16. Scholarship Fair - UNSA Study Expo

The 16th University of Sarajevo Scholarship Fair – UNSA Study Expo was held on 7 October at the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo, bringing together more than 50 embassies, international organisations, foundations and universities from abroad. The event offered students, secondary school pupils, prospective students, University of Sarajevo staff and all other interested visitors an opportunity to learn about scholarships, international exchanges, study programmes, internships and other educational and professional development opportunities abroad.

The Study Expo was officially opened with addresses by Camélia Aissat, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action at the Embassy of France, Adam Lorenz, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, and Professor Dr Tarik Zaimović, Rector of the University of Sarajevo.

Camélia Aissat, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action at the Embassy of France, stated:

“It is a great pleasure for the Embassy of France to participate once again in the UNSA Study Expo. With an increasing number of mobility opportunities, particularly within European university alliances, as well as the launch of a new double-degree Master's programme between the University of Sarajevo and the University of Poitiers, cooperation between our universities continues to grow stronger every year.

Our scholarship programme remains an excellent stepping stone for students and academic staff from Bosnia and Herzegovina who wish to study or conduct research in France and build long-term academic partnerships between our two countries.

Visit our Campus France offices at the French Institute in Sarajevo, Mostar or Banja Luka to learn more about the opportunities we offer.”

Adam Lorenz, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, said:

“The Embassy of the Czech Republic is delighted to participate once again in the University of Sarajevo Study Expo. Through the Czech Government Scholarship Programme, opportunities offered by the International Visegrad Fund, Erasmus+ exchanges and numerous academic partnership programmes, we are proud to support talented students and researchers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in pursuing higher education and gaining international experience in the Czech Republic.

With more than a thousand study programmes available and strong cooperation between Czech and Bosnian and Herzegovinian institutions, the Czech Republic offers excellent opportunities in engineering, information technology, economics, medicine and many other fields.

We invite you to visit our stand and learn more about scholarships, study opportunities, research mobility and grant programmes that can help you develop your skills and contribute to the future development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Professor Dr Tarik Zaimović, Rector of the University of Sarajevo, emphasised the importance of scholarships and international mobility for students' education and development, stressing that the University has a responsibility to make information, support and opportunities that can shape young people's education and future accessible to them.

“The University has a responsibility to help its students discover what they can achieve and to support them in making it happen. Scholarships and international exchanges are an important part of that responsibility. They allow students to experience different approaches to learning, develop new skills and collaborate with people whose experiences and perspectives differ from their own,” Rector Zaimović said.

Speaking about the University's international cooperation, the Rector highlighted that the results achieved reflect the commitment of students and staff, as well as the trust of international partners. He noted that, in 2025, the University of Sarajevo accounted for 50 percent of the total Erasmus+ mobility funding allocated to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He particularly emphasised that international experience provides students with new knowledge, friendships and professional connections that can remain valuable long after their exchange has ended and contribute to the development of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Rector encouraged students to use the Study Expo to speak with representatives of partner institutions, learn about scholarships and mobility programmes, and explore opportunities that match their interests and ambitions.

During the opening ceremony, the Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina shared a message highlighting the importance of academic mobility and the continuous strengthening of cooperation between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina:

“We are delighted to be here once again at the UNSA Study Expo, an important opportunity to promote academic mobility and strengthen cooperation between our universities and our countries.

Italy is firmly committed to supporting education and exchanges with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through scholarships awarded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), as well as local authorities, we are pleased to offer students, graduates and researchers opportunities to pursue further studies and research in Italy.

We believe that investing in academic mobility means investing in young people, knowledge and the future of the strong and longstanding friendship between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The 16th UNSA Study Expo provided visitors with an opportunity to speak directly with representatives of institutions and universities offering scholarships, international mobility programmes and study opportunities abroad, and to obtain specific information about application requirements and deadlines, study programmes, available courses, scholarships, accommodation and everyday life in host countries.

Rather than searching numerous websites for information about different opportunities, visitors were able to ask specific questions directly to representatives of embassies, international organisations, foundations and universities, gaining first-hand information relevant to choosing a study programme, mobility opportunity or internship.

A particularly important aspect of this year's Study Expo for University of Sarajevo students and staff was the fact that Erasmus+ calls for student and staff mobility for the 2026/2027 academic year were open. Direct conversations with representatives of numerous partner universities provided an opportunity to obtain detailed information about exchange opportunities, course selection, study programmes, application procedures, scholarships, accommodation and daily life in host countries.

Online meetings were also organised with representatives of partner institutions who could not attend in person, allowing interested participants to learn about mobility programmes offered by universities without a physical stand at the Expo.

This year's Study Expo featured the embassies of the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Japan, Hungary, Slovenia, Türkiye and the United States of America.

Other participating organisations included the Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Turkish University Alumni, Campus France Bosnia and Herzegovina, the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, and the US Alumni Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina / EducationUSA.

Partner universities from the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Türkiye were represented at the Expo, while university representatives from the Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Austria and Portugal were available online.

Participating institutions included Palacký University Olomouc, the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague and Mendel University in Brno, as well as the Catholic University of Lille, the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard, the University of Limoges and Paris 8 University.

Italy was represented by the University of Trento and the University of Trieste, while representatives of the University of Bologna were also available online. Latvia was represented by the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.

Visitors also had the opportunity to speak with representatives of Budapest Metropolitan University and the University of Pécs, as well as German universities in Giessen, Saarland, Berlin and Marburg.

Other participating institutions included the University of Warsaw, the Slovenian universities of Nova Gorica, Primorska, Ljubljana and Maribor, and the Spanish universities of Barcelona and Valladolid. Representatives of the Catholic University of Valencia and the University of Santiago de Compostela were available online.

The Study Expo also featured EUPeace, the European university alliance of which the University of Sarajevo is a member. The Alliance opens up numerous opportunities for the academic community, including mobility, joint courses and study activities, seasonal schools, research cooperation, conferences, professional training and other joint initiatives.

EUPeace is not focused exclusively on the academic community. One of the Alliance's key objectives is to strengthen connections between universities and society. Its activities therefore also welcome the involvement of non-governmental organisations, institutions, local communities, civil society organisations and other societal stakeholders.

In this way, EUPeace creates opportunities not only for international academic exchange and cooperation but also for joint action by universities and society on issues related to peace, justice and inclusive societies.

This year's Study Expo was held with the support of the Embassies of the Czech Republic, France, Italy and the Kingdom of Spain in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the French Institute and Campus France.