Nezavisne novine: Approving of diplomas of the higher education institutions from other countries in the Federation of BiH costs from 200 to 1.500 KM, and in the RS 300 KM. In contrast to the RS, system of nostrification in the FBiH is totally unequal, going from the institutions which approve the foreign diplomas to the prices of their services. In cantons where the university has been integrated, diplomas get nostrified on the level of university, and where they have not, this is being done by the faculties themselves.At the University of Sarajevo and Zenica, which have been integrated, nostrification of diplomas costs up to 1.500 KM.
Free for elementary and high schools
Approving the foreign diplomas of the elementary and high schools is free in the FBiH and the RS. Diplomas from the elementary and high schools in the RS are being nostrified by the Ministry, and in the FBiH cantonal ministries of science and education. In the cantons where the Law on Nostrification of Diplomas does not exist, the Federal Ministry does the nostrification of foreign degrees.
"Diplomas of high and elementary schools of Serbia and Montenegro are mostly being nostrified, and from the beginning of this year 200 high school diplomas and 100 elementary school diplomas have been nostrified, while 67 requests are in the procedure", has been said from the Ministry of Education of the RS. Ivan Čuljak, chief federal education inspector, has said that this Ministry has in 2008 nostrified more than 1.500 diplomas.
"The process of approving diplomas lasts one day at most, if a person who submitted request has all needed documentation. Nostrification is free, and person only needs to pay 35 KM of tax", Čuljak has added, by stating that the Ministry has nostrified mostly diplomas from Serbia and Montenegro because of the continuation of education in BiH.
"For a graduate study, nostrification costs 15 KM per subject. For nostrification of master degree 1.000 KM is needed, and 1.500 KM for the PhD", we have been told at these universities. At both universities, the most nostrified diplomas were from the countries of former Yugoslavia and the EU, for the purpose of hiring or continuation of education. During 2008 at the University of Sarajevo has been nostrified more than 150 foreign diplomas, and at the University of Zenica around 30 diplomas.
Jasmina Berbić from the University of Tuzla explains how the foreign diplomas at this university are being nostrified by the faculties and that the price goes between 400 and 500 KM, depending on a kind of degree. She says that diplomas have been mostly from the countries of the EU and for the purpose of employing. Similar situation is also at the University "Džemal Bijedić" in Mostar. Foreign diplomas, says the General Secretary of this University, Zoran Kazazić, are being nostrified by the faculties and the price goes between 200 and 600 KM.
"If someone asked for nostrification of degree from the faculty which does not exist at our university, then the degree is being nostrified by the Interdisciplinary Commission of the University. This approval costs 1.200 KM", Kazazić has added. Jelena Starčević, secretary of the Commission for informing and approving of documents in the area of higher education of the RS, says that in this year have been nostified 414 diplomas of the higher education institutions. She says that on nostrification of diplomas it should be waited a month the longest, and the most often the students who finished their studies in Serbia are doing nostrification of their diplomas.