS
Those wishing to attend need to fill out an application form and submit it to the Croatian Heritage Foundation at the latest by May 23, 2025 (address: Hrvatska matica iseljenika, Trg S. Radića 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, fax. ++385 1 61 11 522, e-mail: lada.kanajet@matis.hr).
Important: The application is binding only upon receipt by the Croatian Heritage Foundation of payment of 250 euro for the Culture Programme, at the latest by June 1, 2025.
TUITION
As the University School is organised by two distinct and separate institutions: the University of Zagreb and the Croatian Heritage Foundation, the individual payments must be made separately.
6.1. Croatian Heritage Foundation (CHF) – Culture Programme: 250 €
Included: registration, opening, tourist materials on Zagreb and Croatia, learning material and lecture on Croatian culture and history, expert guided visits to various museums, galleries, art exhibitions, culture and science institutions, theatre performances and concerts, study trips to the Hrvatsko Zagorje region (lunch) and Plitvice Lakes National Park (lunch cost borne by the participants), a gala dinner.
6.2. University of Zagreb – Academic tuition: 720 €
Included: classification examination (written before the beginning of classes, oral part on day one), mandatory textbooks tutorials for classes (grammar and lexical material), mandatory language instruction (classroom and field), opening at the Rectorate of the University of Zagreb, weekly and final exams, diplomas and certificates, diploma presentation ceremony.
PAYMENT OF TUITION
Tuition for the Culture Programme (250 euro) and Academic Programme (720 euro) must be made at the latest by June 1, 2025.
Tuition for the Culture Programme - When we receive the application, the participant will receive a bill from the Croatian Heritage Foundation for payment of the tuition for the Culture Programme. The participant is officially registered at the School when the Croatian Heritage Foundation receives payment of the full amount of the tuition for the Culture Programme of 250 euro.
Academic tuition – Please send the academic tuition (720 euro) through a bank to the address mentioned below (participants shall pay all related bank fees):
Account holder: University of Zagreb
Bank name: Privredna banka Zagreb d.d., Radnička cesta 50, HR-10000 Zagreb
BIC: PBZGHR2X
IBAN: HR9823400091100010475 (for payments in euros)
IBAN: HR3423400091510297183 (for payments in other currency: USD, CHF)
Reference number: 191
Purpose of payment: University School of Croatian Language
User: applicant's name, surname, address and VAT number (ID No., Passport No.)
Important: In the event that the School is included in the compulsory VAT system participants shall be required to pay the additional Value Added Tax. Participants shall pay all related bank fees.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation can be organised at the student dormitory (studentski dom) in twin rooms. Price of accommodation in a twin room is 220 euros per person. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are not included in the price of accommodation.
The student dormitory falls under the authority of the Student Centre (Studentski centar, SC) of the University of Zagreb, which operates as a separate and independent organisation with a management board that adopts decisions independently on time periods, deadlines and the price of accommodation (i.e. independently of the School). The organisers of the School can only assist students who wish to lodge at the student dormitory in making reservations.
Please note! Students who decide to stay in a dormitory should have a medical examination with their personal physician and submit a health form when they move into the dormitory. The organizer will send the health form to students.
The total cost of accommodation at the student dormitory must be paid immediately upon arrival at the dormitory, payable in cash in euros.
Other accommodation – Along with hotels, Zagreb also offers hostels and private accommodation.
Attendees are required to organise their own accommodation in these facilities (see the web site www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr and others).
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Age – The School admits persons above the age of 17.
Cancellation of the programme – If less than 20 students apply, the organizers reserve the right to cancel the programme; payments made are refunded in full.
Tuition refund - Tuition is partially refunded if a student cancels participation in the School at the latest by June 2, 2025.
IMPORTANT DATES 2024
23 May 2025 – Deadline for application submission
1 June 2025 – Deadline for tuition payment
9 June 2025 – Deadline for placement test submission
23 June 2025 – School opening ceremony
11 July 2025 – Croatian Culture exam
17 July 2025 – Final written exam (Croatian language)
18 July 2025 – Final oral exam (Croatian language) and presentation of diplomas
For further information and for the application form, please contact:
Croatian Heritage Foundation
Department of Education and Science
E-mail: lada.kanajet@matis.hr
Trg S. Radića 3
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: (385 1) 61 15 116
Fax: (385 1) 61 11 522
www.matis.hr
or
University of Zagreb
University School of Croatian Language and Culture
E-mail: ecroatian@unizg.hr
Trg Republike Hrvatske 14
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
www.unizg.hr
