The fifteenth cycle of Montenegro's Professional Training Programme for university graduates (stručno osposobljavanje) starts on 15 January 2027. Employers apply from 15 September to 15 October 2026, and graduates choose an employer from 16 October to 16 November 2026, on the eUprava portal. The training lasts nine months, counts as 12 months of work experience, and the trainee receives 600 euros net a month from the state budget.
This guide explains who is eligible, the deadlines, how to apply, the allowance and what applies after the programme.
Who can join the professional training?
- A person with a university degree who has no work experience at that level of education and is registered with the Employment Agency is eligible.
- The training takes place without an employment relationship, with a private or public sector employer operating in Montenegro.
- During the programme the trainee has health insurance as an unemployed person.
What are the deadlines for the 2026/2027 cycle?
| Step | Deadline |
| Public call for employers | published on 10 September 2026 |
| Employer applications | from 15 September at 12 noon to 15 October 2026 at 12 noon |
| Graduate applications and choice of employer | from 16 October to 16 November 2026 |
| Start of training | 15 January 2027 |
How do you apply?
- If you have not done so, register with the Employment Agency.
- Activate your electronic ID card, get a card reader and register the card on the Ns eID system, or obtain an electronic certificate from Pošta Crne Gore with an identification number.
- Between 16 October and 16 November 2026, choose an employer on the Professional Training page of the eUprava portal.
- Sign a written professional training contract with the employer, stating the tasks, place, duration and amount of the allowance.
- The electronic certificate from Pošta Crne Gore is new in this cycle; last year applications worked only with the electronic ID card.
How much is paid and what do you get?
- The allowance is 600 euros net a month since 15 January 2025, up from 450 euros.
- No taxes or contributions are paid on the allowance.
- The employer sends a training report by the end of each month, and the allowance is paid by the 10th of the month for the previous month.
- Nine months of training count as 12 months of work experience and as a condition for taking the professional exam.
- Sick leave and maternity leave extend the training, but no allowance is paid for that time.
What applies after the programme?
- Anyone who has not completed nine months with one employer can continue with another under the same programme.
- Anyone who has completed nine months cannot then be employed as a trainee, except for the traineeship needed for the exam to work in the courts, the state prosecution or the bar and similar legal professions.
- An employer who does not send the monthly report pays a fine of 1,000 to 20,000 euros, and the labour inspectorate supervises the rules.
How to register with the Employment Agency and what to bring is covered in our guide to registering with the Employment Agency, and how to activate the electronic ID card in our guide to eID card activation. The minimum and average wage are covered in our guide to the minimum wage, and where to look for work in our guide to finding a job in Montenegro.
Frequently asked questions
When are applications for professional training in 2026? Employers apply from 15 September to 15 October 2026, graduates from 16 October to 16 November 2026, and the training starts on 15 January 2027.
How much is the professional training allowance? The allowance is 600 euros net a month, and no taxes or contributions are paid on it.
Who is eligible for professional training? A person with a university degree who has no work experience at that level of education and is registered with the Employment Agency.
How long does professional training last? It lasts nine months and counts as 12 months of work experience.
What do you need to apply on the eUprava portal? An activated electronic ID card with a card reader, registered on the Ns eID system, or an electronic certificate from Pošta Crne Gore with an identification number.
Can I change employer during the programme? Anyone who has not completed nine months with one employer can continue the training with another employer under the same programme.
Sources
The deadlines of the fifteenth cycle, the application process and the conditions were published by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation in its notice of 9 September 2026, and applications start on the Professional Training page of the eUprava portal. Eligibility, duration, the contract, the allowance, insurance and fines are set by the Law on Professional Training of Persons with Higher Education, Official Gazette 38/2012 (Articles 3 and 6 to 16), and the allowance of 600 euros by the 2024 amendments, Official Gazette 88/2024. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.