University of Banja Luka

University in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The University of Banja Luka (, , , ) is the second oldest university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A public university, it is the flagship institution of higher education in Republika Srpska, one of two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2018–19 school year, there are 11,186 enrolled students. The university grew out of faculties established in Banja Luka after the end of the World War II either as independent schools or branches of the University of Sarajevo. The University of Banja Luka maintains close ties with educational institutions in neighboring countries of the former Yugoslavia, especially those in the Republic of Serbia. The QS World University Rankings placed the University of Banja Luka in the 251–300 range in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia in 2019. In 2018, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities ranked it as the Bosnia’s second best university among the 59 ranked institutions of tertiary education from the country. In the 2015 fiscal year, the Government of Republika Srpska ensured 34,897,600 BAMs for the university's budget constituting its primary source of funding for standard running costs.

The first Pedagogical School in Banja Luka was established in 1950 when it enrolled its first 38 students. The Faculty of Technical Studies was established in 1961 and the Faculty of Economics in 1969. It is also member of European Forest Institute and participate in TEMPUS, CEEPUS and 7th Framework Programme programme. In the aftermath of 2014 Southeast Europe floods the University of Ljubljana donated 25,000 BAM for the most affected students and staff members at the University of Banja Luka. Czech Technical University in Prague donated technical equipment needed to respond to the consequences of floods. Through student exchange programs university hosted students from Sapienza University of Rome, Plovdiv University, the University of Strasbourg, the University of Graz, the University of the District of Columbia, the University of Pristina in North Mitrovica and the University of Freiburg.

The University of Banja Luka has agreements on cooperation with other 100 higher education institutions. In January 2018 institution adopted the Strategy for Internationalization of the University of Banja Luka. It defines specific steps to be taken in the process of internationalization of scientific research, teaching and support. Opening was attended by the ambassador of the People's Republic of China, rector of the Tianjin University of Technology and Education and the delegation from the city of Tianjin.