Serbia cuts state funding for Serbian studies, history, Russian language at Niš University

The Serbian government has decided to eliminate state-funded student positions for Serbian studies, history, and Russian language at the University of Niš's Faculty of Philosophy. This abrupt decision impacts forty young individuals who had already taken their entrance exams for these specific departments.

The move is particularly contentious as it proceeds despite an administrative court order that suspended all actions concerning the potential split of the Faculty of Philosophy and the transfer of these departments to a new entity, the Faculty of Serbian Studies. The government's decision overrides the court's stay on the Ministry of Education's resolution and the revocation of operating permits for the history, Serbian studies, and Russian language and literature departments.

Announced later than in previous years and after the general university enrollment period, the government's decision on student quotas for state-funded enrollment in undergraduate programs for the 2026/2027 academic year totals 17,493 nationwide. While the University of Niš faculties received 3,224 state-funded spots, the Faculty of Philosophy's allocation of 302 spots explicitly excludes the Serbian studies, history, and Russian language programs, as per Government Decision 05 No. 022-12202/2025-02 dated November 6, 2025.

This situation arises from ongoing legal challenges initiated by the Faculty of Philosophy's administration, with legal assistance, against the operating permits issued to the Faculty of Serbian Studies and modifications to the Faculty of Philosophy's permits. The administrative court had ordered a suspension of these resolutions pending a final decision. Ironically, the Faculty of Serbian Studies, despite lacking an operating license, is included in the Ministry of Education's list for awarding scholarships to students in fields deemed crucial for the educational system, including history, Serbian studies, and Russian language.