Albania provides a unique opportunity for scholars interested in connecting with students and academics from a rapidly developing country in Europe. In the heart of the Mediterranean on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania is a beautiful country with a varied climate and topography. It is quickly becoming a popular travel destination. Albania enjoys friendly and cooperative bilateral relations with the United States. Pro-American sentiment is widespread among the population.
Still relatively unspoiled by globalization, Albania offers an inspiring mixture of civilizations and cultures. Scholars are amazed by the ancient history of Albania, the rich cultural tradition and the harmony and respect shared among the adherents of the country’s three major religions: Islam, Roman Catholicism, and Orthodox Christianity.
Albania has a young population eager to learn and study. The educational system has experienced constant change and improvement in the last twenty years to reflect global developments in education and to meet the changing needs of the population. In 2015, a group of educational experts, representatives of private and public universities and with input from other stakeholders drafted a new law on higher education. The approved law came into effect systematically during the 2016-2017 academic year as the bylaws were developed and approved. For the first time, all Albanian universities went through an institutional accreditation process led by the British Accreditation Agency successfully concluded in December 2017. For a full list of accredited public universities click Here. For a full list of accredited private universities click here.
There are 15 public universities and over 25 private universities in Albania. The Albanian higher education system is part of the Bologna Agreement and operates on a 3+2+3 scheme (3-year undergraduate degree, 2-year graduate degree - usually referred to as a Scientific Master’s Degree, and 3-year doctoral program). For more information visit The European Higher Education Area and read about the Bologna Bachelor's Degree. Both public and private universities have partnerships with European universities and exchange programs are largely funded through EU Erasmus programs.
The living conditions and infrastructure in Albania are good, particularly in cities. However, rural areas are still developing and infrastructure, especially roads, can be poor. Monthly housing costs vary between $600 and $800, depending on location and size. An international English language school (K-12) is located in Tirana. Instruction in English language is extremely limited outside of Tirana.
Computer facilities and hardware are now available but at a higher cost than in the United States. Internet access is widely available at home and in Internet cafes in urban areas. Rural areas have more limited access to the Internet but many people connect via smartphones.
Applications in all fields are welcome, but preference is given to those related to Journalism, Gender Studies, Education, Public Administration, and Law.
For further information contact Deputy Public Affairs Officer Lucija Straley StraleyLB@state.gov and Educational and Cultural Assistant Mirela Cupi cupim@state.gov, or visit the U.S. Embassy website.
