Study and find schools in Albania

Studying in Albania

Albania, on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts of the western Balkans, is a small but growing destination for international students. Albanian is the official language, and public universities such as the University of Tirana present their programmes in Albanian, while some private universities teach in English.

Our directory lists three universities in Albania: two in the capital, Tirana, and one in Elbasan, in the centre of the country.

The education system

Higher education is offered by public and private universities. Public universities are large, multi-faculty institutions. The University of Tirana (Universiteti i Tiranës), for example, has faculties of law, economics, foreign languages, history and philology, natural sciences and social sciences, research institutes, a Confucius Institute and a branch in Sarandë. Aleksandër Xhuvani University in Elbasan offers 97 study programmes, according to its website, and takes part in Erasmus+.

Degrees follow the European three-cycle model: bachelor, master and doctorate. Some programmes, such as law and architecture, are integrated second-level programmes of five years. Quality is overseen by the Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education (ASCAL), which accredits institutions and study programmes and publishes the lists on its website; check that your institution and programme appear there before you enrol.

Private universities often add international links. The University of New York Tirana (UNYT), owned by the Turkish Maarif Foundation, teaches in English in faculties of economy and business, engineering and architecture, and law and social sciences, at bachelor, master and doctoral level. Since 2002 it has run a programme with Empire State University (SUNY Empire) in which students typically study two years in Tirana and then complete an American bachelor's degree with SUNY Empire.

Admission and recognition

Albanian universities admit students in application rounds before the academic year, which starts in the autumn; Aleksandër Xhuvani University, for example, published its second-round applicant lists in September 2026. For international applicants, the key step is the recognition of your school-leaving diploma by the Albanian Ministry of Education. At UNYT, for instance, international bachelor's applicants need:

• a secondary-school diploma and transcript, with a minimum average of 6.50 out of 10 after recognition (7.50 for psychology)
• proof that you passed national exams equivalent to the Albanian State Matura
• English at level B1 (unless you studied at an English-medium school)
• original documents with an apostille or legalised by an Albanian embassy; translation into Albanian is done after arrival

Official registration follows once the Ministry of Education has approved the recognition of the diploma. UNYT asks for a non-refundable deposit of €800, deducted from tuition, before it issues the acceptance letter needed for a student visa. If you plan to use an Albanian degree in Spain or Latin America, check your own country's recognition procedure too.

Visas and residence

According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (advice valid on 7 October 2026), Spanish citizens can enter Albania with a passport or national identity card and need no visa for tourist stays of less than three months. Any other activity, including study, requires a visa arranged in advance through the Albanian embassy. If you plan to live in Albania, apply for residence within the first 30 days of your stay and bring an apostilled criminal record certificate from your home country; fines for overstaying are high. Citizens of other countries should check the requirements with the Albanian embassy where they live.

Costs

The currency is the Albanian lek (ALL), and euros are easy to change at authorised exchange offices. Private university fees are published by each university. At UNYT, for example, local three-year bachelor's degrees cost €4,200 to €5,000 per year, American four-year bachelor's degrees €7,200 per year, two-year master's programmes €8,000 to €9,000 in total and a one-year English preparatory course €2,500. Fees at public universities are set by each university; ask its international office. As a reference for living costs, Albania's statistics institute INSTAT reports that average monthly household consumption in 2025 was 95,227 lekë for a household of 3.1 people.

Where to study

• Tirana, the capital, is home to the University of Tirana and the University of New York Tirana. Public bus transport in the capital works well, according to the Spanish ministry
• Elbasan, in central Albania, is home to Aleksandër Xhuvani University, with faculties of technical medical sciences, business and law, natural sciences and human sciences

Culture and practical life

• Safety: Albania is generally a safe country, although thefts occur in tourist areas. It lies in a seismic zone, and floods can occur in winter, especially in the north
• Health: there is no health agreement between Spain and Albania, and the European Health Insurance Card is not valid, so take out full private health insurance. Treatment of serious illnesses in Albania is not recommended; drink bottled water
• Laws: the legal alcohol limit for drivers is zero, and possessing even small amounts of drugs can lead to prison. Court cases can take months, during which you may not leave the country
• Documents: do not travel with an identity card that you once reported lost or stolen; the Albanian authorities refuse entry with such documents

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Albania?

Yes, at some private universities. The University of New York Tirana, for example, teaches in English and requires English at level B1 for admission. At public universities, check the language of each programme; their websites and programmes are mainly in Albanian.

How much does it cost to study in Albania?

Fees vary by university. At UNYT, local bachelor's degrees cost €4,200 to €5,000 per year and American bachelor's degrees €7,200 per year; master's programmes cost €8,000 to €9,000 in total.

Do I need a visa to study in Albania?

Spanish citizens need no visa for tourist stays of under three months, but study requires a visa arranged through the Albanian embassy, and residence must be requested within 30 days of arrival. Other nationalities should check with the Albanian embassy in their country.

How is a foreign school diploma recognised in Albania?

Your secondary-school diploma must be apostilled or legalised and is then recognised by the Albanian Ministry of Education; universities complete your registration once the recognition is approved.