Study Medicine in Skopje, North Macedonia

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM) is the oldest and largest public university in North Macedonia. Since its founding in 1949 it has grown to more than 36,000 students, 23 faculties, several scientific institutes and over 3,000 academic, research and administrative staff. More than 700 international students are enrolled, and together with its predecessor institutions the university has awarded over 100,000 diplomas.

The Faculty of Medicine is the country's first and largest medical school, with more than 75 years of tradition. With 12 medical institutes, 35 departments, 29 university clinics, 3 centres and 8 accredited laboratories, it covers every area of medicine and the health sciences. No other faculty in the country has more PhD-qualified educators, more than 4,500 research papers have come out of it, and it works closely with Skopje's major teaching hospitals for clinical training. Students who enjoy research can join projects during their degree and go on to a PhD later.

Quality to European standards

• ECTS: In the 2002/03 academic year, UKIM became the first university in North Macedonia to introduce the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System.
• Bologna Process: All study programmes are aligned with the Bologna Process and North Macedonia's Law on Higher Education.
• External evaluation: At least once every five years, the university is evaluated to the standards of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).

International rankings

• U.S. News Best Global Universities: #1396 worldwide, #485 in Europe, #965 in Clinical Medicine
• QS World University Rankings: #103 in Eastern Europe, 601+ in Europe
• Times Higher Education: 1501+ worldwide, #518 in Europe, 801–1000 in Medical & Health
• EduRank: #1363 worldwide, #495 in Europe, #457 for Medicine in Europe
• SCImago Institutions Rankings: #2070 for Medicine worldwide, #118 for Medicine in Europe
• Center for World University Rankings: #1816 worldwide, #1760 in Research Performance, 801–1000 in Medical & Health

Member of academic networks

UKIM is a member of the European University Association (EUA), the International Association of Universities (IAU), the Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), the Association of Universities of the Adriatic-Ionian Area (UniAdrion), the CEEPUS exchange programme, the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and the European Research Association, and is affiliated with UNESCO.

Dean and university leadership

The Faculty of Medicine is led by Dean Prof. Dr. Svetozar Antovikj. In his words: “Our fundamental goal is to train physicians who have a high degree of theoretical and practical knowledge, are able to think and make decisions on their own and are motivated to carry on learning for a lifetime.”

• Prof. Dr. Biljana Angelova – Rector of the university
• Prof. Dr. Sonja Topuzovska – Vice-Rector for Teaching
• Prof. Dr. Valentina Gečevska – Vice-Rector for Science
• Dr. Aleksandar Skeparovski – Vice-Rector for International Cooperation

• Medicine: integrated six-year programme (twelve semesters) with 5,876 teaching hours and 360 ECTS, taught entirely in English – two years of theory, one pre-clinical year and three years of clinical training.

The integrated General Medicine programme runs for six years (twelve semesters) with 5,876 teaching hours and 360 ECTS credits. It is built on two years of theory, one pre-clinical year and three years of clinical training. Practical classes and clinical placements are a core part of the degree, with broad access to hospitals, clinics, laboratories and libraries. Every semester carries 30 ECTS, and most semesters include an elective subject.

Year 1 (795 hours, 60 ECTS)

• Semester 1: Biophysics, Cell Morphology and Physiology, Anatomy 1, Introduction to Medicine, Medical Psychology and Sociology, Histology and Embryology 1, Sports and Health
• Semester 2: Medical Chemistry, Anatomy 2, Histology and Embryology 2, Health Promotion, Medical Ethics, Introduction to Human Genetics, First Aid, elective

Year 2 (885 hours, 60 ECTS)

• Semester 3: Biochemistry 1, Physiology 1, Introduction to Immunology, Biostatistics with Medical Informatics, Anatomy 3
• Semester 4: Physiology 2, Biochemistry 2, Microbiology with Parasitology 1, Pathophysiology 1, Hygiene, Basics of Scientific Work, elective

Year 3 (890 hours, 60 ECTS)

• Semester 5: Microbiology with Parasitology 2, Pathophysiology 2, Pathology 1, Clinical Examination, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine
• Semester 6: Pathology 2, Clinical Examination, Pharmacology, Epidemiology, Transfusion Medicine, elective

Year 4 (1,017 hours, 60 ECTS)

• Semester 7: Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Dermatovenereology, Neurology, elective
• Semester 8: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Biochemistry, Oncology

Year 5 (1,039 hours, 60 ECTS)

• Semester 9: Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Pain Management, Emergency Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Semester 10: Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Family Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Health Economics

Year 6: clinical practice year (1,250 hours, 60 ECTS)

• Internal medicine: 8 weeks
• Surgery: 8 weeks
• Gynaecology and obstetrics: 4 weeks
• Paediatrics: 3 weeks
• Public health: 2 weeks
• Family medicine, gerontology and palliative medicine: 1 week each
• Seminars in differential diagnosis (internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics): 1 week
• Rational drug prescription and natural ways of healing: 1 week
• Clinical microbiology: 2 days
• Elective subject

Final-year seminars follow a mentoring model with professors and assistants: you take an active part in clinical work, attend seminars and workshops, and present case reports publicly.

Whether we can place you at this faculty is something we assess individually. Doctors are urgently needed worldwide, and there is a suitable path for almost every profile. In a free consultation, Marcel or another experienced consultant on our team looks at your profile, your budget and your personal goals, and tells you exactly where we can place you – reliably, through our network of partner medical faculties worldwide. Book your free consultation.

Tuition for the six-year English-taught medicine programme is €5,600 per year for the 2025/2026 academic year, the same in all six years. Over the full degree that adds up to €33,600 in tuition. Amounts are quoted in euros; payments are converted at the bank's rate on the day.

One-off and annual fees

• Application fee: €180 (one-off)
• Admission fee (administrative fee, registration fee etc.): €1,000 (first year only)
• Document translation and nostrification: €450 (one-off)
• Document apostille: €50 (one-off)
• Visa invitation: €120 (one-off)
• Temporary residence permit: €40 per year
• Health insurance: at actual cost

Housing and meals

• University hostel: €1,200 to €1,500 per year, depending on room availability
• Meals in the canteen: €1,500 per year

In your first year, tuition, one-off fees, residence permit, hostel and meals come to roughly €10,140 to €10,440; from year two onward it is roughly €8,340 to €8,640 per year, in both cases excluding health insurance. Add a little for local transport, leisure and personal spending; overall, living in Skopje costs around €400 to €650 a month, below most other European capitals.

Scholarships and financial support

UKIM awards scholarships to domestic and international students, some by selection and some by application:

• Academic merit scholarships: Atanas Bliznakoff Scholarships, Konstantin Stojanov Foundation Scholarships, the Fulbright Student Competition 2026–2027, scholarships for students with a single custodial parent, Merit Scholarship Award
• Government scholarships: undergraduate scholarships for foreign students and full scholarships from the Macedonian government
• External funding: more than 20 scholarships and 39 grants offered by external organisations in cooperation with the university
• Embassies and private foundations: many embassies fund students from their home country; these scholarships typically cover tuition and living costs, and sometimes visa fees, health insurance and travel

Skopje sits on the banks of the River Vardar and is North Macedonia's capital and largest city. By day the centre, with its sculptures and grand buildings, feels like an open-air museum; at night the illuminated bridges shimmer on the river. The historic Stone Bridge links the modern city with the Old Bazaar, and Macedonia Square is home to the great equestrian statue of Alexander the Great. Mother Teresa was born in Skopje in 1910; she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was canonised in 2016. Civilisations flourished in this region as early as 7000 BC.

The climate is moderate continental, with fairly mild winters and warm, dry summers. Summer temperatures range from 20 to 36°C, with July the warmest month, while winter days are usually between 1 and 7°C.

Skopje International Airport (SKP) is about 20 km from the city centre, with direct connections across Europe, including Wizz Air flights to Germany.

North Macedonia is a NATO member and an EU candidate country, and is considered one of the safest countries in the region. Visitors feel welcome quickly, and locals are known for their hospitality. Much of social life happens in cafés: “Let's have a coffee” is Skopje's invitation to almost anything, from an espresso to dinner. Add a lively nightlife and living costs noticeably below other European capitals.

Hostel for international students

The university runs its own hostels for international students, with separate buildings for men and women. Every room comes with beds, a study table, chairs and wardrobes, and all rooms are fully air-conditioned.

• Large rooms
• High-speed Wi-Fi around the clock
• Hot water and laundry service
• Library for studying late
• 24/7 CCTV and security
• 24/7 warden support
• Housekeeping

The canteen, with its own cook, serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes three times a day.