INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Univerzitet (University)

College

Pedagogical Academy

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Svidetelstvo za polo en maturski ispit

Diplomiran

Specijalizacija

Magister

Doktor na Nauki

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 7

Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Elementary

Type of school providing this education: Elementary school

Length of program in years: 8

Age level from: 7 to: 15

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificate for Completed Elementary Education/Svidetelstvo za zavreno osnovno obrazovanie

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Gimnazija

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Leaving Certificate/Svidetelstvo za zavreno sredno obrazovanie; International Baccalaureate Josip Broz Tito Gymnasium, Skopje), 2 yrs after 2nd grade of secondary education

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Technical School/Tehnicki Ucilište

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Leaving Certificate/Svidetelstvo za zavreno sredno tehniko obrazovanie

Specialized Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Art/Music/Ballet  Secondary School

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Leaving Certificate/Svidetelstvo za zavreno sredno umetni-ko/muzi-ko/baletsko obrazovanie

Vocational Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Vocational School/Ucilište Za Zanimanja

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary Vocational School Leaving Certificate/Svidetelstvo za zavreno sredno obrazovanie za zanimaweto

School education:

Elementary education lasts for eight years leading to the Certificate for Completed Elementary Education. Secondary school education is provided by high schools, technical and other vocational schools, and art secondary schools. In the second half of the fourth year, pupils must write a project (Maturska Tema) and defend it and pass a written examination in their mother tongue and literature and an oral examination in a given subject of the curriculum. The technical and other vocational schools train  for technical and other professions. The final examination in vocational education (four-year and three-year courses) consists in the elaboration of a theme or practical examination and a written examination in the mother tongue and literature. The Certificates of the technical schools give access to the entrance examinations at the relevant faculties and colleges. The certificate of vocational schools gives access to the entrance examinations at the relevant faculties and colleges after passing the different examinations.The Schools of Arts/Music/Ballet offer a four-year course. Students enter these schools by taking an entrance examination. At the end of their studies, they take a final examination and can enrol in universities. The International Baccalaureate gives access to the entrance examinations to all faculties and colleges.

Higher education:

Higher education is provided by colleges and pedagogical academies offering two-year courses, as well as by two universities which offer four to six-year courses in a range of disciplines. Upon successful completion of higher education courses at university faculties/institutes, students are awarded a Diploma with professional title e.g. Engineer, Lawyer, Teacher, at the lower (college) level; Graduate Engineer, Graduate Lawyer, Graduate Teacher at the higher (faculty/institute) level. The duration of studies leading to higher level diplomas depends on the type of faculty. The financing mechanisms of higher education are under revision. The Law on Higher Education of 1997 stipulates that five-year programmes will be introduced in universities and higher education institutions. Reforms have begun to bring Macedonian higher education in line with Western European and international standards. In compliance with the Law on Higher Education 2000 the language of instruction in the state pedagogical institutions for primary school teachers and teachers for secondary schools may be the minority languages. In that case, Macedonian will be taught as a separate subject and teaching will be carried out in Macedonian for at least another two teaching subjects.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 2000

Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 1997

Decree: Law on the University Year: 1994

Concerns: Universities

Academic year:

Classes from: Oct to: Sep

Languages of instruction: Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

College studies last two years and offer training at a semi-academic level in certain fields of the Economy and other services.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bachelor/Diplomiran:

The first-level degree of university study is obtained on completion of a four- to six-year course in one of the two universities. The exact duration of studies leading to higher level diplomas depends on the type of faculty. For instance: Faculty of Medicine, 6 years of study (in Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry); Technological/Metallurgical Faculty - 5 years of study; Faculty of Law - 4 years of study. Each graduate student can specialize in relevant professional fields - e.g. Surgery, Obstetrics, Engineering. Such specialization requires one to five years of practical training.

University level second stage: Master/Magister po, Specialization/Specijalizacija:

The Magister degree (Master of Science/Master of Arts) is awarded after two years' study followed by research and the writing of a thesis which is defended in public and approved by a mentor. Each graduate student can specialize in relevant professional fields - e.g. Surgery, Obstetrics, Engineering. Such specialization requires one to five years of practical training.

University level third stage: Doctorate/Doktor na nauki:

The title of Doctor of Science is conferred to candidates who have obtained the Master's degree and after an approved period of research and the defence of a doctoral dissertation.

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Primary school teachers are trained at the Pedagogical Faculty. The programme lasts for four years. After a one-year probation period, they must sit for a state professional examination.

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary school teachers are trained in the Pedagogical Faculty and some other faculties in four-year programmes of Linguistics, Languages, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sports, Arts, etc., as well as a set number of pedagogical and psychology subjects. Those who graduate without having studied in these fields must take a special course and an examination. After a probation period they must sit for a state professional examination.

Non-traditional studies:

Other forms of non-formal higher education

The Workers University (Rabutniški Univerzitet) offers a great variety of courses for additional education. It does not award degrees but offers special courses leading to a particular qualification. Higher education institutions offer part-time studies.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Education and Science

Head:  Aziz Pollozhani, Minister

Dimitrie Cupovski 9
1000 Skopje
Macedonia

Tel: +389(2) 311 7277/ 311 7896

Fax: +389(2) 3118 414

EMail: contact@mofk.gov.mk

WWW: http://www.mon.gov.mk

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Svidetelstvo za polo en maturski ispit

Minimum score/requirement: 40 points in secondary school results and 60 points in entrance examination

Alternatives to credentials: International Baccalaureate or special examinations

Entrance exams required: Entrance examination in two subjects depending on the educational programme of the institution (minimum 60 points).

Numerus clausus/restrictions: A numerus clausus is applied when there are more candidates than available places. Quotas reserved for students from the nationalities

Foreign students admission

Admission requirements: Foreign students with grants and scholarships from the Government of the Republic of Macedonia are not required to sit for the entrance examinations except for the Faculties of Architecture, Pedagogy, Physical Education and Art. Foreign students must have completed a four-year secondary school and have passed the final examinations and meet the same enrolment requirements as national students.

Language requirements: A certificate of knowledge of Macedonian is compulsory.

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): The concept of accreditation refers to a process of evaluation and assessment of the quality of an institution or programme that leads to a recognized or accredited status. According to the new Law on Higher Education, a system of accreditation is prescribed for post-secondary institutions. There are procedures and regulations that provide ongoing assessment of the overall quality of an institution in terms of its objectives, processes and outcomes. Accreditation will foster institutional links by increasing the awareness of standard-setting processes and facilitating mobility between institutions at both the national and international levels. The Accreditation Board is also responsible for giving its opinion on the possibility for foreign higher education institutions to pursue activities in Macedonia.

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

ENIC, International Department, Ministry of Education and Science

Head: Nadezda Uzelac, Coordinator

ul. Dimitie Cuposki br. 9
1000 Skopje
Macedonia

Tel: +389(91) 106-523

Fax: +389(91) 118-414

EMail: nimana@yahoo.com;nada@mofk.gov.mk

WWW: http://www.mon.gov.mk

Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University and Profession

Services provided & students dealt with: Evaluation of foreign educational qualifications ( Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees) and information on education systems and recognition

Other information sources on recognition of foreign studies: The two universities also deal with the recognition of foreign higher education degrees.

Special provisions for recognition:

For access to university level studies: Recognition of higher education degrees obtained abroad is based on the Law on Higher Education 2000. Recognition is needed if a person holding a foreign qualification wishes to apply for an official post or appointment or wishes to continue his studies in Macedonia. Comparison can only be made of qualifications which fall within the official qualification structure both in the country of origin and Macedonia. In the statement, it is possible to assess the level of qualification and the content. Recognition of qualifications or studies refers to the accrediting of studies or qualifications taken aborad as part of a qualification to be taken in Macedonia. If the qualification obtained abroad does not correspond to a Macedonian degree in the eyes of the university, the university may reject the application or require that the student sit for supplementary examinations before taking a decision.The qualification taken abroad must have been awarded by a public or private university or a higher education institution which is part of the official system and must have been approved in the country of origin. Private higher education institutions are recognized after the accreditation, according to the right of these institutions to award the relevant diploma only after accreditation.

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab and European States Bordering on the

Year of signature: 1976

Name of agreement: UNESCO Convention on the recognition of qualifications in the Europe region (not ratified)

Year of signature: 1997

Bilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign credentials

Name of agreement: Bulgaria

Name of agreement: Turkey

STUDENT LIFE

National student associations and unions

National Student Union of Macedonia

Pirinska b.b., PO Box 62
91000 Skopje
Macedonia

Tel: +389(91) 367-740

Fax: +389(91) 367-740

EMail: Nsum@ukim.edu.mk

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Macedonian Dinar)

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: Grading is on a five-point scale: 5: Excellent; 4: Very Good; 3: Good; 2: Satisfactory; 1: Unsatisfactory ("Negative Grade").

Highest on scale: 5

Pass/fail level: 2/1

Lowest on scale: 1

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: Marking is on the scale 5-10, with 6 as the minimum passing mark.

Highest on scale: 10

Pass/fail level: 6/5

Lowest on scale: 5

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

There is no private university at present in Macedonia. There is, however, a project for the private Albanian University of Tetovo which will consist of six faculties: Faculty of Arts; Faculty of Philology; Faculty of Philosophy; Faculty of Economy; Faculty of Law; Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Data for academic year: 2001-2002

Source: ENIC, Ministry of Education and Science, Skopje, 2001 (except for governing bodies, updated 2005)