Exchange students

The University of Pula accepts foreign students from its partner Institutions to study for a period of time (1-2 semesters) as visiting students within the Erasmus programme or under the terms of a bilateral agreement. The period of studies at the University of Pula is recognised by the students' home Institution as integral part of their programme based on ECTS.

In this section exchange students will find all the vital information for arraning their study visit at the University. Interested candidates should first apply for the exchange at their home University. After the students have been nominated by their home Instititution next step is to follow application procedure of University of Pula.

Exchange students are offered accommodation at the University's halls of residence. Each student will also have a personal mentor - a local student who will familiarize the student with the new environment.

For additional information exchange students can contact the staff of the International Relations Office.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Students who wish to apply for exchange programme should at first contact their home university exchange coordinator to check whether a bilateral agreement with University of Pula has been concluded and if the proposed programme of studies will be approved.

Coordinator of home University should send an email to University of Pula with the names of students nominated for exchange programme.

After nomination student will receive a message with application procedure and additional information.

Documents required:

• Application form (completed online, printed out, signed by a student and confirmed by a coordinator of home University), link to application is sent only to nominated students,
• Learning agreement (signed by a student and confirmed by a coordinator of home University). Recommended ECTS workload for selected courses is 30 ECTS (minimum 20 ECTS),
• Registration form for courses signed by a student - required only from students coming within Erasmus+ programme,
• Transcript of records - list of courses with ECTS points completed before application (English version, confirmed by home University),
• Copy of passport (or national identity card in case of EU nationality),
• Digital photo (part of application form) - up-to-date, undamaged, in colour, 236 x 295 pixels, resolution 300 dpi, format .”jpg” or “.tif” with no compression, with good focus and clearly showing the eyes and face from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, so it occupies 70-80% of the photograph. Please pay attention to photo requirements! There is no separate application form for accommodation. The main application form has a section in which students declare a selected accommodation option.

The closing dates for application: 15th June for autumn semester 15th November for spring semester

 PRACTICAL INFORMATION REGISTRATION

After the arrival, exchange students must register in the International Relations Office where s/he will get the Exchange student’s record sheet, X-card (if the exchange programme provides it) and AAI account with password for Internet access.

Exchange student’s record sheet contains student’s personal information, list of the courses that will be attended and, after passing exams, grades. X-card is student identify card issued by the Croatian Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MZOŠ – Ministarstvo znanosti, obrazovanja i športa). By the presentation of this identification card the student can enjoy the discount prices in student bars and restaurants. MZOŠ provides X-cards for Erasmus incoming students.

STUDENT RESIDENCE PERMIT

According to the law regarding foreigners, foreign nationals intending to study in Croatia must regulate their temporary residence for the purpose of studying if their stay in Croatia is longer than 90 days. International students are not allowed to attend classes at the University of Pula until they have procured a residence permit.

Visa requirements

Nationals of countries subject to the visa requirement also need to procure an entry visa for Croatia (Viza C). Information on countries subject to the visa requirement can be found on the web site of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The visa application (Viza C) must be submitted to the diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Croatia in the foreign national’s home country. The visa application can be submitted either in person or via e-mail. A list of missions and consulates is available on web site of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Where to submit residence permit application

International students can submit residence permit application in one of two ways:to the diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Croatia in their home country or to the Central Police Station in Pula (Address: Trg Republike 1, Pula 52100) immediately upon their arrival in Croatia if they submit the proof of taking part in an exchange programme approved by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports in Croatia (Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, CEEPUS, bilateral exchange, etc.) – recommended!

When to submit residence permit application

Students submitting an application to the diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Croatia in their home country should do so prior to their scheduled arrival in Croatia. The usual procedure can take three months or longer (including time needed for all the necessary documents to be translated into Croatian). There is also a fast-track option for handling the application and students can request this at the diplomatic mission or consulate, in which case they pay a higher fee. Students submitting the application to the Central Police Station in Pula should do so immediately upon entering Croatia.

Application documents

Along with the application form for the residence permit, an international student must submit the following documents:

1. Form 1a - for non-EEA countries or Form 1b - for EEA countries,
2. One photo in colour that faithfully represent the person submitting the request (30x35mm),
3. Valid passport and copy of the passport (first page with the photography),
4. Proof of secured housing (e.g. written proof of secured accommodation in the student dormitory or an apartment lease and proof of the landlord’s apartment ownership for students in private accommodation),
5. Proof of health insurance (bilingual documents) coming from a home country that has a bilateral agreement on social and health security with Croatia. Nationals of countries that do not have aforementioned agreement with Croatia have to report to the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO - Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje) to establish their right to health insurance under Croatian health insurance regulations,
6. Proof of finances: a scholarship or proof of having access to finances in the amount of at least 1,000 Kuna per month during 12 months. The proof of receiving a scholarship is issued by the legal entity granting the scholarship and the proof of finances is issued by a bank in the form of a bank statement,
7. Proof of admittance to a higher education institution in Croatia (acceptance letter from the University of Pula stating the study purpose of your stay (in Croatian).

Application fee

The application fee for the first temporary residence permit for the purpose of studying is 520 Kuna (around 70 EUR). International students receiving a grant from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports and Erasmus students are exempted from this fee.

Duration of residence permit

The temporary residence permit is usually granted for the duration of one year or for the duration of the academic year. Temporary residence authorization is entered into the passport in the form of an adhesive label. For more information the student should visit the web page of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior at the following adress: http://www.mup.hr/ 

HEALTH CARE

During their stay in Croatia, all international students with temporary residence must have health insurance. Regulated health insurance is the prerequisite for being granted temporary residence permit. Access to health care is provided to students from European Union countries during their temporary stay in Croatia through the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is issued by their national health insurance providers. In the event of unforeseen illness, injury or accident, the EHIC enables access to health care that cannot be postponed until the holder’s planned return to the home country. The costs are covered by the national health care provider in the holder’s country of permanent residence, and the holder is obligated to cover only the participation fees in Croatia, if they are mandatory for Croatian insurance holders as well.

Countries with health care agreements with Croatia

Croatia regulates the issue of health care for foreign nationals during their stay in Croatia through agreements on social security signed with the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Students from the aforementioned countries are recommended to contact their public health insurance provider before arriving in Croatia in order to obtain the document which enables them to receive health care in Croatia. The right to health care is realised as foreseen in the social security contract received by each student. Health care is provided to foreign nationals in the same way and under the same conditions as Croatian insurance holders: within the network of physicians and health care institutions of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO - Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje). International students have to cover only the participation fees, if these are prescribed by Croatian laws.

Countries without health care agreements with Croatia

Students from countries which do not have social security agreements with Croatia (or if students are unable to obtain the document foreseen by the social security agreement) are obliged upon entry into Croatia to become insured with the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO).

In order to register with the HZZO, students should report to the HZZO’s appropriate branch office. Students should present their student identification number, which is issued to each student at the central police station upon applying for temporary residence. The HZZO will then temporarily register the student and issue a certificate. This certificate must then be presented at the central police station before students can be granted temporary residence. Once temporary residence has been granted, the HZZO issues a document based on which the student attains the right to full health care within the network of physicians and health institutions of the HZZO. The monthly health insurance cost is approximately 400 Kuna per month (around 55 EUR), for which the appropriate Tax Department of the Ministry of Finances sends money orders to the students’ registered places of residence in Croatia.

Visiting students funded by Ministry of Science, Education and Sports: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports covers the health insurance expenses for all foreign nationals that are grant receivers of the Ministry, if so foreseen in the grant contract.

Erasmus students: Erasmus students staying temporarily in Croatia are exempted from paying the fee for compulsory health insurance in Croatia. They may use international health insurance from their home country or choose to be insured at the health insurance company of their choice.

Orientation Day and University registration Exchange students begin their semester at the University with an Orientation Day. During that day the students are registered and receive all the vital information concerning their studies at the University of Pula. 

If you have any questions or problems please contact the International Relations Office!