J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek

Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (JJSUO) is a public university located in Osijek, Croatia. It is the third oldest university in Croatia and the fourth largest in the country.

The history of higher education in Osijek dates back to the 18th century, when the Franciscan order founded Studium Philosophicum Essekini (1707-1780) and Studium Theologicum Essekini (1724-1783).

In the 19th century, a number of other educational institutions were founded in Osijek, including a teachers' college (1874), a commercial academy (1883), and a school of engineering (1891).

The first university-level studies in Osijek were offered in 1959, when the Zagreb Faculty of Economics established a branch campus in the city. In 1961, the branch campus became independent and was renamed the Faculty of Economics in Osijek.

In 1975, the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek was founded, with the Faculty of Economics as its founding faculty. Over the next few decades, the university expanded to include a number of other faculties.

JJSUO is a member of the European University Association and has bilateral cooperation agreements with universities in over 30 countries. It is also a popular destination for Erasmus+ exchange students.

J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek is ranked as the #3 top university in Croatia during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.