Nikola Tesla was born in the village of Smiljan, part of the Austrian Empire. His father, Milutin Tesla, was a Serbian Orthodox priest, and his mother, Đuka Mandić, was known for her memory and craftsmanship, traits that Tesla credited as influencing his own inventive abilities.

Tesla received his initial education in Smiljan and later in Gospić. He demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for mathematics and memorization from a young age, outperforming his peers. These early successes fueled his intellectual curiosity.

Tesla attended the Higher Real Gymnasium in Rakovac, where he excelled in physics and mathematics. He experienced a severe illness during this period, and his recovery was uncertain. His father initially wanted him to follow in his footsteps and become a priest, but Tesla pleaded to pursue engineering.

Following his graduation Tesla contracted Cholera and almost died. Afterwards, he avoided conscription into the Austro-Hungarian army by running away to the Tomingaj village near Gračac.

Tesla enrolled at the Austrian Polytechnic in Graz, where he initially excelled. He was a dedicated student, studying diligently and earning high grades in his first year. However, disagreements with professors over the design of direct current dynamos began to surface, marking the beginning of his divergence from conventional electrical engineering.

Tesla developed a gambling addiction and lost his tuition money. He dropped out of the Austrian Polytechnic in Graz without earning a degree.

Tesla briefly attended Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague during the winter semester of 1880, studying philosophy. This period was short-lived, further delaying the completion of his formal education.