Located on King Zog I Avenue in the heart of Tirana,the young University of Albania has established a pivotal role in the field of higher education in Southeast Europe through its dynamic and pragmatic approach to education. Since its founding, the universityhas attracted a growing number of students from both Albania and abroad with its practice-oriented curriculum and proactive exploration of international collaboration.
A Young and Visionary Founding Journey
The history of the University of Albania dates back to April 2004, when the institution officially received its operating license following approval by the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science and the Council of Ministers. That fall, the first cohort of approximately 100 students enrolled, with only the dentistry program offered. Originally named UFO Dental, the institution was renamed UFO University in 2009 and finally adopted the name University of Albania in 2010. Although it started on a small scale, the university grew rapidly. An employment-guaranteed Albanian University Degree
The following year, the university expanded its undergraduate offerings to include Pharmacy, Architecture, Law, and Political Science, and the student body rapidly grew from just over 100 in its inaugural class to approximately 2,000. By the fourth academic year, all 94 graduates from the first class of the Dental Medicine program and all 26 graduates from the Political Science and Public Administration program had secured employment,and this 100% graduate employment rate quickly enhanced the university’s reputation in the job market. Today, the University of Albania has an enrollment of 10,000 to 14,999 students, with branch campuses in Berat and Fier, and has become one of the largest private universities in Albania .
Academic Structure and Degree Programs
Based on its four core colleges, the University of Albania has established a comprehensive academic system covering fields such as medicine, social sciences, applied sciences and economics, as well as architecture and engineering.The main departments and degree levels within each college are shown in the table below:
| School Name | Bachelor’s Degree Programs | Master’s Degree Programs | Doctoral Degree Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Medicine | Nursing, Physical Therapy | Dentistry, Pharmacy, Surgical Nursing, Manual Therapy | Dentistry, Pharmacy |
| Faculty of Social Sciences | Law, Political Science and Public Administration, Psychology, Preschool Education, Primary Education, English | Private Law, Criminal Law, Public and EU Policy | Clinical Psychology, International Relations and Diplomacy |
| School of Applied Sciences and Economics | Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Design, Finance and Banking, Business Administration | Business Administration, Public Administration | Finance, Public Administration |
| Faculty of Architecture and Engineering | Architecture, Engineering | Architecture, Engineering | Architecture, Engineering |
Partial data source:
Proactive Expansion of International Cooperation
In early 2025, the University of Albania signed a cooperation agreement with Dumlupinar University in Çukurova, Turkey. The two institutions will jointly promote collaborative research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and dual-degree programs, while sharing research center and laboratory resources. In addition, the Ministry of Education and the Agency for the Financing of Higher Education have included 125 outstanding students from the University of Albania majoring in agriculture and medicine in the National Key Major Funding Program, providing them with full tuition waivers and a monthly living allowance of 50,000 lek .
Multi-tiered Scholarships and Financial Aid
The University of Albania maintains an admission rate of approximately 40% to 49%, classifying it as a moderately selective institution,and places greater emphasis on applicants’ academic performance and prior academic records during the admissions process. The university has established its own Excellence Scholarship Program and an annual mid-term scholarship, the latter of which offers 50% or 30% tuition waivers to high-achieving students for the following year .
Additionally, students may apply for national financial aid after completing their first year of study, receiving scholarships equivalent to the minimum monthly basic wage based on their GPA . Some students may also qualify for orphan grants, special scholarships for police dependents, educational support for the Romani community, and stipends for students with disabilities.
