5 useful tips for international students

5 USEFUL TIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 

We understand that moving to a foreign country can be daunting. We have collected some tips to help you with this process and to give you some insights on life in Serbia. If you want to learn a few tricks on living in Serbia, keep on reading!  

1. LEARN SOME SERBIAN 

We encourage you to learn some Serbian before you move here. Although youngsters in Serbia mostly speak good English, older people usually struggle with it. Learning a few words or common sayings, such as hello – “zdravo”, how are you – “kako si”, or goodbye – “doviđenja”, will go a long way and people will appreciate your effort to learn the language.  

2. HOW TO STAY ON A BUDGET  

Although living in Serbia is not very expensive and it would not be very challenging to stay on a budget, it is always nice if you save some money and use it for traveling and exploring the country or other European cities! One great tip would be to eat at menza – that is how student canteens are called in Serbia. Click the links to check menzas in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kragujevac, which are the largest university cities in Serbia. The cost of a meal in menza is usually around 1-1.5 EUR (first course, main course, soup, and dessert). Affordable, isn’t it? And tasty as well! Also, to avoid bank fees we advise you to open a Serbian bank account. All commercial banks are reliable and professional. If you are on a tight budget, check student dorms for housing – they are inexpensive (around 100 EUR per month). Living in a dorm is the best way to gain some friends and attend a lot of student parties! To find out more about student dormitories, check our website. If you have more questions, feel free to send us an email or message us on Facebook or Instagram.  

3. ENJOY SERBIAN CUISINE AND GET TO KNOW SERBIA 

Be prepared – Serbians love to eat and when we say love, we mean it! Serbian cuisine is considered to be one of the finest in the region (and maybe beyond). Also, the best way to understand Serbian culture is to try Serbian food – it is a mix of different influences, a unique blend of diverse and comforting dishes. We advise you to take your taste buds on a holiday and get a taste of sarma - a delicious Serbian take on the classic filled cabbage rolls or try ajvar, a sauce made from roasted and peeled red peppers fried in vegetable oil. You will not regret it! 

4. GET INVOLVED AND KEEP YOURSELF BUSY  

We also encourage you to get involved in student life in Serbia. There are lots of student organizations that you can take part in or you can embark on a journey of volunteering at different associations, such as the Young Researchers of Serbia or Erasmus Student Network. Ask at your faculty what options you have and use up your time in Serbia to the fullest! 

 

 5. HAVE SOME PATIENCE WHEN DEALING WITH BUREAUCRACY 

Lastly, we suggest that you have some patience when dealing with administrative stuff. Like in most countries, bureaucracy can be long and overwhelming; however, rest assured that you will make it through. Click the link to find a short guide that will serve you as a starting point on the journey of studying in Serbia. To make your life easier, we have also collected the most useful info on our website. Please check it out. And contact Study in Serbia whenever you need help! 

Finally, enjoy it! Studying abroad is a lifetime experience and you should get the most of it! It is important to be responsible and fulfill your student obligations, however, it is equally essential to have fun while doing that. That is why our motto is Discover, Learn, Experience!