The most common questions people ask me about studying in Croatia

By: Angela Madjer, a Chicago gal living in Croatia

A couple of months ago, I attended the 4th Annual Association of Croatian American Professional (ACAP) conference in Cleveland to communicate to Croatian Americans about what amazing benefits studying abroad in Croatia has. Throughout the 3 day conference, I had the opportunity to meet incredible people and had the chance to better understand common questions that people have when it comes to studying in Croatia.

Angela (in the middle) speaking about her Croatian experience at the 4th ACAP conference in Cleveland, USA.

I spoke on the „higher education in Croatia“ panel, where I told my story about the experience I had with living, studying and working in Croatia. I think that the best way to get the message across about the great opportunities that Croatia holds is through real-life experiences. After my panel, I received great praise for taking the jump or receiving my undergraduate diploma from RIT Croatia and staying to work in Zagreb. With praise comes questions as well. Check out the commonly asked questions I received from my audience after the panel. 

The Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) is a member-driven non-profit organization dedicated to the professional and personal advancement of its members.

Q: Did you receive an American diploma? If so, is it accepted in the United States?

A: RIT Croatia is a global campus of Rochester Institute of Technology; hence all RIT Croatia students are students of RIT. Programs and curriculum at RIT Croatia are aligned with the standards of RIT. Upon successful completion of the programs, students receive 2 diplomas: a Croatian diploma issued by RIT Croatia, and an American diploma issued by RIT, which is accepted in the U.S.

Q: Are classes in English? My son/daughter isn’t that familiar with the Croatian language, will it be hard for him/her to adapt?

A: Yes, RIT Croatia delivers RIT’s American higher education programs. English is the official language of the college and all classes are in English. The student body, as well as all the professors and faculty, abide by the rule that while on campus, only English is spoken. This is great for students that don’t know Croatian as well as for Croatian students to put their English skills to practice. The students, professors, and faculty are very friendly and will help with whatever it is you may need. The overall feeling of warmth and a family away from home is what I felt during my four years at RIT Croatia. Furthermore, as RIT Croatia enrolls students from all over the world, recently, the International Student Club at RIT Croatia organizes free lectures in Croatian for international students which helps them adjust to Croatia as well.

Q: My son/daughter would like to transfer for a year only to receive the experience of studying and living in Croatia, is this possible? How do we proceed with the process?

A: Yes, they accept transfer students and with the help of the admissions office, they help you throughout the entire transfer process. As for how to proceed with the process, contact the admissions office and they will be more than happy to help you: [email protected] 

Q: Was it hard for an American like yourself to assimilate to the Croatian culture while completing your undergraduate degree? What was it like living in Croatia?

A: Growing up in a Croatian household I knew the language fairly well and was already pretty used to the culture overall. But growing up in a Croatian household in Chicago and living in Croatia are two completely different experiences. It did take time for me to get used to the way of life and the people, but over time it proved to be the best experience and opportunity that I’ve ever had. Today, I have lifelong friends that I met at RIT Croatia as well as great cultural experiences that helped build me as a person. 

Q: I have already received my undergraduate degree in the U.S., does RIT Croatia have a masters program?

Yes, RIT Croatia has 2 Master of Science programs. The two programs are Master of Science in Service Leadership and Innovation as well as Master of Science in Information Sciences and Technologies. For more information, it is best to contact our admissions office: [email protected].

It was great to be able to see so many smiles on people’s faces once I answered their questions to see that there is a great opportunity for their children or even grandchildren to study in Croatia. There seemed to be a sense of relief for them to hear about my positive experience, allowing them to know that if their family member would decide to study at the Zagreb or Dubrovnik campus that RIT Croatia has. For more information on my experience, check out the video below to see what studying in Croatia meant to me! 

About RIT Croatia
RIT Croatia (formerly known as ACMT) has been delivering top American degree programs in Croatia since 1997. With its two campuses, in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, this is the only US college in the country and it is the only institution for higher education granting two diplomas to its students – an American diploma, awarded by RIT, and a Croatian diploma, awarded by RIT Croatia. RIT Croatia graduates work all over the world – from the EU countries to Australia and the US, but also exotic locations such as Curacao. International students come from all over the world but most of them come from the U.S. Some come from the main campus from Rochester, but a lot of Americans come from Croatian Diaspora communities in cities such as San Jose, San Pedro, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York, Toronto, Mississauga, Cleveland, and many more. For more information, contact [email protected]

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