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INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
Universitet (University)
Akademi (Academy)
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Deftese Pjekurie
Diplomė
Diplomė e Studimeve te Thelluara pasuniversitare
Doktor i Shkencave
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Basic First Stage
Type of school providing this education:
Cikėl
i Ulėt (Elementary)
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 6 to: 10
Basic Second Stage
Type of school providing this education:
Cikėl
i Lartė (Primary)
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 10 to: 14
Certificate/diploma awarded: Dėftesė Lirimi (Leaving Certificate)
General Secondary
Type of school providing this education:
Shkollė
e Mesme e Pėrgjithshme (High School)
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 14 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Dėftesė Pjekurie (Maturity
Certificate)
Prevocational
Type of school providing this education:
Shkollė
Professionale (Vocational School)
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 14 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Dėftesė e pėrfundimit dhe
Ēertifikatė e aftėsive profesionale pėr punėtor tė kualifikuar (Certificate and
certificate of vocational abilities)
Vocational
Type of school providing this education:
Shkollė
Teknike (High Technical School)
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 14 to: 19
Certificate/diploma awarded: Dėftesė e
pėrfundimit dhe Ēetifikatė e aftėsive profesionale pėr punėtor tė kualifikuar
School education:
Basic education lasts for eight years, divided into
two cycles of four years each and leads to the Dėftesė Lirimi (Leaving
Certificate). Secondary education consists of the ninth through twelfth grades,
which are taught in the shkollė e mesme (high school). The Dėftesė Pjekurie
(Maturity Certificate) is awarded at the end. Access to higher education
requires the passing of an entrance examination. Admission to high school
requires a Dėftesė Lirimi (Leaving Certificate) from a shkollė 8-vjecare
(eight-year school).
Higher education:
The higher education system in Albania consists of
eight universities, two academies and six non public higher schools.
Main laws/decrees governing higher
education:
Decree: Decision of the Council of
Ministers no 156 Year: 2001
Concerns: Post-university qualifications and qualifications for
research and teaching personnel
Decree: Law on Education Year: 1995
Concerns: Pre-university level
Decree: Law on Higher Education no
8461 Year: 1999
Concerns: University, non-university
and post-university schools
Academic year:
Classes from: Oct to: Jun
Languages of instruction: Albanian
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level:
University level studies:
University level first stage: Diplomė
(Bachelor):
The
first stage of higher education usually
takes 6 to 12 semesters (3 to 6 years) (6 semesters for most disciplines, 12
semesters in Medicine). A Titull (title) is conferred.
University level second stage: Diplomė e
Studimeve te Thelluara pasuniversitare (Master):
Postgraduate
studies lasting 2 - 4 semesters after
completion of the first stage of higher education lead to the Diplomė e
Studimeve te Thelluara pasuniversitare degree (Master). Students must prepare a
thesis.
University level third stage: Doktor I
Shkencave (Doctor of Sciences):
Studies lasting for 6 to 10 semesters after the Master
consist in individual study and research (while working). The title of Doktor I
Shkencave is conferred. Admission prerequisites include research and scientific
activities and publications. The candidate, under the supervision of a
scientific researcher, must prepare and defend a dissertation thesis. There is
a grading system.
Teacher education:
Training of pre-primary and
primary/basic school teachers
Teachers
for the ēerdhe dhe kopesht fėmijėsh (nursery) and kopesht fėmijėsh
(kindergarten) are trained in 6 semesters at the Shkollė e Mesme Pedagogjike
(pedagogical high school). On graduation they obtain an Edukatore per Ēerdhe
dhe Kopesht Femijesh Diploma (kindergarten-governess diploma). Teachers for the
lower cycle of the eight-year school are trained in 6 semesters at a higher
education institution. They obtain a Mesues te Ciklit Parashkollor Diploma.
Teachers for the upper cycle are trained in eight semesters in an academic area
and follow education courses and practical training. They obtain the Mesues per
Ciklin e Ulet Diploma.
Training of secondary school teachers
Teachers
for high school are trained in 8 semesters
in an academic field and follow education courses and practical
training. They obtain the Mesues per Shkollat e Mesme Diploma.
Training of higher education teachers
Certification of teachers depends on their first and
second degrees, post-university studies and the defence of a dissertation or
doctoral thesis. The rank of professor requires the degree of Doctor of
Sciences and a background of extensive research, teaching and publishing. A
docent is an experienced researcher and instructor holding the Candidate of
Sciences degree. There are also two types of teaching positions at higher
education institutions that do not require a scientific degree: pedagog and
assistant, who must hold a Diploma with excellent grades.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance higher education
Part-time
distance learning and correspondence courses are offered (university and
post-university level).
Lifelong higher education
Continuing education courses are offered for Diploma
holders who have a good academic background plus at least two years of work
experience in their field. The courses are offered for employment purposes.
They are not academic programmes. Upon completion of these courses, a Dėshmi
(certificate) is issued. It may indicate a grade for the course.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministria e Arsimit dhe e Shkencės (Ministry of
Education and Science)
Head: Genc Pollo, Minister
Administrative officer: Agim Mucaj, Director - Higher Education and
Recognition of Diplomas
Rruga e Durrėsit, 23
Tiranė
Albania
Tel: +355(4) 226307
Fax: +355(4) 232002
EMail: gpollo@mash.gov.al
WWW: http://www.mash.gov.al
Role of governing body: Organizes
the system of higher education and research and is responsible for expenditure
on institutions and specialized institutions.
Albanian Rectors' Conference
c/o Ministry of Education and Science
Rruga e Durrėsit, 23
Tirana
Albania
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher
education studies
Name of secondary school credential
required: Deftese Pjekurie
Minimum score/requirement: Minimum
score of 15 out of 30
For entry to: all
programmes.
Entrance exams required:
Entrance Examination for all programmes.
Numerus clausus/restrictions:
At national level (State Matura)
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential
required: Deftese Pjekurie
Minimum score/requirement: Minimum
score of 25 out of 100
For entry to: all
programmes.
Entrance exams required: Entrance Examination
for all programmes.
Numerus clausus/restrictions: At national
level (State Matura)
Foreign students admission
Admission requirements: Foreign
students must hold a Diploma of Maturity.
Entry regulations: Entrance
requirements depend on the Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of
Education and Science.
Health requirements: Foreign
students can purchase security against accidents. There is no health guarantee
for foreign students.
Language requirements: Students
must sit for the Albanian Language Examination at the Faculty of Languages and
Literature.
Application procedures:
Apply to national body for entry to: All
institutions
Application closing dates:
For non-university level
(technical/vocational type) studies: Aug
For university level studies: Aug
Recognition of studies &
qualifications:
Studies pursued in home country (System
of recognition/accreditation): Diplomas and Certificates conferred by higher
education institutions are accredited by the Albanian State if they are
recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science (Higher Education
Accreditation Agency and Council of Accreditation).
Studies pursued in foreign countries
(bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Higher Educatio and Recognition of Diplomas Department,
Ministry of Education and Science
Head: Agim Mucaj, Director of Higher Education
Rruga e Durrėsit, 23
Tiranė
Albania
Tel: +355(4) 222260
Fax: +355(4) 232002
EMail: amuca@mash.gov.al
WWW: http://www.mash.gov.al
STUDENT LIFE
Student expenses and financial aid
Student costs:
Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 12000 (Lek)
Publications on student services and
financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad 2005-2006
Author: UNESCO
Year of publication: 2005
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible
for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
Foreign Relations Department, Ministry of Education
and Science
Head: Gavrosh Muzaka, Director
Rruga e Durrėsit, 23
Tiranė
Albania
Tel: +355(4) 227975
Fax: +355(4) 227975
EMail: gmuzaka@mash.gov.al
WWW: http://www.mash.gov.al
Participation of country in multilateral
or bilateral higher education programmes
Name of exchange programme: TEMPUS
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: 10-dhjetė:
excellent; 9-nėntė: very good; 8-tetė: good; 7-shtatė: average; 6-gjashtė:
satisfactory; 5-pesė: lowest passing grade; 4-katėr; 3-tre, tri; 2-dy; 1-njė.
Highest on scale: 10
Pass/fail level: 5/4
Lowest on scale: 1
Main grading system used by higher
education institutions
Full Description: 10-dhjetė:
excellent; 9-nėntė: very good; 8-tetė: good; 7-shtatė: average; 6-gjashtė:
satisfactory; 5-pesė: lowest passing grade; 4-katėr; 3-tre, tri; 2-dy; 1-njė.
Highest on scale: 10
Pass/fail level: 5/4
Lowest on scale: 1
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2005-2006
Source: IAU from Ministry of Education and Science, Directorate of Higher Education, Tiranė, 2006
