In Montenegro, pupils enrol in the first year of secondary school through a public call by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, and the application is filed online at upisi.edu.me. For the 2026/27 school year applications ran from 23 to 26 June 2026, and 10,257 places were offered. Candidates are ranked by points from their overall grades in the last three years of primary school, the external exam, certain subjects and competitions. Gymnasium requires at least 60 points and four-year vocational school 48 points. Any pupil who has finished primary school and is not older than 17 can apply, and enrolment is free of fees.
This guide explains how the application works, how points are calculated, what competitions are worth, how ranking works and how pupils with school reports from abroad enrol.
How does the application work?
- The Ministry publishes the call in mid-June; for 2026/27 it was published on 15 June 2026.
- The application is filed online at upisi.edu.me, and a pupil using the application for the first time must register first.
- For 2026/27 applications were accepted on 23, 24 and 25 June around the clock and on 26 June until 15:00.
- While applications are open, the school committee publishes an updated ranking list every day at 16:00 of candidates registered by 15:00, so pupils know their place on the list.
- The final ranking list is posted on the school notice board by 30 June at the latest, after which the pupil hands in the original school reports for the last three years and competition diplomas.
- Pupils enrolling in the first year pay no administrative fee.
How many places are there?
| Programme | Places 2026/27 |
| gymnasium | 2,534 |
| four-year vocational school | 4,903 |
| three-year vocational school | 2,632 |
| music and fine arts | 188 |
| total | 10,257 |
About 7,400 pupils finished primary school in 2025/26.
How are points calculated?
- Overall grades: the average overall grades of the last three years are added up and multiplied by three, so a straight-A pupil with three averages of 5 gets 45 points.
- The external exam at the end of primary school counts in the mother tongue, mathematics and one elective subject: excellent is worth 10 points, very good 7, good 4, sufficient 1 and insufficient 0.
- For general gymnasium, the grades in the mother tongue, mathematics, a foreign language and physics over the last three years are added up and the total is divided by two.
- For vocational school, the grades in two subjects relevant to the course are added up; for example, mathematics and physics for electrical engineering, and the mother tongue and biology for health care.
- Members of the Roma and Egyptian community receive six additional points.
- For art schools, a talent test replaces the two subjects: from 0 to 46 points, with at least 10 needed to qualify.
What are competitions worth?
| Result in the last three years | Points |
| international competition, first place | 20 |
| international competition, second place | 18 |
| international competition, third place | 15 |
| national competition, first place | 15 |
| national competition, second place | 13 |
| national competition, third place | 10 |
| "Luča" diploma | 12 |
Only the best result counts per subject, and points from different subjects are added together.
Special conditions and ranking
- The mathematics gymnasium requires excellent in mathematics on the external exam, or at least good on the exam and a 5 in mathematics in at least two of the last three years.
- The philology gymnasium requires excellent on the external exam in the mother tongue and a foreign language, or at least good on the exam and 5s in those subjects in at least two years.
- A school teaching in a foreign language requires a 5 in that language over the last three years.
- With equal points, for gymnasium the candidate with more points on the external exam goes first, then on overall grades; for vocational school overall grades come first.
- An objection to the ranking list can be lodged with the teachers' council within three days, and the council decides within three days.
- In three-year programmes a pupil can train in dual form with an employer, with pay of at least 10% of the average net wage in the first year, 15% in the second and 20% in the third.
Pupils from abroad and foreigners
- Citizens of other countries, asylees, foreigners under subsidiary or temporary protection and stateless persons enrol in gymnasium under the same conditions as Montenegrin citizens.
- School documents from abroad are submitted as a copy with a court interpreter's translation, together with a recognition decision or confirmation that the recognition procedure has started.
- A person older than 17 can enrol in the first year of gymnasium as a part-time pupil.
Schooling for foreign children is covered in our guide to schools for foreign children, and recognising school reports in our guide to diploma recognition. Holidays and the start of term are covered in our guide to the school calendar, and the next step in our guide to studying in Montenegro.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you need for gymnasium? Gymnasium requires at least 60 points and four-year vocational school 48 points; the thresholds have not changed compared with previous years.
Where do you apply for secondary school? You apply online at upisi.edu.me, and a pupil using the application for the first time must register first.
How are overall grades calculated for enrolment? The average overall grades of the last three years of primary school are added up and multiplied by three.
What is the external exam worth? Each of the three subjects is worth up to 10 points: excellent 10, very good 7, good 4, sufficient 1 and insufficient 0.
Do you pay to enrol in secondary school? No, pupils enrolling in the first year are exempt from the administrative fee.
Can a child from abroad enrol in secondary school? Yes, with a copy of the school report, a court interpreter's translation and a recognition decision or confirmation that recognition has started.
Sources
The deadlines, places, criteria and points for 2026/27 were published by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation in the text of the enrolment call. The thresholds of 60 and 48 points are set by the Decision on the minimum number of points for 2026/27 (Official Gazette 67/2026), and enrolment of foreigners and part-time pupils in gymnasium by the Law amending the Law on Gymnasium (Official Gazette 60/2025). The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; check exact deadlines for next year in the new call.