| Country | Avg. monthly salary | Degree required | Start of term | Teaching experience | Housing & flights included | Suitable for non-native English speakers | Age restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teach in Serbia | RSD 71,000 - RSD 120,000 (£516-£872 GBP $657-$1,111 USD) | September | None |
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Teach English in Serbia
With exquisitely beautiful countryside, modern cities and high levels of English proficiency, finding TEFL teaching work in Serbia is an extremely good idea.
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While it might surprise outsiders, English is very popular in Balkan countries, and Serbia is no exception. Serbia, with a population of about 6.6 million, boasts high levels of English proficiency, general literacy and an educational system that ranks well in central Europe. Beyond its academic heft, it’s also a country that offers visitors an enormous amount of natural splendour and historical fascination, with ancient palaces and monasteries to be found amongst the outlandishly beautiful Serbian countryside.
There are some more surprises for those who don’t know much about Serbia: the standard of living is considered to be high for Europe, with excellent cuisine, underrated wines, and salaries that contrast well with the cost of living. What’s more, it’s one of the easier countries to access, depending on your passport, with loads of opportunities for visa-free travel for the first 90 days. That means you can get set up in Belgrade, Niš or Novi Sad and actually enjoy the local delights while you apply for long-term residence!
English teachers are in demand because so many kids and adults want to study it. But how do you find teaching jobs in Serbia? What requirements do you need to meet in order to teach in Serbia? What are teaching salaries like there? What kind of teaching jobs are available? It’s time to find out.
Serbia: an overview
We weren’t exaggerating when we said that English is spoken very widely in Serbia. Though Serbia has its own languages and several dialects, foreign languages are popular. According to studies, English has been Serbia’s most popular foreign language for about 60 years and counting. It ranks extremely highly on EF’s English Proficiency Index, placed 24th out of 113 countries.
In 2004, Serbia’s Ministry of Education decided that the learning of a foreign language should be compulsory - Serbian children overwhelmingly chose to study English. Now, it’s taught from first grade in most Serbian schools, and the standards of teaching are very high. English is viewed as being extremely useful for employment, especially in business, and the mission for a lot of Serbian youth is to find lucrative positions abroad.
English teachers who teach kids from grades 5-8 (ages 10-12 through to 13-15) usually require a master’s degree. In rural areas, or in schools where there’s a scarcity of English teachers, schools will lower their standards a bit, but only a bit - usually, teachers who have studied some courses in English at university (which is common in Serbia) will take the class.
While the majority of English teaching jobs in Serbia are found in the big cities, there are opportunities to be found across the country. The standards are high, especially at reputable schools in the cities, but if you have a master’s degree, a TEFL certificate and teaching experience, you ought to find well-paid work in state schools (at grade 5-8 or high school level). If you have a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certificate and previous teaching experience, you can still find work, but it might be with younger kids, in language schools, corporate work or tutoring.
Requirements for teaching English in Serbia
What requirements do you need to meet to teach English in Serbia? What about visas and work permits? Our mission is to help you get abroad to Serbia and find schools interested in hiring you, so let's get to it!
Visas
Firstly, and most importantly: you need to apply for your Long Stay Visa 3 months before you reach Serbia in the first instance. So, get your paperwork in order first, even if you can enter the country visa-free for the first 90/180 days.
If you’re from the Schengen Area, the UK or the USA, there’s some great news: you can get into Serbia problem-free for up to 180 days. To stay longer, you’ll need a Long Stay Visa (D), which can be achieved by being offered a job from a Serbian institution. You need to provide evidence of the relevant qualifications (scans of degree certificates and TEFL certificates are crucial). You also need to hold a valid passport, pay visa fees, provide a passport-size photo and demonstrate “proof of the purpose and reasons for stay in the Republic of Serbia”.
Citizens from many other countries can come in for 90 or 180 days - the Serbian government has a guide here, so you can check if your country is covered.
As for work permits, you’ll need to apply for these when you get to Serbia, from the nearest police station. You must provide your passport, work offer letter, scans of your relevant qualifications and any other relevant supporting documents. Usually, this process takes about a month, during which time you can’t work. However, you are already legally allowed to be in Serbia, so enjoy your new surroundings!Salary and cost of living in Serbia
So what kind of salary can you earn teaching English abroad in Serbia? Based on our research, teaching salaries for ESL teachers tend to start between 71,000-185,000RSD per month (£516-£872/$657-$1,111). This, of course, depends on the institution, your level of education and how many years you’ve spent teaching. The average salary in Serbia is equivalent to 636 EUR (£541/$690).
What does that get you? Let’s take a look at capital city, Belgrade. Via Numbeo, we can see that renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs about £643/$816. It’s considerably cheaper outside central Belgrade, dropping to £388/$492 per month. Utilities, meanwhile, will set you back about £135/$171.
What about getting out of the house? Well, a monthly travel pass in Belgrade costs 17.06 EUR, which is £14.55/$18.51. Now you’re in Belgrade, and you want something to eat: if you’re riding solo, and fancy a cheap meal, it'll usually cost the equivalent of £8/$10. For two, in a mid-priced restaurant, a three-course meal will cost £36/$46.
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English teaching jobs in Serbia
Where are all the teaching opportunities in Serbia? Whether you’re in a city, a town, or a rural outpost, Serbian schools need English teachers. At state school level, English is taught from the first grade, so schools will be looking for qualified teachers to work with young students all the way up to the end of high school level.
As a former member of communist Yugoslavia, there aren’t many private schools to speak of in Belgrade. Instead, education is seen as a state prerogative, and the standards of state schools are of extreme importance. On a similar theme, there are only a handful of international schools in Belgrade, and jobs are ultra-competitive.Language schools are popular, however. These language schools typically serve students who work full or part-time jobs, and are almost all located in big cities like Nova Sad and Belgrade, so expect to work weekends and evenings.
English is spoken in Serbian universities, so there are absolutely opportunities available to enterprising TEFL teachers. While English lecturing jobs can be extremely tough to find - and usually require a PhD! - student tutoring jobs and one-to-one mentoring opportunities are widespread if you’re willing to do some freelance work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do you need a degree to teach English in Serbia?
Yes, you’ll usually need at least a bachelor’s degree to secure work as an English teacher in Serbia.
Q. How can I teach English as a foreign language in Serbia?
You can apply for teaching jobs in Serbia from anywhere in the world. If you meet the requirements and receive a job offer, you can apply for a work permit and a visa, and from there, teaching English in Serbia is a realistic prospect!
Q. What is the easiest European country to teach English?
There’s no easy answer here: each European country has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to teaching English. There’s a particularly high demand for English teachers in Spain and France, where teaching programmes like TAPIF and Meddeas are excellent options.
Q. Which country needs English teachers the most?
Which country needs English teachers the most?
This is subjective, of course, but there’s currently significant demand for English teachers across Asia.