Albania

Certificate of Maturity (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Considered to be equivalent to GCSE grade A* – C, with the exception of English Language.

Grading System

10 (The highest mark) Excellent
9 Very Good
8 Good
7 Very satisfactory
6 Satisfactory
5 (Lowest pass mark) Almost satisfactory/fail (lowest pass mark)
4 Unsatisfactory
3 Very unsatisfactory
2 Poor
1 Very poor

Education System

Compulsory education lasts from age 6 – 8 and basic education lasts five years from age 6 – 11. Lower secondary education lasts four years from age 11 – 15.

Higher education lasts from age 15 – 18 and is divided into three streams, general, social and natural. Upon completion of higher secondary education students are awarded the Maturity Diploma.

Also available is Professional School Education which typically lasts three years and successful candidates are awarded the Maturity Diploma and the Professional Skills Certificate for Qualified Workers.

Technical School Education lasts five years from age 15 and upon successful completion candidates are awarded the Maturity Diploma and the Professional Skills Certificate for Secondary Technicians.

Access to Higher Education

Admission to Higher Education is by State Maturity exams, which involves undertaking four exams. Two exams are compulsory and two are optional and is based on average marks of secondary school years.

Subjects for the compulsory exams are set for secondary school, but the subjects for the two optional exams are chosen by the student from groups of optional subjects, of which there were eight for the academic year 2007 – 2008. All students are required to to undergo compulsory exams. With these two compulsory exams the pupils complete secondary school and receive the Maturity Certificate.

Higher Education

The higher education system in Albania consists of public and private universities, and academies divided into faculties.

Since 2005, universities and higher non-university schools started the system of studies with Bachelor and Master cycles in Albania.

Due to Albania’s inclusion in the Bologna process in September 2003, the structure of cycles as doctorate level has not yet been implemented. For this reason, this level of studies continues with former programmes not being adapted to Bologna process requirements. Normal duration of doctorate students (full time) is 3 – 5 years.

By: Paul Astin

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