Study Medicine in North Macedonia: Universities Compared and Transfer Options

Which medical universities in North Macedonia offer Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine?

North Macedonia has both public and private universities. In the health field, the widest range of programmes is offered by the University of Skopje (UKIM), with Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine. Goce Delčev University in Štip offers Medicine and Pharmacy, and the University of Tetovo offers Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.

Two private universities in Skopje offer Dentistry: International Balkan University and European University Skopje. We found no Medicine, Pharmacy or Veterinary programme at a private institution. Mother Teresa University Skopje and the University of Information Science and Technology in Ohrid have no Medicine or Dentistry programme. For other dentistry listings at private institutions we could not confirm any details, so we do not include them.

A Faculty of Veterinary Medicine appears at St. Clement of Ohrid University in Bitola, but we found no published, verifiable data on length, language and cost. We list it in the table without any figures, and we recommend that you request the details directly from the institution.

What does the national framework say about the length of health studies?

The lengths published by the institutions are consistent with this framework. Medicine lasts twelve semesters, that is six years, in Štip and in Tetovo, and Pharmacy and Dentistry last ten semesters, that is five years. At the two private universities Dentistry lasts five years and 300 ECTS.

The national framework defines the minimum. Everything that affects daily student life, such as the number of attempts at each course, the conditions for moving to the next year and the maximum duration of study, is set by the regulations of each institution. For that reason two programmes in the same field can operate under different conditions.

When you compare programmes, do not stop at the years printed in the study guide. Ask about time limits as well, because at some institutions exceeding the nominal length has consequences for your student status.

How much does it cost to study medicine in North Macedonia?

These are list prices, not the total cost. Add accommodation, food, travel, insurance, instruments and materials, and the cost of any repeated exams. For Dentistry programmes personal instruments are often required as well. The prices of the other UKIM programmes are given in the dedicated articles.

For a fair comparison, calculate the cost up to the degree, including the risk of one or two extra years. A cheap programme that takes longer can end up costing more than a more expensive one that is completed on time.

In which language are the programmes taught and what does "in English" mean?

The language of instruction is the first topic students raise with us. A programme titled "in English" may include lectures in English, but also practicals, clinical sessions and exams in Macedonian or Albanian, or a mixture of both. We mention this without judging individuals or institutions.

In Medicine and Dentistry the issue carries particular weight, because clinical training takes place in front of patients who usually speak local languages. A student who cannot communicate with the patient cannot take a full history or practise communication adequately.

• Which courses and which exams are really held in English?
• In which language are clinical practicals and bedside exams conducted?
• Is there official teaching of the local language for international students?
• Who helps with communication with the patient during clinical training?

Ask for the answers in writing from the institution and compare them. You will quickly see which programmes describe the language of each course clearly and which stay vague.

Does the Greek n+ rule apply at universities in North Macedonia?

This note is mainly for readers coming from Greece. In Greece, the n+ rule sets a maximum period of study and deletion once it is exceeded. The Greek framework does not apply at a university in another country, whether public or private. If you are considering Skopje as a way out of the Greek rule, you will meet other rules there, which are just as binding.

These rules differ from one institution to another. There are limits on attempts per course, conditions for progression and a maximum duration of study. In the next sections we gather what we found and make clear what is missing.

How do the study and progression rules compare between institutions?

The table shows that there is no uniform picture. A limit of "twice the nominal length" means that a Medicine student in Štip theoretically has up to twenty-four semesters, but continued enrolment also depends on the progression rules for each year.

Where we found no published rules, we say so explicitly instead of guessing. Write to the student office and ask for the current exam regulations, the number of permitted attempts and the maximum duration of study, and keep the reply on file.

Which faculties offer Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine, and what do we know about them?

Pharmacy lasts ten semesters in Štip and in Tetovo. In Štip the list price for the English-language programme was announced at €5,000 for 2026/27. For UKIM the details are in our dedicated articles.

Veterinary Medicine is the least documented field. UKIM offers it, while for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Bitola there was no verifiable information on length, language and cost. We will not guess them here.

If you are planning to study Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine in North Macedonia, ask in writing for the curriculum, the language of each course and the practical part, meaning laboratories, pharmacies or animal clinics, and the number of students per year.

You can read more in our articles on Pharmacy at UKIM and Veterinary Medicine at UKIM.

What problems do students of health programmes often report?

This is our own experience from conversations with students, not an objective ranking or a statistic. In our experience, the quality of teaching at universities in North Macedonia is lower than at comparable European universities. We do not judge any single faculty or any lecturer, and we do not question the recognition of degrees.

• Language of instruction: English-language programmes are often not taught entirely in English, because lecturers with sufficient English are lacking and part of the teaching is in Macedonian or Albanian.
• Staffing: the number of teachers in relation to students should be checked.
• Practical training: the availability of patients, departments and clinical places per student varies.
• Progression: the rules for advancing and repeating are not always easy to find published.
• Future work: anyone thinking of working in another country should know in advance how the degree will be assessed there.

This picture does not mean that every student faces all of the above. It means that it is worth asking before you enrol and monitoring your progress regularly.

Why do students transfer to universities outside North Macedonia every year?

The reasons we hear vary. Some students look for teaching that is genuinely in English. Others want more clinical hours or better organised practical training. Some are stuck on courses and see no clear path of progress, and others plan to work in another country and want a degree from an institution within the European framework.

A transfer is not a failure. It is a change of course that, when done with careful checking, can save you time and money. Many students ask whether they lose the years already completed. The answer depends on which courses and clinical hours the receiving university recognises, and it is decided case by case.

Medschool Experts supports transfers to universities in Europe. We work with 25+ partner universities and we check each case individually, without promising admission or full recognition of courses. Students who are affected are welcome to contact us; we help them as experts.

How does a study transfer from North Macedonia to another European university work?

The first step is the review of your file. We look at which courses you have completed, with which grades and ECTS, which clinical and laboratory hours you have, and what the current status of your enrolment is.

Next we look for universities in Europe where your case makes sense, depending on your field, your year and the language. We prepare the file carefully, and the receiving university alone decides on admission and on which courses it recognises. In some cases the year of entry is lower than you would like.

Timing matters. The earlier you examine your options, the more paths exist. The first consultation is free and non-binding, and it includes no promise about the outcome.

What does Directive 2005/36/EC mean for those who want to work abroad?

Directive 2005/36/EC facilitates the free movement of health professionals within the European Union. Its mechanism mainly concerns qualifications awarded in member states, under the minimum training requirements it sets itself.

North Macedonia is not an EU member state. For a degree from an institution in the country, the competent authorities of each state examine recognition separately and on the basis of their own criteria. We do not claim that degrees are not recognised. We say that the process is individual and that you should check it with the competent authority of the country where you want to work.

For this reason, in our experience, those who plan a professional career in another country think early about whether studying at an EU university would simplify their path. Medschool Experts helps you discuss that option based on your case.

What can you do if you have lost your student status?

If you have been deleted or your student status has been interrupted at a university in North Macedonia, first find out the exact reason: non-renewal of enrolment, an outstanding financial balance, exhaustion of the study period or a disciplinary decision. Ask for the decision in writing, together with your transcript, and ask whether an appeal or reinstatement procedure exists and which time limit applies.

In parallel we examine alternative paths: we check which courses and clinical hours you have completed, identify European universities where your case can be considered and prepare the file.

We cannot promise admission or recognition of all courses. In some cases the new path starts at a lower year. Those who ask for help early have more options.

Which documents do you need, and which mistakes should you avoid before deciding?

• Transcript with courses, grades and ECTS
• The study programme of your year of entry
• Confirmation of clinical and laboratory training
• ID or passport and school-leaving certificate
• Written confirmation of your student status

Common mistakes are waiting until all attempts are used up, giving up your student status before an alternative exists, making decisions on the basis of rumours and paying a deposit at a new university before the year of entry has been checked. You do not need to have all documents ready before contacting us, because we guide you step by step.

How does Medschool Experts help with a study transfer?

We help students who study in North Macedonia, students who have lost their student status and applicants who want to compare options before they enrol. In our experience, most ask for three things: a clear picture of their situation, realistic alternatives and support throughout the process.

Our service includes a review of your courses and clinical hours, the selection of universities, the preparation of the file and guidance until the receiving university decides. We do not give general prices; the first consultation is free and the next steps depend on your case.

We have no cooperation with or connection to the North Macedonian universities mentioned here. Our service is addressed to the student and aims at the best possible solution for them.

Which questions should you ask before choosing a university in North Macedonia?

• In which language are the courses, practicals and exams held?
• What is the current price, and which costs are not included?
• How many attempts are allowed per course, and what is the maximum duration of study?
• How many students share each clinical place and each department?
• How will your degree be assessed in the country where you want to work?

These questions may look simple, but the answers show how transparent a programme is. If you do not receive a clear written reply, that too is information. Always compare with at least one alternative in another European country.

If you have already started your studies and are unsure whether to continue, you can write to us without any commitment.