Universities in North Macedonia

Universities in North Macedonia are small by European standards but organised along European lines, with the three Bologna cycles and ECTS credits. According to the State Statistical Office, 52,316 students were enrolled at higher schools and faculties in 2023-24. The national ENIC-NARIC information centre lists six public universities, one private-public non-profit university and a group of private universities and higher professional schools.

Teaching is mainly in Macedonian, and Albanian is also used in higher education, especially around Tetovo in the north-west. A growing number of programmes are taught in English. For international students, the country offers European-style degrees, comparatively modest fees and access to Erasmus+ exchanges.

How university studies work

Degrees follow the levels of the Macedonian Qualifications Framework, as described by ENIC-NARIC:

• 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, offer only accredited study programmes and have a working permission from the Minister of Education and Science. Accreditation is carried out by the Higher Education Accreditation and Evaluation Board. Programmes at public institutions are financed from the national budget, while private institutions are financed by their founders. Graduates receive a Diploma Supplement in Macedonian and English, and also in a minority language when the programme was taught in it.

Admission

Each institution admits its own students through a public announcement, often called the call for student enrolment. Candidates need a completed secondary education with the state leaving exam (state matura) or an international leaving exam. At South East European University (SEEU), applicants who finished secondary school outside North Macedonia are admitted on the basis of their high-school results alone, and must have their diploma verified by the Ministry of Education and Science during their first year, with help from the university's student services. SEEU's application fee is 1,500 MKD (25 euros).

Language requirements depend on the programme. For programmes taught in English, SEEU asks for level B1 of the CEFR or an equivalent result in its own English test; its master's programmes are offered in Albanian, Macedonian or English. Procedures for the recognition of foreign qualifications are published on the ministry's e-services portal.

Visa and residence

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Students who stay for a full degree need temporary residence, and study and participation in international student exchange programmes are both grounds for it. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the long-stay 'D' visa is applied for after the Ministry of Interior has issued a decision granting temporary residence. Check the requirements with the embassy or consulate that covers your country (information checked on 7 October 2026).

Costs and funding

There is no single national fee scale for international students, so fees must be checked with each university. At SEEU, the annual tuition fee for students starting in 2026-27 is 1,500 euros for Contemporary Social Sciences and for Languages, Culture and Communication, 1,800 euros for Law and Health Sciences, and 2,400 euros for Business and Economics, Contemporary Sciences and Technologies and Technical Sciences. SEEU's merit-based scholarships are reserved for citizens of North Macedonia. Students from partner universities in Europe can come on Erasmus+, since North Macedonia is a third country associated to the programme.

Universities listed on SpainExchange

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM), in the capital, reports 26,547 students and 2,088 academic and research staff, with 242 first-cycle, 313 second-cycle and 99 third-cycle study programmes. Its website lists study programmes in English, summer and winter schools and courses of Macedonian for foreign students.

South East European University opened its campus in Tetovo in October 2001, after a law allowed universities not related to the state and supported higher education in Albanian. ENIC-NARIC lists it as a private-public non-profit university. It has seven faculties, from Law and Business and Economics to Health Sciences and Technical Sciences, and offers more than 80 study programmes. It also has a centre in Skopje and student dormitories.

How to choose a university

• Language of instruction: Macedonian, Albanian or English, and whether part of the teaching is in a second language
• Accreditation: check that the programme is accredited, since the ministry only verifies diplomas from accredited programmes
• Degree length: three-year (180 ECTS) and four-year (240 ECTS) bachelor's degrees lead to different master's options
• Fees and funding: compare tuition, and check whether scholarships are open to foreign citizens
• Location and housing: Skopje is the capital and main university city; Tetovo is smaller and has a campus with dormitories

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in North Macedonia?

Yes, in some programmes. SEEU offers programmes in English with a minimum 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.

How long is a bachelor's degree in North Macedonia?

Three years with 180 ECTS credits, or four years with 240 ECTS credits. A master's degree then takes one or two years.

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 it.