Business guide 2026
Business, economics and MBA programmes in English
Every English-taught business, economics, management and MBA programme in Bosnia, with fees, double degrees, careers and our advice.
Six state-accredited universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina teach business, economics, management or an MBA in English, with tuition from €2,045 a year at the public University of Sarajevo.
- Universities: IUS, Burch, SSST, University of Sarajevo, University of Banja Luka, University Vitez
- English-taught programmes: 15 bachelor, master and MBA options
- Lowest tuition: €2,045 a year (Financial and Marketing Management)
- Private bachelor tuition: €5,100 to 8,000 a year
- Double degrees: with Griffith College Dublin and the University of Buckingham
- MBA: on campus in Sarajevo or online from University Vitez
- Living costs: approx. €450 to 750 a month
- Academic year: starts in September or October
Last updated: 20 October 2026 · Study in Bosnia editorial team
Can you study business in Bosnia in English?
Yes. You can study business in Bosnia in English at six state-accredited universities: three private universities in Sarajevo, the public universities of Sarajevo and Banja Luka, and University Vitez with an online MBA. Together they offer 15 English-taught bachelor, master and MBA programmes in economics, management, finance, marketing and tourism. Tuition starts at €2,045 a year and reaches €8,000 at the most expensive private bachelor.
Two programmes stand out internationally: Business Studies at the University of Sarajevo, where you spend your final year in Dublin and graduate with an Irish and a Bosnian degree, and the dual degrees at SSST, which carry the name of the University of Buckingham in the UK. Places are awarded independent of your high-school grades, and every degree uses ECTS credits under the Bologna system.
What we see in practice: business students who come to Bosnia rarely want to stay in the region for ever. They want a recognised European degree, fluent professional English, a first internship on their CV, and a budget their family can carry. Bosnia delivers all four for roughly half of what a comparable programme costs in Central Europe.
All English-taught business and economics programmes at a glance
The table lists every English-taught business, economics, management and MBA programme we can confirm for 2026/27, with the international tuition per year. "On request" means the university sets the fee per intake, and we send you the current figure in writing before you apply. All universities are also in our university finder.
| Programme | University | Years / ECTS | Tuition per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Management and Marketing Management | University of Sarajevo (School of Economics and Business) | 3 years / 180 ECTS | €2,045 |
| Business Studies, double degree with Griffith College Dublin | University of Sarajevo | 3 years / 180 ECTS (year 3 in Dublin) | approx. €5,000 in Sarajevo, approx. €6,000 in Dublin |
| Master in Marketing Management | University of Sarajevo | 1 to 2 years | on request |
| Economics | International University of Sarajevo (IUS) | 4 years / 240 ECTS | €5,400 |
| International Business and Finance | IUS | 4 years / 240 ECTS | €5,400 |
| Hospitality and Tourism Management | IUS | 4 years / 240 ECTS | €5,400 |
| Management | IUS | 4 years / 240 ECTS | €6,000 |
| Management | International Burch University (IBU) | 4 years / 240 ECTS | approx. €5,100 |
| Economics and Finance | IBU | 3 to 4 years / 180 to 240 ECTS | approx. €5,100 |
| Master in Business Administration | IBU | 1 to 2 years | approx. €5,100 |
| Economics (dual degree with the University of Buckingham) | Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) | 4 years / 240 ECTS | €8,000 |
| MBA (dual degree with the University of Buckingham) | SSST | 1 or 2 years | €9,400 in total (1 year) or €5,200 a year (2 years) |
| Economics and Business Management | University of Banja Luka | 4 years / 240 ECTS | on request |
| International MBA in Business Administration (distance learning) | University Vitez | 2 years / 120 ECTS | on request |
| PhD in International Business Administration (distance learning) | University Vitez | 3 years / 180 ECTS | on request |
International tuition 2026/27. KM fees converted at 1 € = 1.95583 KM. Burch structures some programmes as 3 or 4 years; we confirm the model for your intake.
The six universities in detail
The short version: the University of Sarajevo is the budget and double-degree choice, IUS has the broadest business menu, Burch is the most affordable private campus, SSST is the British-style option, Banja Luka is the public alternative in the north, and Vitez is for working professionals who want an MBA without moving.
University of Sarajevo, School of Economics and BusinessSarajevo centre · public · from €2,045 a year+
- English programmes
- Financial Management and Marketing Management, Business Studies with Griffith College Dublin, Master in Marketing Management
- Teaching in English since
- 2011/12 (Financial and Marketing Management)
- Partners
- Griffith College Dublin, plus more than 30 exchange partners
The oldest and largest business school in the country, on Trg oslobođenja in the city centre. Financial and Marketing Management costs about €2,045 a year (4,000 KM) for international students. Business Studies runs two years in Sarajevo and the third in Dublin, and you graduate with two degrees.
International University of Sarajevo (IUS)Ilidža, Sarajevo · 4 business bachelors · €5,400 to 6,000 a year+
- Programmes
- Economics, International Business and Finance, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Management
- Teaching language
- English, with an optional English preparatory year (€5,000)
- Campus
- Ilidža, with dormitories on site
IUS has the widest choice of business bachelors in English and one of the most international student bodies in Bosnia. Hospitality and Tourism Management is a good fit for students from tourism economies who want to go back home with a European degree.
International Burch University (IBU)Ilidža, Sarajevo · from approx. €5,100 a year+
- Programmes
- Management, Economics and Finance, Master in Business Administration
- Faculty
- Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
- Scholarships
- Partial and full tuition exemptions; the average scholarship covers 50% of the fee
Burch charges about €5,100 a year (10,000 KM) for its business programmes, which makes it the lowest-priced private English-taught campus in Sarajevo. With the average scholarship of 50%, the fee drops to roughly €2,550 a year.
Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST)Ilidža, Sarajevo · dual UK degree · €8,000 a year+
- Programmes
- BSc Economics, MBA, MSc Finance with Banking, MSc Economics, Transition and European Integration
- Degree
- Dual degree from SSST and the University of Buckingham
- Extras
- Required course materials and books are included in the tuition
Small classes, British-style assessment and a UK university name on the diploma. SSST is the choice for students who plan a master's in the UK or want a CV that reads well to multinational employers.
University of Banja LukaBanja Luka · public · fee on request+
- English programme
- Economics and Business Management
- City
- Second-largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 185,000 inhabitants
- Living costs
- approx. €450 to 650 a month
A large public university in a green, relaxed city on the Vrbas river. It suits students who want a public-university degree in English outside the capital, at living costs slightly below Sarajevo.
University VitezVitez · Travnik · online MBA and PhD in English+
- Programmes
- International MBA in Business Administration (2 years, 120 ECTS), PhD in International Business Administration (3 years, 180 ECTS)
- Format
- Distance learning in English
- Payment
- Instalments possible
Vitez is the option for managers who already work and want a European MBA without relocating. You study online and travel to Bosnia only when the programme requires it.
Economics degree in Bosnia: which programme for which goal?
An economics degree in Bosnia comes in three forms: pure economics, finance-focused programmes, and management or tourism degrees with a practical slant. Choose by the job you want in five years, not by the programme name.
- Banking, investment, analysis: International Business and Finance (IUS), Economics and Finance (Burch) or Financial Management at the University of Sarajevo.
- Marketing, sales, brand management: Financial and Marketing Management (University of Sarajevo), followed by its Master in Marketing Management.
- Economics with a policy angle: Economics at IUS or the dual-degree Economics at SSST, both strong preparation for a master's abroad.
- Running a company or a family business: Management at IUS or Burch.
- Hotels, tourism, events: Hospitality and Tourism Management at IUS.
MBA in Bosnia in English
An MBA in Bosnia in English is available in two formats: on campus in Sarajevo or online from University Vitez. SSST runs an MBA with a dual degree from the University of Buckingham for €9,400 in total as a one-year programme, or €5,200 a year over two years. Burch offers a master's in Business Administration at about €5,100 a year. University Vitez teaches a two-year International MBA (120 ECTS) fully by distance learning in English, with tuition on request and payment in instalments.
Who it suits: the SSST MBA works for graduates who want to move to Sarajevo for a year and build a network in the region. Vitez works for people with a job and a family who need flexibility. Both carry ECTS credits, which matters if you later want a doctorate.
Management degree in Sarajevo: teaching, internships and student life
A management degree in Sarajevo means small groups, case studies and a lot of presentations in English. At the private universities, classes are usually small, and lecturers often work in companies or banks alongside teaching. At the public School of Economics and Business, lectures are larger and you are expected to organise yourself.
Internships are where Sarajevo pays off. Banks, audit firms, start-ups and the fast-growing business process outsourcing centres all recruit English-speaking students for summer internships and part-time roles. Most internships last four to twelve weeks. Paid work during your studies depends on what your residence permit allows, so we check this for your case before you sign anything.
Living in Sarajevo costs about €450 to 750 a month, including rent. Our guide to the cost of living in Sarajevo has a full budget, and our ranking of the best student cities in Bosnia compares Sarajevo with Banja Luka and Mostar.
Careers after a business degree from Bosnia
Graduates of English-taught business programmes in Bosnia work in four main areas: banking and finance, audit and consulting, outsourcing and shared-service centres, and tourism. The banking sector is dominated by Austrian, Italian and German banking groups, and the financial sector pays the highest average wages in the country. International consulting and accounting firms also have offices in Sarajevo.
For context: the average net wage in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was 1,714 KM, about €876, in June 2026. Local salaries are lower than in Western Europe, but so are rents, which is why many graduates take their first job in Sarajevo and move on after two or three years with real experience on their CV. Most of our international business graduates either return home, often into the family company or a multinational, or go on to a master's in the EU. Staying on to work in Bosnia after graduation depends on your nationality and a work permit.
How much does it cost to study business in Bosnia?
Studying business in Bosnia costs between about €22,000 and €68,000 for the whole bachelor, tuition and living costs included. The public University of Sarajevo is the cheapest route at €2,045 a year; private universities charge €5,100 to 8,000. Our guide to tuition fees in Bosnia lists every university, and the guide to scholarships in Bosnia shows how to bring the private fees down.
| Example | Duration | Tuition total | Living costs total | Total budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial and Marketing Management, University of Sarajevo | 3 years | €6,135 | €16,200 to 23,400 | approx. €22,000 to 30,000 |
| Economics, IUS | 4 years | €21,600 | €24,000 to 33,600 | approx. €46,000 to 55,000 |
| Economics, SSST | 4 years | €32,000 | €26,400 to 36,000 | approx. €58,000 to 68,000 |
Living costs calculated for 12 months a year. Add one-off costs for translations, the residence permit and health insurance.
Wondering whether a public or a private university is worth the difference? Our comparison of public vs private universities in Bosnia goes through teaching style, class size and fees.
Which profile fits which university?
Financial and Marketing Management at the University of Sarajevo, €2,045 a year.
Business Studies with Griffith College Dublin, or the Buckingham dual degree at SSST.
IUS or Burch in Ilidža, both on green campuses at the western end of the city.
The online International MBA at University Vitez.
Visa, recognition and the next step
Most international students need a temporary residence permit for education, and some need a visa before travelling; the student visa guide explains both. Business degrees from state-accredited universities are recognised through the normal procedure in each country, which we cover in degree recognition. Apply only to state-accredited institutions; our article on non-accredited universities in Bosnia shows how to tell the difference. If a sibling or friend is looking at medicine instead, our sister company covers medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study business in Bosnia in English?
Yes. Six state-accredited universities teach business, economics, management or an MBA in English: IUS, International Burch University, SSST, the University of Sarajevo, the University of Banja Luka and University Vitez. Together they offer 15 English-taught programmes.
What is the cheapest business degree in Bosnia in English?
Financial Management and Marketing Management at the University of Sarajevo costs about €2,045 a year (4,000 KM) for international students. It is a three-year bachelor taught fully in English since 2011. Private universities start at about €5,100 a year.
Can I do an MBA in Bosnia in English?
Yes. SSST offers an MBA with a dual degree from the University of Buckingham for €9,400 as a one-year programme or €5,200 a year over two years. Burch offers a master's in Business Administration, and University Vitez a two-year International MBA online.
Is there a double degree in business in Sarajevo?
Yes. Business Studies at the University of Sarajevo runs two years in Sarajevo and the final year at Griffith College Dublin, and you receive two degrees. SSST awards dual degrees with the University of Buckingham in Economics and its MBA.
Are business degrees from Bosnia recognised in the EU?
Degrees from state-accredited universities follow the Bologna system with ECTS credits and are recognised through the normal procedure of each EU country. A Bosnian bachelor gives you access to master's programmes in the EU like any other Bologna degree.
What jobs do business graduates from Bosnia get?
Most work in banking and finance, audit and consulting, outsourcing and shared-service centres, or tourism. Many international graduates return home into family companies or multinationals, or continue with a master's in the EU.
Do I need top high-school grades to study business in Bosnia?
No. Places are awarded independent of your high-school grades, and there is no central quota system. Each university sets its own process, and we check the current requirements for your programme before you apply.
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