University of NisThe University of Niš was incorporated as an independent level-granting institution on June 15, 1965. Its establishment rounded off an important, in many ways pioneering, period in the more recent history of the town which started in 1960 when the first undergraduate programs commenced in Niš at the three newly formed faculties (Faculty of Law and Economics, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering), under the academic patronage of the University of Belgrade. In the 1960/61 school year, a total number of 3740 students enrolled in the faculties.
The University started its independent life with 234 fulltime teaching staff and 10500 students. The increase of the student population, the development of new disciplines and the rising needs of the immediate and broader industrial and social environment brought about a reorganization of the existing faculties and foundation of new ones. |
Basic infoCity: Nis;
Country: Serbia; Founded: June 15, 1965; Staff: 234 fulltime teaching staff; Number of students: 10500; |
University development
- 1968 - The Department of Electronics grew into the Faculty of Electronic Engineering;
- 1970 - The two departments of the Faculty of Law and Economics became independent faculties;
- 1971 - The Departments of Mechanical and Civil Engineering became separate, independent faculties. In the same year, the Faculty of Philosophy was established with its seven departments: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Sociology, Psychology, English and Physical Education;
- 1972 - The Faculty of Occupational Safety grew out of the Faculty of Civil Engineering;
- 1979 - The Faculty of Technology was founded;
- 1987 - The Faculty of Philosophy grew to include the Department of Serbian Language and Literature;
- 1993 - The Teacher-Training Faculty in Vranje enrolled its first generation of students;
- 1995 - The Faculty of Civil Engineering expended its academic mission to include a new department - of Architecture, which was consequently added to its name;
- 1998 - The academic structure of the Faculty of Philosophy widened to include the Department of History. In the same year, the Faculty of Fine Art and the Faculty of Applied Art and Design of the Belgrade University of Art opened their academic divisions in Niš;
- 1999 - The Faculty of Science and Mathematics and the Faculty of Physical Culture grew out of the Faculty of Philosophy;
- 2000 - The University family became richer for six new departments: Geography and Biology with Ecology (adjoined to the Faculty of Science and Mathematics), Philosophy, Pedagogy, Slavic & Balkan Studies and Fine Arts (attached to the Faculty of Philosophy).
- 2002 - The Faculty of Fine Arts was established with three study options - for visual arts, applied arts and music - previously functioning within the Department of Fine Arts of the Faculty of Philosophy.
- 2004 - New department was formed at the Faculty of Philosophy: Department for Journalism.
- 2008 - The Department of Serbian Language and Literature of the Faculty of Philosophy was divided into the Department of Serbian Language and Department of Serbian and Comparative Literature.
By its constant development, the University of Niš has been confirming visionary words of our Nobel Prize-winner Ivo Andrić, echoing from the Opening Ceremony held on October 15, 1965:
"… As a literary man I would like to say a few words about the importance of literature, and generally, of art, in the life of any nation and individual, including your own. I wish you … not to labor under an old Philistine delusion that the so-called practical man should be bent on "subsistence", that is on things that are considered, allegedly, the only real, turning its back on art and fine artistry as luxury or waste of time, as something accessory, superfluous and surreal. No one should ever believe that. Art is, quite the contrary, the very quintessence of all forms of our real life, helping us to comprehend life more easily and live it more effectively, to make it at least more bearable to ourselves and to others. It is an indispensable element in the growth of the human spirit, in the development of the higher forms of social life, and it would be unwise and dangerous to deprive ourselves of its help. This applies to any place and any time. And the man belonging to our present society needs it more than it was the case with the previous generations, as the goals of the new life urge him to be a more harmonious and more universal personality, rather than a biased and narrow-minded professional. And it is exactly this harmony between the reason and the imagination, this balance between the goals and the responsibility of practical life on one hand and the width and serenity of the spirit on the other that should give our man a distinctive feature and ability to fully develop all his creative powers…"
University today
The University of Niš is a state-governed educational and research institution. At present, the University comprises 13 faculties:
• Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture,
• Faculty of Economy,
• Faculty of Electronic Engineering,
• Faculty of Medicine,
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
• Faculty of Law,
• Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics,
• Faculty of Technology in Leskovac,
• Teacher-training Faculty in Vranje,
• Faculty of Occupational Safety,
• Faculty of Fine Arts,
• Faculty of Sport and Physical Education and
• Faculty of Philosophy
The procedure for establishing Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Theology is underway.
In the academic 2010/2011 year, the University of Niš numbers 28660 students in all study levels. Out of this number, 24109 students are enrolled in basic academic, basic professional and integrated studies, while 61 of them are foreign citizens (mainly from Greece - 29, FYURoM, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, USA, Australia, New Zealand).
There are 858 students in master’s academic studies, 49 in specialist professional studies, 25 in specialist academic studies, 1347 students in doctoral academic studies and 2277 students attending old master's degree programs. The teaching process at the University is covered by 1556 teaching staff members.
From the foundation until the academic 2010/2011 year, 53069 students have graduated from our faculties, 1333 of them are foreign citizens, 2462 postgraduates acquired their master’s degree and 1345 candidates defended their doctoral dissertations.
The University of Niš was accredited as an independent public higher-education institution on February 5th, 2009. All its constituent Faculties were also duly accredited in line with the Law on Higher Education.
In compliance with the Law on Higher Education of the Republic of Serbia, by the Decision of the Commission of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Republic of Serbia, the faculties of the University of Niš were accredited, as well.
• Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture,
• Faculty of Economy,
• Faculty of Electronic Engineering,
• Faculty of Medicine,
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
• Faculty of Law,
• Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics,
• Faculty of Technology in Leskovac,
• Teacher-training Faculty in Vranje,
• Faculty of Occupational Safety,
• Faculty of Fine Arts,
• Faculty of Sport and Physical Education and
• Faculty of Philosophy
The procedure for establishing Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Theology is underway.
In the academic 2010/2011 year, the University of Niš numbers 28660 students in all study levels. Out of this number, 24109 students are enrolled in basic academic, basic professional and integrated studies, while 61 of them are foreign citizens (mainly from Greece - 29, FYURoM, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, USA, Australia, New Zealand).
There are 858 students in master’s academic studies, 49 in specialist professional studies, 25 in specialist academic studies, 1347 students in doctoral academic studies and 2277 students attending old master's degree programs. The teaching process at the University is covered by 1556 teaching staff members.
From the foundation until the academic 2010/2011 year, 53069 students have graduated from our faculties, 1333 of them are foreign citizens, 2462 postgraduates acquired their master’s degree and 1345 candidates defended their doctoral dissertations.
The University of Niš was accredited as an independent public higher-education institution on February 5th, 2009. All its constituent Faculties were also duly accredited in line with the Law on Higher Education.
In compliance with the Law on Higher Education of the Republic of Serbia, by the Decision of the Commission of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Republic of Serbia, the faculties of the University of Niš were accredited, as well.