In Southeastern Europe’s Balkan region, you can find Albania, a small country known for archaeological sites, cultural heritage, and natural landscapes. The country has UNESCO-listed heritage such as Butrint, and Albania’s official tourism website highlights archaeological sites, natural monuments, castles, parks, rivers, and UNESCO heritage sites.
Albania also has a growing higher education sector. The country has both public and private higher education institutions, and its universities offer programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Albania also has a high adult literacy rate, with the latest World Bank figure reporting 97.68% in 2023.
In recent years, Albania has continued to reform and internationalize its higher education system. International students can find scholarship and tuition-fee discount options at several private universities in Albania, but eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts vary by institution and academic year.
Top Scholarships in Albania for International Students
1. Metropolitan University of Tirana Bachelor Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: 50%, 75%, or 100% tuition discount, subject to criteria
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
University Metropolitan Tirana (UMT) is a higher education institution in Tirana focused on engineering sciences, architecture, economics, and technology. The university is organized across three faculties and offers programs in areas such as computer science, engineering, architecture, economics, and artificial intelligence. UMT also offers international programs taught in English at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
UMT lists several scholarship and tuition-support options, including excellence scholarships, social scholarships, talent scholarships, scholarships for children of teachers, and scholarship applications reviewed by the Scholarship Commission. UMT states that excellence scholarships may be 50%, 75%, or 100%, while social scholarships are available for graduates from families with limited economic income.
Students who apply through the Scholarship Commission should have an average above 8 and must submit the required documents for the relevant scholarship category. UMT also lists scholarships for strong academic performance in bachelor’s programs, including awards for the best UMT student of the program in an academic year. Since criteria and deadlines can change by academic year, applicants should check the current scholarship page before applying.
2. Epoka University Bachelor / Integrated Study and Master Study Program Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: 50% to 100% for bachelor’s / integrated study programs; 10% to 50% for master’s programs, depending on applicant category and CGPA
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s / Integrated Study Programs, Master’s
Located in Tirana, Albania, Epoka University is an international higher education institution. The university commenced academic activities during the 2007–2008 academic year and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields.
Epoka University grants merit-based scholarships for bachelor’s and integrated study program applicants for the normal duration of their studies. The number of scholarships is limited to 10 to 15 scholarships for each study program, and applicants are encouraged to apply early because scholarship allocation is based on the date of application. Candidates must have a high school average of at least 9.0 to be eligible.
For bachelor’s and integrated study programs, scholarship awards can be based on Albanian State Matura results or SAT results. SAT scores of 1290 to 1349 qualify for a 50% scholarship, 1350 to 1399 qualify for a 75% scholarship, and 1400 or higher qualifies for a 100% scholarship.
For master’s students, the scholarship amount depends on CGPA and applicant category. Epoka University graduates may receive discounts from 10% to 50%, while graduates from other universities may receive discounts from 10% to 40%. These discounts apply for the normal duration of studies, and the full fee applies if the study period is extended.
3. University College Bedër Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Up to 100% tuition fee discount, depending on the scholarship category
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s and other eligible programs
Bedër University College was established in April 2011 and operates as a nonprofit, non-public higher education institution in Albania. It is organized into two faculties, six departments, and one research center, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and professional programs.
Bedër University College lists several tuition-fee discount categories: Excellence Scholarship, Social Scholarship, Talent Scholarship, and Institutional Scholarship. The university’s current scholarship application page states that institutional scholarships can offer discounts up to 100% for students coming from schools and other institutions with which Bedër has collaboration agreements.
The scholarship application page also includes options for Albanian and international applicants and asks students to choose the scholarship category for which they are applying. Because detailed eligibility requirements may vary by category and academic year, applicants should review the current scholarship page and contact Bedër University College for the latest criteria.
4. Tirana Business University Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: 50%, 75%, or 100% tuition scholarships; TBU grants may cover 10% to 100% of tuition
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
Established in 2010, Tirana Business University College is an educational institution focused on Business Administration and Information Technology. TBU became part of the BALFIN Group in 2014 and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Tirana Business University currently lists scholarships for bachelor’s programs. These scholarships are awarded for the entire study cycle to high school graduates based on academic achievement. Only graduates who start university studies in the same year they finish high school are eligible for this scholarship scheme. The scholarship applies only to the tuition fee, while the administrative fee must be paid every academic year.
The bachelor’s scholarship levels are 100%, 75%, and 50% of the annual tuition fee. A full scholarship is awarded to students with a high school GPA of 9.5 or higher and a State Matura exam average of 9.5 or higher. A 75% scholarship is awarded when one average is 9 or higher and the other is 9.5 or higher. A 50% scholarship is awarded to students who have both a high school GPA and State Matura exam average of 9 or higher.
TBU also lists a TBU Grant in collaboration with BALFIN Group. This grant can cover 10% to 100% of tuition and evaluates applicants through a 100-point model based on high school GPA, motivation and career vision, extracurricular activities, and an interview. Applicants should check the current admissions page for scholarship quotas, reservation requirements, and maintenance conditions.
5. University of New York Tirana Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Up to 100% scholarship or discount, depending on the category
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s and other eligible applicants
The University of New York Tirana was established in 2002 and is the first private university in Albania. UNYT also states that it was Albania’s first higher education institution where bachelor’s programs were taught in English. For bachelor’s programs, students may also pursue dual degrees through UNYT’s collaboration with the State University of New York / Empire State College.
UNYT offers several scholarship and discount options. Students may qualify for scholarships of up to 100% through the scholarship exam, high school GPA, or special achievements in areas such as arts, sports, or science. UNYT also lists other discounts, including sibling, full-payment, and early-registration discounts. Applicants should contact UNYT’s admissions or student affairs office to confirm the latest scholarship categories and eligibility rules.
We hope that this article on Albania’s best scholarships for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
