Study in Rijeka

 

The best of both worlds

Located just over 80 kilometres from the border between Croatia and Italy, Rijeka offers the best of both worlds. Its 200,000 inhabitants enjoy the low cost of living of an Eastern European port, as well as the bustling vibe at the crossroads with Western Europe.

But ask the locals what shapes their city’s identity the most, and they would tell you it’s the Kvarner Gulf. Because of its location at the very heart of the Kvarner Gulf, Rijeka emerged as a major trading centre in the 16^th century. Nowadays, not only does Rijeka continue to be an important transport corridor connecting Europe with the rest of the world, but it has also become a melting port of Mediterranean and European cultures. Beside the historically strong maritime trading and shipping industries, in recent years, Rijeka has seen impressive growth in tourism. The city offers great holidays for culture enthusiasts and lovers of pretty coastlines. Having been selected as European Capital of Culture 2020, Rijeka will greatly improve its infrastructure and services in order to host a series of cultural events in the next few years.

Until recently international students had most come to Rijeka through the Erasmus exchange programme. However, with the launch of a new English-taught medicine programme at the University of Rijeka in 2017, the city now welcomes a growing number of degree seekers from overseas.

How to get to Rijeka

Rijeka is very well connected, with various travel options.

The closest airport is Rijeka Airport, though it is located on the island of KrK, 30 kilometres away from the city centre. In the summer Ryanair and Croatia Airlines both offer direct flights from London to Rijeka. Out of season you can fly to Rijeka with Germanwings through one-stop flights from London Heathrow or London Stansted. Upon arriving at Rijeka Airport, you can quickly get to Rijeka’s city centre using the shuttle bus operated by Autotrolej. Other major nearby airports are Franjo Tudman Airport in Zagreb (Croatia), Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport in Trieste (Italy) and Pula Airport in Pula (Croatia).

Rijeka is also easily reached by train from Zagreb. There are 3 to 4 trains daily from Glavni Kododvor station (Zagreb) to Rijeka Train Station on Kresimirova 5 Street. The journey should take you no more than 5 hours. There are also numerous buses that complete the journey in around 3 hours.

Because Rijeka is Croatia’s largest port, the most adventurous route would be to sail to Rijeka, although we would not recommend it for your relocation trip. You may choose to do it once during your studies, and in that case, you would be able to catch a daily passenger boat to Rijeka from Rab and Novalja on Pag Island (Croatia).

As a student you may also want to travel to other European cities on holidays and weekends. The proliferation of international and national bus lines from Rijeka’s main bus station, located right in the city centre, would allow you to do so at very low costs. Popular international destinations by bus from Rijeka include Vienna, Belgrade and Trieste. Many of Croatia’s beach and skiing resorts are within easy reach of Rijeka.

Student life in Rijeka

As a full-time student in Rijeka, you are likely to spend from €400 to €600 per month, depending on your lifestyle. The cost of rent will probably be your biggest monthly expense. The price of a double room in Rijeka is around €150 to €200. Public transportation is cheap, with a monthly pass costing just over €30.

Rijeka offers a student life that can be tailored to your own tastes. The city has always been a place where people live, not where they travel for leisure, so you’ll find plenty of peaceful and picturesque residential neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, tourist attractions are no more than a bus journey away.

Rijeka is a great place to live as a culture enthusiast. Graceful architecture of churches and castles showcase a rich cultural heritage, new live music and dance events springing up in former industrial spaces turned funky art venues, galleries displaying contemporary art light up centuries-old streets, and a strong rock and punk scene set the tone for nightlife. From the famous street Korzo to the nearby resort Opatija, Rijeka Carnival to Ri Gastro Days, you will never run out of entertainment in Rijeka!

The city’s excellent sport facilities also enrich the student life here. Whether you want to enjoy sport for the fun of it, keep yourself fit, play competitively or discover friendships, getting involved in sport activities is a great way to emerge yourself in the local life. Kantrida swimming complex, Sailing Club Rijeka, Automotodrom Grobnik motorsport race track, Rjecina Canyon and Platak ski resort – these are just a few outstanding sport facilities available at your doorstep as a Rijekan resident.

The city of Rijeka is a hive of business, social and sporting activity. More importantly, it is one of the most affordable cities in Europe for students. This lively and diverse city will offer a unique backdrop to your university experience.

Universities in Rijeka

• University of Rijeka

  City: Rijeka