Why study a Bachelor or Master in Albania

Study in Albania

Many international students turn to study in Albania, especially as it has become a popular tourist destination. It’s a safe country with cheap costs of living for students who want to study abroad there. This section covers why you should study in Albania and how much it will cost you to do so. 

Why should you study in Albania?

Reasons why you should study in Albania include:

• Many scholarships are offered to international students on both the graduate and undergraduate levels, making studying there even more reasonably priced than it already is. 
• The country offers many English-spoken programs for all levels of learning. This means you don’t have to learn Albanian to be able to study there- though you can decide to while you are staying in the country, as it’s a beautiful and straightforward language to learn! 
• Albanian universities offer a high level of education with degrees that are approved and recognized worldwide. 
• There are many subjects offered, in both public and private universities so students will be spoilt for choice. 
• The Albanian culture is rich and inviting and you’ll experience a lot of it and have a new and exciting experience. 

How much does it cost?

If you want to study in Albania, it will cost you an average of 180 dollars to 5,000 dollars a year to study for a Bachelor’s program. A Master’s degree can cost you about 7,000 degrees a year. However, tuition costs are different based on the program you choose to study and the level of study, whether graduate or undergraduate.

Living in Albania

Costs of living in Albania are considered cheap for students, especially when compared with other European countries. Costs for both accommodation and additional costs of living are around 800 dollars per month. Read on to learn more about how much it will cost you to study and live in Albania.

Accommodation

There are several different types of student accommodation available for international students who want to study in Albania. They can choose from these accommodation types based on their preferences and budgets. 

 

The types of accommodation available are: 

1. Shared Rental: 

A shared rental is a type of accommodation in a 2,3, or 4 bedroom house. Every student gets a private room and then they share the kitchen, bathroom and lounge area together. They usually also split utility costs and the cost of any extra services between them. 

1. Private Rental: 

A private rental is a rental that students live in on their own, so they have to cover all costs. These are usually more expensive than shared rentals but offer more privacy so students who prioritize privacy and don’t mind paying a little more can go for this option. 

1. Living with Host Family: 

The third option is living with a host family. In this case, they get their own room for a set fee and help out with chores like cooking or cleaning. This option gives students the chance to interact directly with Albanian culture and experience it head-on, getting a full culture experience. This is actually a requirement for those going to study the Albanian language there. 

 

In general, the aforementioned accommodation types usually cost an average of 375 dollars a month, depending on the type of accommodation, the quality of the accommodation, the services offered and its location. If you choose an apartment in an expensive area, the average rent is 544 dollars per month. This cost usually includes the price of all utilities. 

Other costs of living

Other costs of living when it comes to living in Albania include utilities, which will cost you an average of 150 dollars a month and internet, which will cost around 15 dollars monthly. You can also expect to pay a monthly transport ticket of 11 dollars to get around Albania. Another monthly cost you need to factor in is groceries, which will average about 150 dollars depending on whether you eat at home or at restaurants regularly. 

Universities in Albania

When it comes to universities in Albania, they typically have a good standard of education and the tuition fees are reasonable. There’s also a three-cycle system of education, with the first cycle covering the bachelor’s study, the second covering the master’s study and the third covering any doctorate studies. Read on to learn more about the degrees available and the top-ranked universities there. 

Degrees available

There are several degrees available in the Albanian higher education system. When it comes to undergraduate degrees, there are non-university diplomas which take you from 2 to 4 years to complete, ODL diploma, which takes three years to be completed or the regular university diploma, which is considered on the same level as the bachelor’s degree, which can take from 4 to 6 years to complete. This is based on the subject you have chosen.

 

Postgraduate degrees, on the other hand, can be post-university qualifications, which take up to one year to be completed and ODL completion, which takes the same amount of time. Diplomas of any post-university specialisation can take up to 1 year to be finished. Post-university more profound studies, which are the degrees equivalent to Master’s degrees, take from 1 to 2 years to be completed, while doctorate diplomas or PhD take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to be achieved. 

Top-ranked universities

There are several top-ranked universities in Albania that you should consider if you want to study abroad there. Here are some examples of them:

 

1. University of Tirana

Location: Tirana, Saranda

 

Ranked at number one in the country, the University of Tirana is a public university located in Tirana and has a second location in Saranda. It was founded 63 years ago and only accepted 20 to 30 per cent of students, making it a highly selective institution. It has entrance exams to ensure that all applicants meet the requirements to join. However, international students are welcomed and encouraged to apply there. 

 

1. Epoka University

Location: Tirana, Rinas 

 

Epoka University, the second-best university in Albania, is a private institution that is also found in Tirana, with a second albeit smaller branch in Rinas. It is a small university with only an average of 1000 students. It offers many degree programs and courses at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. 

1. University of Shkodra, Luigj Gurakuqi

Location: Shkodër

 

The University of Shkodra, the third-top ranked university in Albania, is a public university located in Shkoder. It is officially recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency of Higher Education. It’s a large university with an average number of 12,000 students enrolled there every year. It has many higher education degrees in many study fields so you’ll have a good number of subjects to choose from. 

 

1. European University of Tirana

Location: Tirana

 

The European University of Tirana is the fourth top-ranked university in Albania. It is a private institution located in Tirana and is a very small university. It has around 1,000 students attending it. It has many degree programs in several fields so you can find a good study program relating to a subject you are passionate about. 

 

1. Polytechnic University of Tirana

Location: Tirana

 

The Polytechnic University of Tirana is a public university located in Tirana and is a big university. It’s a big university with around 15,000 students attending the university. There are many degree programs available there, from bachelor’s to master degrees to doctorates, in several fields of study.  

 

Examples of other universities

Other good universities in Albania to look into are the University College Bedër, the Agricultural University of Tirana and the Polis University. If you are interested in studying in Albania, these universities are well ranked and with many degree subjects available for international students.

Student Visa - Albania

For most countries in the world, you will not need a study visa to study in Albania. However, it’s best to check with your embassy to see if you will need one to study there or not. The application process to receive an Albanian study visa is a simple process. Read on to learn more about how to apply for it and what the requirements are.

Visa Steps 

There are several easy steps to follow in order to apply for an Albanian visa: 

• Complete the application form with the correct information
• Directly submit these forms to the Immigration Department, a minimum of 3 months prior to the course start date.  
• Forms are then examined by the Ministry of Education in Albania and then by the university you have been accepted to. 

Visa Eligibility

In order to be accepted for the Albanian study visa, you must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• They must hand in a letter of acceptance from the university saying that they’ve been accepted to the program. 
• They should prove that they have enough money to pay for their expenses, including tuition, during the time of their studies. 
• They must show proof that they have paid for their course fully. 
• They need to show that they have medical insurance, with evidence of this. 
• There must be proof that they will return to their country when they are done studying their program.

Required Documents 

The documents required that you need to hand in to acquire the Albanian study visa are: 

• Proof of visa authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Birth certificate 
• High school diploma or bachelor’s diploma (or any other academic qualifications). 
• Medical certificate that proves that you are in a good medical condition, with no contagious diseases
• Police certificate proving good contact that was issued no more than half a year ago. 

How to apply - Albania

How to Apply

If you want to apply to study in Albania, there are some steps you’ll need to follow. You’ll need to apply directly to the university of your choice, as there’s no centralized platform where you can apply. You’ll fill in the application form and submit it to the university you’re applying to, whether through an online means or through the post, with the needed documents. Read on to learn more. 

Required Documents 

When it comes to undergraduate studies, such as bachelor’s degrees, the required documents are: 

• Maturity Certificate, acquired from the Albanian Entrance Exam
• High school diploma and transcripts 
• English proficiency certificates such as TOEFL or IELTS
• SAT Exam results, as some universities need to consider them 
• Copy of passport or another identification document
• Two passport size photos 
• At least two references letters 

 

For graduate studies like master’s degrees or doctorate degrees, you’ll need to submit:

• Undergraduate or graduate diplomas or equivalent documents
• English proficiency certificates such as TOEFL or IELTS
• CV or resume with the following information: personal information, brief educational background, professional experience, extra-curricular, skills, awards received, publications (if applicable), and references
• At least two reference letters
• Copy of passport or another identification document
• Two passport size photos 
• For doctorate degrees, research proposals in the field in which you want to prepare the thesis 

 

It’s important to note that all documents need to be translated into Albanian before submitting. 

Entrance Exams

In order to be admitted to Albanian higher education, you’ll need to hand in the Maturity Certificate, which is a certificate that you receive after you pass the Matura exam. To be admitted to universities in Albania, you’ll need to pass the Literature and Math sections. You’ll also need to select two more electives from ten different ones to choose from.

Scholarship in Albania

Many international students are interested in having a scholarship when going to study abroad in Albania and there are many options for scholarships available to them. Read on to learn more about them. 

 Metropolitan University of Tirana Bachelor Scholarships

The Metropolitan University of Tirana (UMT) Bachelor scholarships offer scholarships from 50 to 100 per cent for bachelor students. These scholarships are in the field of engineering, architecture, and economics.

Epoka University Bachelor / Integrated Study and Master Study Program Scholarship

Epoka University offers bachelor’s and master’s scholarships to students. They offer half to full scholarships for Bachelor’s degree students and from 10 to 40 per cent scholarships for master’s students.

University College Bedër Scholarships

The University College Bedër offers scholarships for both Albanian and international students. Scholarships are provided for students with excellent grades and other merit-based scholarships. The scholarships are offered to bachelor’s students and have a value of 10 to 100 per cent of tuition fees, depending on the scholarship that they qualify for. 

Tirana Business University Scholarship

Finally, the Tirana Business University Scholarship is offered to students in business-related fields. They offer these awards to local or international students both on the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, with a significant tuition fee reduction so they’re worth looking into.