Što se tiče školarine, iznos je u programu.

Što se tiče is a very common Serbian expression meaning as for, regarding, when it comes to, or concerning.

So:

• Što se tiče školarine... = As for the tuition... / Regarding tuition...

It is often used to introduce a topic before giving information about it.

Examples:

• Što se tiče smeštaja, sve je organizovano.
  = As for accommodation, everything is organized.
• Što se tiče ispita, datum još nije poznat.
  = As for the exam, the date is not known yet.

It is a fixed expression, so learners usually memorize it as a whole.

The se is part of the verb expression ticati se, which means to concern or to relate to.

So the core idea is:

• ticati se + genitive = to concern / to have to do with

Examples:

• To se tiče mene.
  = That concerns me.
• To se tiče škole.
  = That concerns the school.

In Što se tiče školarine, the phrase literally works something like as far as tuition is concerned.

Even though the literal structure may feel unusual to an English speaker, it is best to learn što se tiče as a set phrase.

Because što se tiče requires the genitive case, and školarine is the genitive form of školarina.

• Nominative: školarina = tuition
• Genitive: školarine

So:

• Što se tiče školarine... = As for tuition...

This is very common after što se tiče:

• Što se tiče cene... = As for the price...
• Što se tiče vremena... = As for the time...
• Što se tiče studenata... = As for the students...

A useful rule: after što se tiče, expect the next noun to be in the genitive.

In many situations, što and šta can both mean what, depending on region and style. However, in the fixed expression što se tiče, the standard form is što se tiče.

So learners should use:

• Što se tiče...

not normally:

• Šta se tiče...

Even speakers who often say šta in everyday conversation usually keep što se tiče as the standard expression.

Iznos means amount or sum.

In this sentence, it refers to the amount of the tuition.

So:

• iznos = the amount
• iznos školarine = the amount of the tuition / the tuition amount

In Serbian, it is often natural to omit a noun if it is already understood from context. Since the sentence already mentions školarine, the speaker can simply say iznos.

U programu literally means in the program, but in this context program usually does not mean a computer program.

It more likely means something like:

• a brochure
• a program description
• a course/program document
• an official information sheet

So iznos je u programu means the amount is listed or given in the relevant program document.

Grammatically:

• u
  • locative is used for location or placement
• programu is the locative singular of program

Compare:

• u školi = in the school
• u gradu = in the city
• u programu = in the program/document

Because the preposition u here means in, and when u means location, it takes the locative case.

So:

• nominative: program
• locative: programu

That is why the sentence says:

• u programu

not

• u program

This is the same pattern as:

• u hotelu = in the hotel
• u centru = in the center
• u dokumentu = in the document

Yes, it is understandable and acceptable, but depending on context, Serbian may also use a slightly more explicit version.

For example:

• Iznos je naveden u programu.
  = The amount is stated in the program.
• Iznos se nalazi u programu.
  = The amount is in the program.
• Podatak o školarini je u programu.
  = The information about the tuition is in the program.

The original sentence is somewhat concise. Serbian often leaves out words that are easy to infer from context.

The first part introduces the topic:

• Što se tiče školarine, = As for the tuition,

The second part gives the information about that topic:

• iznos je u programu. = the amount is in the program.

This kind of structure is very common in Serbian and also in English:

• As for the schedule, it’s on the website.
• Regarding the exam, the date is still unknown.

The comma helps separate the topic-setting phrase from the main statement.

Yes. Kad je reč o... is another common way to say when it comes to... or as for...

So these are similar:

• Što se tiče školarine, iznos je u programu.
• Kad je reč o školarini, iznos je u programu.

They are close in meaning, though što se tiče is probably the more straightforward and common phrase to learn first.

Other similar expressions include:

• U vezi sa školarinom... = In connection with / regarding the tuition...
• Što se školarine tiče... = a rearranged version, also used

Yes, Serbian word order is fairly flexible, although some versions sound more natural than others.

The original:

• Što se tiče školarine, iznos je u programu.

Possible variations:

• Iznos je u programu, što se tiče školarine.
  This is grammatically possible, but less natural in most contexts.
• Što se školarine tiče, iznos je u programu.
  This is a common variation and sounds natural.

So while Serbian allows flexibility, learners should probably stick with:

• Što se tiče + genitive, ...

until they become more comfortable with style and emphasis.

A very useful pattern is:

• Što se tiče + genitive, ...

Examples:

• Što se tiče škole, sve je u redu.
• Što se tiče cene, pisaće na sajtu.
• Što se tiče ispita, profesor će javiti detalje.

And also:

• u + locative for in
  • u programu
  • u školi
  • u gradu

So the sentence is a good example of two important Serbian structures at once:

1. što se tiče + genitive
2. u + locative