The University of Belgrade traces its origin to 1808, when Dositej Obradović founded the Belgrade Higher School. It became the University of Belgrade through the Law on the University, dated 27 February 1905. The seat is Captain Miša’s Mansion, on Studentski Trg in Belgrade. Two major campuses exist, at Studentski Trg and on King Alexander Boulevard.
The university is the largest in Serbia. In the academic year 2024 to 2025 it counted 94,425 students: 64,412 in undergraduate programmes, 21,329 in postgraduate programmes and 7,491 doctoral students, although the three categories sum to 93,232 and the breakdown is not complete. The academic staff numbered 4,399 and the administrative staff 3,279. Eleven dormitories house about 10,154 students, and the record also cites 11,340 in another section.
The structure includes 31 faculties, 12 research institutes, the university library and nine university centres. The faculties are grouped in four fields: social sciences and humanities, medical sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, and technological sciences. The largest faculties by enrolment in 2023 to 2024 were Law with 7,910 students, Philology with 6,959, Organizational Sciences with 6,835, Economics with 6,777 and Medicine with 6,092.
The public record names several figures in a section on dormitories, and does not state for each whether the person is an alumnus. The list includes the writers Branislav Nušić, Danilo Kiš and Meša Selimović, the mathematician Mihailo Petrović Alas, the former president of Serbia Boris Tadić and the president Aleksandar Vučić.
For a prospective student, the size of the university brings a very wide choice and crowded faculties. Applicants should check the official pages for the programmes taught in English, the entrance exams and the deadlines. Tuition differs for students financed by the state and for self-financing students. Check the current tariff.
The location adds to the student experience. Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, a lively city with a large cultural scene, and the university is deeply embedded in it. Faculties are spread across several districts, so students should check the address of their faculty and the transport to it before choosing their housing.
Domains taught:
Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
31 faculties, 12 research institutes, nine university centres and the university library.
Research:
Natural sciences and mathematics, medicine, technology, social sciences and humanities.
Largest university in Serbia, 31 faculties, 12 research institutes, central Belgrade seat, 11 student dormitories.
Cons
Very large student body, crowded faculties, administrative load.
Best For
Students looking for the largest and oldest university of Serbia, in the capital.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Seville, based in Spain, is built around chemistry, physics and mathematics much like this institution, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers finance and aerospace as well.
Cairo University in Egypt pursues a similar profile in civil engineering, chemistry and physics, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
On content, University of Tehran in Iran and this university are close, as both teach civil engineering, chemistry and physics; it covers agriculture as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 41,000 students against roughly 94,425 here.
Complutense University of Madrid offers an international parallel to this university, with chemistry, physics and mathematics as common ground; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Charles University, in the Czech Republic, takes a similar route through chemistry, physics and mathematics; it is smaller, enrolling about 51,438 students against roughly 94,425 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of Belgrade?
In Belgrade, Serbia, with its seat on Studentski Trg.
When was it founded?
In 1808, as the Belgrade Higher School, by Dositej Obradović.
When did it become the University of Belgrade?
On 27 February 1905.
How many students does it have?
94,425 in 2024 to 2025.
How many faculties does it have?
31.
How many research institutes does it have?
12.
Which is the largest faculty by enrolment?
Law, with 7,910 students in 2023 to 2024.
How many dormitories are there?
Eleven, housing about 10,154 students.
Which writers are linked to it?
Branislav Nušić, Danilo Kiš and Meša Selimović.
What does it cost?
Tuition differs for state-financed and self-financing students. Check the current tariff.
Chemistry, Engineering, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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