Study and find schools in Armenia

Studying in Armenia

Armenia is a small, mountainous country in the South Caucasus whose higher education is concentrated in its capital, Yerevan. According to the country's ENIC-NARIC centre, Armenia has 50 higher education institutions, public, private and international, with about 76,400 students. Armenian is the main language of teaching at state universities, but several institutions teach in Russian, English or French, which makes the country more accessible to foreign students than its size suggests.

All seven schools in our directory are in Yerevan: six universities and one online college. They range from Yerevan State University, founded in 1919, to internationally linked universities such as the American University of Armenia (AUA), the French University in Armenia (UFAR) and the Russian-Armenian University (RAU).

The education system

Armenia follows the Bologna three-cycle structure of the European Higher Education Area:

• Bachelor's degree: 180 to 240 ECTS credits, over three to four years of full-time study
• Master's degree: at least 60 ECTS credits
• Doctorate (PhD): typically three years and 180 ECTS credits, with a public dissertation defence
• Medicine and dentistry: integrated programmes of five to six years (300 to 360 ECTS)

Higher education is offered by universities, institutes, academies and conservatories. Below that level, colleges and specialised vocational institutions award Junior Specialist and Specialist qualifications. Since 2008 the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance (ANQA), set up by the government, has been in charge of accreditation. All institutions must be accredited to be recognised, and only qualifications from licensed and accredited institutions count as officially recognised for further study and employment.

Examples from our directory show the variety. Yerevan State University (YSU), founded in 1919, has 14,333 students. Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) teaches in Armenian, Russian and English. AUA teaches all its courses in English. RAU is an interstate university with a Russian-language sector and also runs courses of Russian as a foreign language. The AGBU Armenian Virtual College offers online courses in Armenian Studies in eight languages of instruction.

Admission and recognition

Armenian school-leavers enter university through the Unified State Examinations. Foreign applicants to bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes at state universities apply through the national online platform fs.emis.am. At YSU, for example, applications open on 1 June each year; undergraduate study requires fluency in Armenian and passing the faculty's entrance exams, although some specialities can be taught in English. YSU also runs a preparatory department where foreign students learn Armenian before starting their degree.

YSMU accepted applications from foreign citizens for the 2026-27 academic year through fs.emis.am from 22 June to 30 September 2026, followed by entrance exams in two of physics, chemistry and biology. Private and international universities such as AUA and UFAR run their own admission procedures and language requirements.

Armenia ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention in 2005. Its national information centre, ArmENIC, evaluates foreign qualifications, and universities decide on recognition for admission. If you plan to use an Armenian degree back home, check your own country's recognition procedure and make sure the institution is accredited.

Visa and residence

Citizens of Spain and most EU countries are exempt from visas and may stay up to 180 days per year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (checked October 2026). In Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay have visa-free agreements with Armenia for all passports; other nationals usually need a visa, available as an e-visa at evisa.mfa.am. Armenian visas are issued for up to 120 days and can be extended by 60 days.

For a full degree, students need a temporary resident card, which is issued to foreign citizens who study in Armenia. It is valid for up to one year and can be extended. According to the ministry, the fee is 105,000 AMD, the documents include a medical certificate, and processing takes up to 30 days.

Costs

Tuition varies widely between institutions and is set in Armenian drams (AMD). Some examples for international students:

• YSMU: 2,600,000 AMD per year for General Medicine taught in English; the annual fee stays the same for the whole programme
• AUA study abroad: 2,700,000 AMD per full-time semester (2027 fees), plus 50,000 AMD per semester for medical insurance
• UFAR: 1,050,000 AMD for the first year of its law, management, finance and marketing bachelor's programmes (2026-27)

AUA offers international students merit-based scholarships of up to 50% of tuition. YSMU requires students to take out medical insurance every year.

Where to study

Yerevan is where all the schools in our directory are located, and it hosts most of the country's universities. Students can choose between Armenian-language state universities, the English-taught AUA (including semester and summer programmes of five to eight weeks), French- and Russian-linked universities, and medical study at YSMU. Main subjects in our directory include law, economics, mathematics, international relations and information technology.

Culture and practical life

Armenian is the national language and has its own alphabet; Russian is widely used in higher education, as RAU shows. Students at YSU can apply for a place in its dormitory, renovated in 2019, while AUA has its own student residence. Winters are cold and summers hot and dry, so plan clothing for both. Health insurance is required at several universities, and the residence card application asks for a medical certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Armenia in English?

Yes, at some institutions. The American University of Armenia teaches all courses in English, and Yerevan State Medical University teaches medicine in Armenian, Russian and English. At Yerevan State University, undergraduate study normally requires Armenian.

Do I need a visa to study in Armenia?

Spanish and most EU citizens can enter without a visa for up to 180 days per year, as can citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay. For a full degree you need a temporary resident card for study, which costs 105,000 AMD.

Are Armenian degrees recognised in Europe?

Armenia follows the Bologna structure with ECTS credits and has ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Only degrees from licensed and accredited institutions are officially recognised, so check the institution's accreditation.

How do foreign students apply to Armenian universities?

State universities admit foreign citizens through the national platform fs.emis.am, usually from June. Private and international universities such as AUA use their own application systems.

How much does it cost to study medicine in Armenia?

At Yerevan State Medical University, General Medicine taught in English costs 2,600,000 AMD per year, and the fee stays the same for the six years of the programme.