University of Niš

History

The University of Niš was incorporated as an independent degree-granting institution on 15 June 1965.

In 1960 the first undergraduate programs commenced in Niš under the academic patronage of the University of Belgrade. They were institutionalized as the faculties of Law & Economics, Medicine, and Engineering.

The university started its independent life with 234 full-time teaching staff and 6,800 students.

Timeline

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 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: six new departments began: 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);

Organization

Most of the schools have a structure consisting of departments, divisions or majors, offering study and research opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including opportunities to obtain doctoral degrees. As of 2023–24 academic year, it has 1,513 academic staff members and 22,000 students.

The schools of the University of Niš with data about location, academic staff and number of students as of 2023–24 academic year:

So far, more than 49,000 students have graduated from the university, 2,254 have earned master's degree and 1,275 have successfully defended their doctoral dissertations.

University building

The university main offices are in one of the most representative city structures, an edifice built in the late 19th century, which was formally recognized as a cultural treasure of major significance in 1979.

The building was constructed in 1887, in the city center, on the right bank of the river Nisava. The building is in the neo-Renaissance style, designed by an unknown Viennese architect. It first housed the District Court, the District Government and the military headquarters and then, from July 26, 1914 to October 16, 1915, when Niš was the Serbian war capital, the building was the seat of the Serbian government and its Ministry of the Interior. The formal declaration of war was directed from Austria-Hungary on July 28, 1914 to the building.

In 1930, the building became the administrative seat of the Morava County, after the World War II it housed the District Administration, while in 1967 it was assigned to the permanent use to the university.

In 2008, marking the 120th anniversary of its building, the university completed construction work to enable access for persons with disabilities to all university facilities.

Notable alumni

Radovan Lale Djuric - artist