Study and find schools in North Macedonia

Studying in North Macedonia

North Macedonia (officially the Republic of North Macedonia) is a small, landlocked country in the central Balkans, bordered by Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. The 2021 census counted 1,836,713 residents, according to the State Statistical Office. Macedonian is the main language of teaching, and Albanian is also used in higher education, especially in the north-west of the country around Tetovo.

The higher-education sector is compact. The State Statistical Office counts 52,316 students enrolled at higher schools and faculties in the 2023-24 academic year. The national ENIC-NARIC information centre lists six public universities, one private-public non-profit university and a group of private universities and professional schools. For international students the country offers European-style degrees with ECTS credits, comparatively low tuition at private universities and access to Erasmus+ exchanges.

The education system

Primary and secondary education end with the state matura (state leaving exam), which gives access to higher education. Higher education follows the three Bologna cycles and the levels of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework:

• Short-cycle studies: one or two years, 60 or 120 ECTS credits
• First cycle (bachelor's degree): three years and 180 ECTS credits, or four years and 240 ECTS credits
• Professional specialist studies: one year, 60 ECTS credits
• Second cycle (master's degree): one or two years, 60 or 120 ECTS credits
• Third cycle (doctorate): at least three years and 180 ECTS credits

Every higher education institution must hold institutional accreditation and may only offer accredited study programmes; accreditation is handled by the Higher Education Accreditation and Evaluation Board. Graduates receive a diploma with a Diploma Supplement, which is issued in Macedonian and in English. Programmes at public institutions are financed from the national budget, while private institutions are financed by their founders.

Admission and recognition

Admission is decided by each institution. Universities publish a public call for enrolment (a "call for student enrollment" at SEEU), and candidates need a completed secondary education with the state matura or an international leaving exam. Applicants with a school-leaving certificate from abroad are admitted on the basis of their secondary-school results. At South East European University (SEEU), students with a foreign diploma must have it verified by the Ministry of Education and Science during their first year, with help from the university's student services. The application fee at SEEU is 1,500 MKD (25 euros).

Language requirements depend on the programme. Most degrees are taught in Macedonian or Albanian; for programmes taught in English, SEEU asks for CEFR level B1 or an equivalent result in its own English test. Recognition of foreign qualifications in North Macedonia is handled by the Ministry of Education and Science, whose procedures are published on its e-services portal.

Student visa and residence

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade publishes a country-by-country list. Short stays of up to 90 days use a 'C' visa, for which applicants must show, among other things, travel insurance and sufficient funds for the stay.

Degree students stay longer and need temporary residence. Study and participation in international student exchange programmes are both grounds for temporary residence. According to the ministry, the long-stay 'D' visa is applied for after the Ministry of Interior has issued a decision granting temporary residence, and a foreigner may only stay for the purpose for which residence was granted. Check the requirements with the embassy or consulate of North Macedonia that covers your country before you travel (information checked on 7 October 2026).

Costs

There is no single national fee scale published for international students, so check the fees with each university. At SEEU, the annual tuition fee for students starting in 2026-27 ranges from 1,500 euros (for example Contemporary Social Sciences, or Languages, Culture and Communication) to 1,800 euros (Law, Health Sciences) and 2,400 euros (Business and Economics, Contemporary Sciences and Technologies, Technical Sciences). SEEU's merit-based scholarships are reserved for citizens of North Macedonia. No official figure for student living costs was found, so budget for rent, food and transport separately.

Where to study

Skopje, the capital, is the main university city. The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM) reports 26,547 students and 242 first-cycle, 313 second-cycle and 99 third-cycle study programmes. Its website lists study programmes in English, summer and winter schools, and a programme of Macedonian for foreign students. SEEU also has a second site in Skopje.

Tetovo, in the north-west, is home to SEEU, which opened its campus in October 2001 after an initiative to support higher education in the Albanian language. SEEU has seven faculties, from Law and Business and Economics to Health Sciences, and more than 80 study programmes, several of them in English. The public University of Tetova is also based in the city.

Other public universities are found in Bitola (St. Clement of Ohrid University), Shtip (Goce Delchev University) and Ohrid (University of Information Science and Technology St. Paul the Apostle).

Practical life

North Macedonia is associated to the EU's Erasmus+ programme, so students at European partner universities can spend a semester there on exchange; both UKIM and SEEU run Erasmus+ mobility. Learning some Macedonian or Albanian helps with daily life outside the university, and UKIM's Macedonian courses for foreigners are a useful start. Bring health insurance that covers your stay and keep the documents for your residence permit up to date, because temporary residence is tied to the purpose for which it was granted.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in North Macedonia?

Yes, at some universities. SEEU offers study programmes in English with a minimum English level of B1, and UKIM lists study programmes in English on its website.

How much does a university degree cost in North Macedonia?

Fees are set by each university. At SEEU the annual tuition fee for 2026-27 ranges from 1,500 to 2,400 euros, depending on the faculty.

Do I need a visa to study in North Macedonia?

It depends on your nationality. For a full degree you need temporary residence for study; the long-stay 'D' visa is issued after the Ministry of Interior approves temporary residence.

Are degrees from North Macedonia used outside the country?

Degrees use ECTS credits and come with a Diploma Supplement in Macedonian and English, which helps recognition abroad. Recognition is decided by the authorities of the country where you want to use the degree.

How many students are there in North Macedonia?

According to the State Statistical Office, 52,316 students were enrolled at higher schools and faculties in 2023-24.