Law, psychology and social sciences
Psychology, law and international relations in English in Sarajevo
Programmes, fees, career paths and who each degree suits, from advisers who place students in Sarajevo every year.
You can study psychology in Bosnia in English at the International University of Sarajevo, and law, international relations, media, film and English studies at three English-taught universities in Sarajevo, with tuition from about €5,100 a year.
- English-taught universities: IUS, International Burch University, SSST (all in Sarajevo)
- Psychology in English: IUS, 4 years, 240 ECTS, €6,600 per year
- Law in English: IUS, €6,600 per year
- Political Science and IR: €6,000 (IUS) or €8,000 (SSST) per year
- International Relations at Burch: approx. €5,100 per year
- Living costs in Sarajevo: approx. €450 to 750 per month
- Degree system: Bologna, ECTS
- Local-language options: law, psychology and political science at public universities
Last updated: 20 October 2026 · Study in Bosnia editorial team
Can you study psychology in Bosnia in English?
Yes. To study psychology in Bosnia in English, you enrol at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS), whose Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences runs a four-year bachelor in Psychology with 240 ECTS. Tuition for international students is €6,600 a year for 2026/27. The public universities in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar teach psychology too, in Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian.
The wider field follows the same pattern. Law, political science, international relations, media, design and film are taught in English at three private universities in Sarajevo: IUS, International Burch University and the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST). All three are state-accredited, all three have their campuses in Ilidža on the western edge of the city, and between them they offer 14 English-taught bachelor programmes in this area.
What we see in practice: most students who ask us about these subjects have already priced a psychology or law degree in the Netherlands, Germany or the UK and found that tuition plus rent for three or four years did not fit the family budget. In Sarajevo the total for a four-year bachelor, tuition and living costs together, usually lands between €45,000 and €60,000.
All English-taught programmes in law, psychology and social sciences
The table lists every English-taught bachelor in law, psychology, the social sciences, media and the creative subjects at state-accredited universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the international tuition for 2026/27. Where a fee is "on request", we send you the current figure in writing before you apply.
| University | Programme | Degree | Tuition per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| IUS | Psychology | Bachelor, 240 ECTS | €6,600 |
| IUS | Law | Bachelor in Law | €6,600 |
| IUS | Political Science and International Relations | Bachelor | €6,000 |
| IUS | International Relations and Diplomacy | Bachelor | €6,000 |
| IUS | Media and Communication | Bachelor | €6,600 |
| IUS | Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design | Bachelor | €6,600 |
| IUS | English Language and Literature | Bachelor | €5,400 |
| Burch | International Relations | Bachelor | approx. €5,100 |
| Burch | English Language and Literature | Bachelor | approx. €5,100 |
| Burch | Design | Bachelor | approx. €5,100 |
| Burch | Film and Video Production | Bachelor, 4 years | €10,000 |
| SSST | Political Science and International Relations | BA, dual degree with the University of Buckingham | €8,000 |
| SSST | English Language | BA, dual degree with the University of Buckingham | €8,000 |
| SSST | Film Making | Bachelor of Fine Arts | on request |
International tuition 2026/27, converted at 1 € = 1.95583 KM where the fee is set in marks. Compare all fees in our guide to tuition fees in Bosnia.
The three English-taught universities in detail
Each of the three universities has its own character. IUS is the broadest, Burch the most affordable, SSST the most British. Open a card for programmes, fees and what students tell us about daily life.
International University of Sarajevo (IUS)Psychology, Law, Political Science and IR, IR and Diplomacy, Media, Design, English · €5,400 to 6,600+
- Campus
- Ilidža, at the western end of tram line 3
- Faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Business and Administration
- Psychology
- 4 years, 240 ECTS; one-year MA (60 ECTS) afterwards, for 300 ECTS in total
- Tuition
- €6,000 (PSIR, IR and Diplomacy), €6,600 (Psychology, Law, Media, Design), €5,400 (English)
- Living costs
- approx. €500 to 700 per month
IUS is the only university in the country where you can study psychology in Bosnia in English from the first semester to a master's degree. The bachelor includes a compulsory work placement of at least 25 working days at a company, NGO, public office, institute or clinic, which gives you a first reference before you graduate.
The student body is one of the most international in the region, with a large group from Turkey and students from the Balkans, Central Asia, Africa and the Gulf. If you need an English preparatory year first, IUS runs one for €5,000.
International Burch University (IBU)International Relations, English Language and Literature, Design, Film and Video Production · from approx. €5,100+
- Campus
- Ilidža, about 10 minutes by car from Sarajevo airport
- Tuition
- approx. €5,100 (10,000 KM) for IR, English, Design; €10,000 for Film and Video Production and Game and Interaction Design
- Master
- approx. €5,100 per year in social sciences
- Living costs
- approx. €500 to 700 per month
Burch is the cheapest way into an English-taught social-science degree in Sarajevo. International Relations, English Language and Literature and Design all sit at about €5,100 a year, and the university awards partial and full tuition scholarships to strong students, averaging 50% of the fee.
Film and Video Production is priced like Dentistry at €10,000, because of the studio and equipment. Students who want a creative degree on a tighter budget usually compare it with Design at Burch or with Media and Communication at IUS.
Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST)Political Science and IR, English Language, Film Making · €8,000+
- Campus
- Hrasnička cesta 3a, Ilidža
- Dual degree
- Political Science and IR and English Language with the University of Buckingham (UK)
- Film Making
- Bachelor of Fine Arts awarded by SSST
- Tuition
- €8,000 per year; course materials and books included
- Living costs
- approx. €550 to 750 per month
SSST is the choice for students who want a British degree certificate next to the Bosnian one. Graduates in Political Science and International Relations receive a BA from SSST and from the University of Buckingham, and many go on to a master's in the UK or the EU.
Classes are small, and teaching follows a British seminar style with essays and presentations rather than long oral exams. That suits students from the Gulf, Turkey and South Asia who already went to English-medium schools.
Local-language options at public universities
Every large public university in Bosnia and Herzegovina teaches law, and most teach psychology and political science as well, in Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian. Fees for international students are set per programme and are usually lower than at the English-taught private universities. You need the language at a level where you can sit oral exams, which for most students means one preparatory year.
- University of Sarajevo: Faculty of Law, Faculty of Political Science (including international relations, journalism, social work), psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy
- University of Banja Luka: law, political science and psychology in Serbian
- University of Tuzla: law and psychology in Bosnian, in a city with living costs of about €400 to 600 a month
- University of Mostar: law and psychology in Croatian
- University of East Sarajevo: Faculty of Law in Pale
- Džemal Bijedić University, Zenica and Bihać: law in Bosnian
Private universities with law or social sciences in the local languageMostar, Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Brčko, Travnik+
- University of Herzegovina (Mostar, Međugorje): International Relations and Diplomacy, Social Sciences, Communication, in Croatian
- Pan-European University Apeiron, Banja Luka College, University of Business Studies (Banja Luka): law in Serbian
- Sinergija University and Slobomir P University (Bijeljina): law in Serbian
- European University Brčko District and the University of Travnik: law
Before you sign anywhere, check that the institution is one of the 21 state-accredited universities. Our article on non-accredited universities in Bosnia explains why that matters most for law.
Who should study psychology in Bosnia, law or international relations?
These degrees suit students who want an English-taught European bachelor at a moderate price and who already have a plan for the second step: a master's, a licence at home or a job in an international setting. They suit less well students who expect a bachelor alone to open a regulated profession.
For students who plan a master's and a supervised practice period later, in Bosnia, the EU or at home. Strong fit if you like research methods and statistics as much as people.
For students drawn to diplomacy, NGOs, journalism or the EU. Sarajevo hosts embassies, the EU delegation and many international organisations.
For students who want legal training in English and accept that practising law later depends on the rules of the country where they want to work.
For creative students who want a portfolio and a low cost of living while they build it. Sarajevo's film festival every August is a real networking week.
Law degrees are jurisdiction-specific: what that means for you
A law degree trains you in one legal system first. Every country decides for itself who may practise as a lawyer, judge or notary, usually through a domestic law degree or a conversion route plus a national bar or state exam. A bachelor in Law from Bosnia gives you a recognised European academic qualification with ECTS credits. Whether it leads to practising rights in your home country depends on that country's rules.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina itself, graduates who want to work in the courts or as advocates take the bar exam after a traineeship. Abroad, law graduates from Sarajevo work in compliance, international organisations, NGOs, diplomacy, banking and consulting, or add an LLM in the EU or the UK. We advise every law applicant to check the requirements of the bar or law society at home before enrolling, and we help you ask the right questions.
Careers after you study psychology in Bosnia
A psychology bachelor is the first of several steps in most countries. To work as a psychologist with clients you usually need a master's degree and a period of supervised practice, and some countries add a state licence. The IUS route of a four-year bachelor plus a one-year MA reaches 300 ECTS, the standard master's level across Europe.
Graduates who stop after the bachelor find work in human resources, market research, education, NGOs and social services. What we see in practice: the students who move fastest are the ones who use their compulsory placement well and leave with a reference letter in English.
Political science and IR: Sarajevo as a classroom
Studying international relations in Sarajevo means studying a peace process where it happened. The Dayton Agreement of 1995 still shapes the state, the EU candidacy since December 2022 shapes the politics, and the international presence in the city is large. Internships at NGOs, think tanks, media outlets and embassies are realistic for students with good English and some local language.
For students choosing between the two English-taught options: IUS is cheaper at €6,000 a year and has a separate IR and Diplomacy track; SSST costs €8,000 a year and adds a British BA from the University of Buckingham. Burch is the budget option at about €5,100.
What it costs: a realistic budget
Tuition for English-taught social sciences runs from about €5,100 to €8,000 a year, and living costs in Sarajevo from about €450 to 750 a month. For a four-year psychology bachelor at IUS that means roughly €26,400 in tuition and €24,000 to €34,000 for living, before scholarships. Our guide to the cost of living in Sarajevo breaks this down by rent, food and transport, and our page on scholarships in Bosnia covers fee reductions.
Non-EU students also need a residence permit for study, renewed every year; the steps are in our student visa guide. If you are weighing these subjects against medicine, see the medical programmes on Medschool Experts, our sister company for medicine.
You can filter all programmes by field, city and language in our university finder.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study psychology in Bosnia in English?
Yes. The International University of Sarajevo teaches a four-year bachelor in Psychology (240 ECTS) entirely in English, followed by an optional one-year MA. Tuition for international students is €6,600 a year for 2026/27. Public universities teach psychology in Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian.
How much does it cost to study psychology in Bosnia?
Tuition at IUS is €6,600 a year, so about €26,400 for the four-year bachelor. Living costs in Sarajevo add roughly €450 to 750 a month. Scholarships can lower the fee for strong students.
Can I study law in Bosnia in English?
Yes. IUS offers a Bachelor in Law taught in English for €6,600 a year. All large public universities teach law in the local language. A law degree is tied to a legal system, so practising rights abroad depend on the rules of the country where you want to work.
Where can I take an international relations degree in Sarajevo?
Three universities teach international relations in English: IUS (€6,000 a year, including a separate IR and Diplomacy track), SSST (€8,000 a year, dual BA with the University of Buckingham) and International Burch University (approx. €5,100 a year).
Which social sciences can I study in Bosnia in English?
In English you can study psychology, law, political science and international relations, media and communication, English language and literature, design and film. All of these programmes are in Sarajevo, at IUS, Burch and SSST.
Will a psychology bachelor from Bosnia let me work as a psychologist?
In most countries, working with clients requires a master's degree and supervised practice, sometimes plus a state licence. The IUS bachelor and MA together reach 300 ECTS, the usual master's level in Europe. We advise you to check the licensing rules of the country where you plan to work.
Do I need to speak Bosnian to study social sciences in Bosnia?
Not for the English-taught programmes at IUS, Burch and SSST. For law or psychology at a public university you need Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian at a level for oral exams, which usually means one preparatory language year.
Related guides
All 21 state-accredited universities, costs, visa and recognition in one place.
Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Tuzla and Foča compared for students.
How a degree from Bosnia is recognised in the EU and at home.
Fees, teaching language and campus life side by side.