Detailed information about the University of Rijeka:

Introduction

The University of Rijeka is located in the city of Rijeka, Croatia. It is an institution of higher education with significant influence not only locally, but also in the region and beyond.

Overview

Number of students and faculty: 17,443 students in 2018, 906 faculty in 2025, of which 98% are domestic faculty and 2% are international faculty.

Language of instruction: Most courses are taught in Croatian, but some courses are available in English, Hungarian, Italian and German.

History

Early origins: The modern University of Rijeka was founded on May 17, 1973, but its history of higher education dates back to 1627, when the Jesuits established the first school of higher education, which enjoyed equal status with the colleges of the great cities of the Austrian Empire. The Department of Philosophy, established in 1726, operated for two years, and the Department of Theology was established in 1728. From 1773 to 1780, Rijeka was the seat of the Royal Academy.

Recent developments: The number of higher education institutions in the former Yugoslavia grew exponentially in the 1970s, during which the University of Rijeka was established along with universities in Osijek, Kragujevac, Split, and others. In 2008, the school's Department of Biotechnology, Informatics, Mathematics and Physics was established, and in 2022, the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Informatics were upgraded to colleges.

Establishment Date

May 17, 1973.

School Strength

Rich disciplines: As a public research university, it has 11 colleges, 1 art college and 4 departments, providing undergraduate and graduate courses, covering civil engineering, economics, engineering, humanities and social sciences, law, maritime research, medicine, dentistry, health research, teacher education, tourism and hotel management and many other fields.

Strong scientific research strength: The school has a number of research centers, such as the Industrial Heritage Center, the Center for Thinking and Behavior Research, the Center for Logic and Decision Theory, the Center for Micro-Nano Science and Technology, etc., which provide good research conditions for researchers and students and have achieved remarkable scientific research results in many disciplines.

Extensive international cooperation: It has established connections with many other institutions in Europe and is committed to cooperating with the top 500 European universities. The University of Rijeka has reached cooperation agreements with strong universities, providing students and faculty with broad opportunities for international exchanges and cooperation.

Institutional Nature

Public University.

Educational Philosophy

The University of Rijeka is committed to cultivating students who can adapt to future work needs and have a sense of civic responsibility, encouraging teachers to actively carry out innovative research cooperation, promote economic development and enhance the well-being of local communities, and at the same time cultivate citizens who firmly believe in European freedom, human rights and enlightenment values, and jointly build a new European future.

Key Laboratories and Disciplines

Key Disciplines: Informatics, mathematics, physics, biotechnology, medicine, law, economics, civil engineering, maritime research, tourism and hotel management are key disciplines of the University of Rijeka. Among them, the Department of Informatics has become the NVIDIA CUDA Teaching Center since 2012; in 2010, the Department of Mathematics organized the Information Security and Related Combinatorial Mathematics Conference under the NATO Peace and Security Science Program.

Key Laboratories: The school's Micro-Nano Science and Technology Center and other scientific research centers are equipped with advanced scientific research equipment and instruments, providing strong support for the research of related disciplines and playing an important role in promoting discipline development and scientific research innovation.

Departments

Including the School of Applied Arts, School of Civil Engineering, School of Economics, School of Engineering, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Law, School of Maritime Studies, School of Medicine, School of Teacher Education, School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, Department of Mathematics, Department of Physics, Department of Informatics, etc.

Ranking

2025 QS World University Rankings: 1201-1400.

2024 QS World University Rankings: 1201-1400.

2022 QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia Rankings: 108 Location.

Expenses

Tuition fees vary by major and degree level. For specific information, please refer to the school's official website or relevant admissions materials. The school provides students with a variety of scholarship opportunities to help them reduce their financial burden. Specific scholarship information can be found in the school's scholarship guide.

Campus Environment

The University of Rijeka is located in Rijeka, which has a unique geographical landscape and rich cultural heritage, providing students with a good learning and living atmosphere. The campus buildings are diverse in style and are distributed in Rijeka and surrounding areas. Some departments are located in cities in Primorje, Istria and Lika. Each campus is fully equipped, including modern teaching buildings, libraries, laboratories, etc., which provide convenient conditions for students and faculty to study, work and conduct scientific research.