Military study programmes
If you want to receive education as professional personnel for the Croatian Armed Forces, enrol in undergraduate and graduate military studies: Military Leadership and Management, Military Engineering or Naval Studies
Military undergraduate and graduate university studies designed for education of the future officers of the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF). They were developed in cooperation with the Croatian Armed Forces and the University of Zagreb, and upon completion of the Bachelor's degree, a secure job awaits the graduates in the CAF units on positions of the first officer duties.The university undergraduate study programmes in Zagreb are the following:
- Military Leadership and Management (ML&M)
- Military Engineering (ME).
Military training contents are carried out through military boot camps, military professional practice and training throughout the year.
Students are provided with monthly scholarship, housing and meals, textbooks, military uniform and sports equipment, as well as public transport costs.
Classes for both major courses are held in the premises of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy in Zagreb, in teaching and training centres and on training grounds of the Croatian Armed Forces, and to a lesser extent in specially equipped classrooms and laboratories of the faculties of the University of Zagreb.
In the academic year 2023/2024, 40 cadets enrol in the Military Leadership and Management study programme, and 70 students enrol in the Military Engineering study programme.
The Study Programme Military Leadership and Management (ML&M)
The study programme of Military Leadership and Management (ML&M) is primarily focused on the social field, and the program includes, in addition to typical academic contents, integral military training and military professional contents to achieve the required competencies for the first officer duty in the Croatian Armed Forces.
Organizational and administrative support for the study of Military Leadership and Management is provided by the Student Service of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy. Upon completion of the studies, the graduates earn the academic title of University Bachelor of Military Leadership and Management and are awarded the rank of Lieutenant.
The Study Programme Military Engineering (ME)
The study programme of Military engineering (ME) is primarily focused on the technical field, and the programme includes, in addition to typical academic contents, integral military training and military professional contents to achieve the required competencies for the first officer duty in the Croatian Armed Forces.Organizational and administrative support for the study of Military Engineering is provided by the Student Service of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy.
Upon completion of the study program, graduates earn the academic title of University Bachelor of Military Engineering and are awarded the rank of Lieutenant.
Enrolment requirements
In addition to the criteria for performance in secondary school and at the national school-leaving exam, candidates for both study programmes must also meet certain health, psychophysical and safety criteria necessary for the officer profession.
Special enrolment conditions are prescribed by the Ordinance on determining the health, psychological, physical and safety requirements for admission to service in the CAF (Official Gazette, no. 13/14, 134/15 and 138/15), the Ordinance on the manner and procedure of recruitment, advertising and selection for admission to active military service and cadet service (Official Gazette, no. 158/13, 77/15, 14/17 and 91/18) and the Ordinance on determination of health fitness for military service (Official Gazette, no. 42 /14, 134/15, 109/16 and 97/17).
After enrolment, and before the start of classes, future students who enrol in military study programmes will be summoned to take part in the Preparatory Boot Camp, where they will learn about the operation of the Croatian Armed Forces.
Professional development
As part of the professional development, officers are referred to higher levels of officer education and specialist courses in the country and abroad, upon completion of which they meet the requirements for promotion to a higher rank and appointment to a higher command duty.Graduate studies can be continued either according to the programme of the university study programmes Military Leadership and Management and Military Engineering, which carry 60 ECTS credits, at Dr. Franjo Tuđman CDA, or according to one of the graduate programmes at the University, which is closest to the area of the completed undergraduate studies.
The Naval Studies Study Programme
The Naval Studies (VP) study programme is a five year integrated undergraduate and graduate university study programme, designed for education of future officers of the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Armed Forces.This study programme allows for education, for requirements of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and of the Ministry of the Interior. It has been developed in cooperation of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy and the University in Split. Major courses of the study programme are Nautical Science and Marine Engineering.
The programme has been designed to enable students to gain theoretical and practical knowledge and to understand professional and scientific principles important for the maritime profession and maritime skills that are essential in the process of running the ship: navigation, manoeuvring, maintenance, cargo handling and other procedures regulated by the International Convention (STCW) and other international and national standards. General competencies that cadets acquire by completion of the Naval Studies are identical to competencies acquired at other Faculties of Maritime Studies.
Classes are delivered by university teachers of the University in Split together with the teachers and military professionals of the Croatian Defence Academy and the Ministry of Defence. Classes are run in specialized classrooms and study cabinets of the Fleet Admiral Sveto Letica-Barba – Lora Naval Base in Split and at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.
Military professional and navigation practice is an integral part of the study programme. During military professional practice, students master the skills of leadership, commanding and control, handling hand firearms, target practice and weapon maintenance, and orientation in space and environment.
During the sailing practice, students get to know the life and work on board through everyday ship activities. Sailing practice is carried out on Croatian Navy ships and other public ships.
Enrolment requirements
The requirements for enrolment in Naval Studies study programme are: completed four-year secondary school, passed national graduation exam and special psychophysical, health and safety conditions.Special enrolment conditions are prescribed by the Ordinance on determining health, psychological, physical and safety requirements for admission to service in the CAF (Official Gazette, no. 13/14, 134/15 and 138/15), the Ordinance on the manner and procedure of recruitment, advertising and selection for admission to active military service and cadet service (Official Gazette, no. 158/13, 77/15, 14/17 and 91/18) and the Ordinance on determination of medical fitness for military service (Official Gazette, no. 42 /14, 134/15, 109/16 and 97/17).
The possibility of career development
The Naval Studies study programme lasts 10 semesters or five years. Upon completion, graduates acquire not less than 300 ECTS credits and are awarded the academic title of Master, Engineer of Naval Studies: major course in Nautical Science or major course in Marine Engineering. Students are scholarship holders of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior or the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.By signing a scholarship agreement with one of the aforementioned Ministries, students are guaranteed employment in that Ministry after completion of their studies.
Scholarship holders of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia are provided with scholarship, housing, meals, obligatory textbooks, military uniform, sports equipment, public transport costs.
After completing the study program, they are awarded their first officer rank and assume their first officer duties in units of the Armed Forces.
During regular professional development, officers are referred to higher levels of officer education and specialist courses in the country and abroad. Upon their completion, they acquire the conditions for promotion to a higher rank and appointment to higher command duties.
Detailed information about the study programmes are available at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy at telephone no. 01/378-6666 and e-mail: jasna.hizar@morh.hr, at the Personnel Management Centre, telephone no.: 01/3784 656, 01/3784 814, e-mail: promidzba-osrh@morh.hr, at the University of Zagreb e-mail: vojni@unizg.hr and at the University of Split at telephone no. 021/558-213, e-mail: katarina.balic@unist.hr and vojno.pomorstvo@unist.hr .