Bilo da učim onlajn, bilo da učim uživo, program je isti.

It means whether ... or ... or no matter whether ... or ....

So:

• Bilo da učim onlajn, bilo da učim uživo, program je isti.
• = Whether I study online or in person, the program is the same.

This structure is used to show that the result in the main clause does not change, regardless of which option is true.

Yes, historically it comes from biti (to be), but in this structure bilo da functions as a fixed conjunction-like expression.

So you should not analyze it here as an ordinary past-tense verb meaning was. In bilo da ... bilo da ..., bilo does not agree with the speaker, and it does not mean it was.

Think of bilo da as a set phrase meaning:

• whether
• be it
• whether it be

In modern usage, learners are usually best off treating bilo da as one unit.

Because after bilo da, Serbian normally uses da + present tense.

So:

• bilo da učim
• bilo da radiš
• bilo da idu

This is a very common Serbian pattern. English often uses a plain finite clause after whether, but Serbian typically uses da here.

So the structure is:

• bilo da + present-tense verb

Because after bilo da, Serbian usually uses the present tense to express a general or current possibility.

Here, učim does not necessarily mean only right now at this exact moment. It can mean:

• when I study online
• if I study online
• whether I study online

So the present tense works naturally for general situations like this.

Yes, the repetition is normal and very natural, because Serbian often likes parallel structure:

• bilo da učim onlajn, bilo da učim uživo

This sounds balanced and clear.

But you can also say a shorter version:

• Bilo da učim onlajn ili uživo, program je isti.

That is also correct. The repeated version is a bit more formal or rhetorically balanced.

Here they describe two ways of studying:

• onlajn = online
• uživo = in person, live, face-to-face

In this sentence:

• učim onlajn = I study online
• učim uživo = I study in person

Uživo is used very often in Serbian for something happening physically, directly, not through the internet or media.

Because here they function like adverbs, not nouns or regular adjectives that need case endings.

They answer the question how / in what way do I study?

• učim kako? → onlajn
• učim kako? → uživo

Since they are being used adverbially, they stay the same.

Literally, it means the program is the same.

• program = program / curriculum
• je = is
• isti = same

Isti is in the masculine singular form because it agrees with program, which is a masculine singular noun.

So:

• isti program = the same program
• program je isti = the program is the same

Yes. Serbian word order is relatively flexible.

You can say:

• Program je isti.
• Isti je program.

Both are grammatical, but the emphasis changes a little:

• Program je isti = neutral
• Isti je program = puts more emphasis on isti

In your sentence, program je isti is the most neutral and natural ending.

It is mostly neutral and quite natural. It can work in both spoken and written Serbian.

A few notes:

• bilo da ... bilo da ... sounds slightly more polished than very casual speech
• onlajn is common and modern
• the whole sentence would fit well in educational, professional, or informational contexts

So it is not overly formal, but it is nicely structured.

Yes. A very common alternative is:

• Bez obzira na to da li učim onlajn ili uživo, program je isti.

This also means regardless of whether I study online or in person, the program is the same.

Another shorter possibility is:

• Bilo da učim onlajn ili uživo, program je isti.

So the original sentence is correct, but it is not the only natural way to express the idea.

Because the sentence begins with a subordinate structure and then moves to the main clause:

• Bilo da učim onlajn, bilo da učim uživo, = subordinate contrasting structure
• program je isti = main clause

The commas help separate the parallel parts and make the sentence easier to read.

In practice, the punctuation reflects the clear pause and balance of the bilo da ... bilo da ... construction.