Student Housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Dormitories and Renting

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Student housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a mix of public student centres, dormitories run by private universities, and private rentals. Our catalogue holds no dormitory prices, so the figures below come from the universities themselves and are marked with their year where one is stated. Capacity is limited, and public calls are written mainly with local students in mind.

Public student centres

The public universities have student centres that run dormitories and canteens. Allocation is by a public call each academic year.

Banja Luka. The University of Banja Luka says it has 1,250 beds in four pavilions of the student centre "Nikola Tesla", with a canteen serving three meals a day, according to its 2024/25 admission guide. Exchange students can get rooms and meals under a cooperation agreement. We did not find a published price, so ask the university.
Tuzla. The University of Tuzla's call for 2024/25 admitted 433 students to its dormitories with board, of whom 428 were citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 5 were foreign citizens. Applicants had to be full-time students whose home was more than 15 km from Tuzla, and had to submit documents on grades and household income. The price is set in the centre's rules, not in the call.
Sarajevo and Mostar. Both cities have public student centres, but we could not open a current price list or a call for foreign students. Contact the centre or your faculty. Do not count on a place before you have it in writing.

The Tuzla figures show a pattern worth planning for: a few places go to foreigners, so you need a plan B.

Dormitories at private universities

The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) runs its own dormitories on campus, with rooms for two or five students, each with a bathroom. Its accommodation page states 150 euros a month with breakfast, or 200 euros with breakfast and dinner. The page for the Plavi Leptir male dormitory gives an annual schedule for 2026/27 that covers nine months and includes breakfast, wired internet, hot water and cleaning of common areas:

Room type	Advance payment	Refundable deposit
VIP double room	€3,600	€100
Double or three-person room	€2,700	€100
Four or five-person room	€2,200	€100

The female dormitory has 159 places in 51 rooms, and its prices are in a separate fee document. Applicants to Plavi Leptir go through an application, an interview and an orientation session, and capacity is limited. Other private universities may work differently; ask them directly.

Renting privately

The University of Sarajevo's guide for exchange students gives monthly rents of from 700 KM in the city centre and 400–500 KM further out, without a year, so check current offers. Tips:

Book a short stay for the first days and look for a flat in person.
Agree in writing who pays utilities.
Ask your faculty's international office for contacts; IUS says its administration can advise on accommodation.

Housing and your paperwork

Your address matters for immigration. Within 48 hours of entry you must report where you live, and the University of Sarajevo says the landlord may need to come with his ID. The temporary residence application asks for proof of accommodation: a rental contract, proof of ownership, or a landlord's statement that you may use the flat. So get a written contract before you go to the Service. See student visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Avoiding problems

Never transfer a deposit before you have seen the flat or a verified contract.
Check that the landlord is willing to register you, because without it you cannot get a permit.
Keep receipts for rent and deposits.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.