Albania is a country in southern Europe that shares borders with Greece and water bodies with Italy. It is situated on the western side of the Balkan Peninsula, near the Strait of Otranto.
The nation was officially declared independent in 1912. Albanians speak a language known as shqip or shqipe. The Lek is Albania's official currency and has a reasonably advanced healthcare system. The government provides the vast majority of services.
Degree Name
Doctors of Medicine (MD) equivalent to MBBS
Medium of Instruction
English
Duration of Course
6 Yrs. incl. Internship
Internship Period
2 Years
License to International Students
Permitted
Currency
1 Lek~0.8 Indian Rupees (INR)
Capital
Tirana
Population
2.8 Million
Education System in Albania
Albania's formal education age is 18 years old. Students who desire to pursue professional degrees, such as those in medicine, engineering, or business, can enrol in institutions in Albania. The table below depicts the four components of Albanian education.
Education
School/Level
Grades
Age
Years
Primary
Basic First Stage
1–4
6–10
4
Middle
Basic Second Stage
5–9
11–15
5
Secondary
High School
10–12
15–18
3
Tertiary
University level
Professional
19-25
6
Tertiary
Doctorate
Speciality
26-31
3–5
Both government-run and private higher education institutions are present in Albania. Currently, there are a total of 40 higher education institutions, 15 public and 25 private; there are three universities that conduct medicine programmes in Albania. Of all three, only Western Balkan University accepts all international students and conducts the medicine programme in English.
University Name
City
Medium of Teaching
Institution Type
Foreign Students
Western Balkan Univ
Tirana
English
Private
Admitted
University of Tirana
Tirana
Albanian
Public
Only European
Our Lady of Good Counsel Univ
Tirana
Albanian& Italian
Private
Only European
Comparison of MBBS in India and Albania
If we compare the medical education systems of the two countries, it reveals that they are remarkably similar.
Parameter
India
Albania
College Type
Public/Private
Public/Private
Tuition Fee
Public:1-3 Lacs/Private:60-90 Lacs
48000 USD~38 LacsINR
Duration
4.5 Years
6 Years
Infrastructure
Good to Avg
Good
Internship
1 Year
Included in 6 Yrs
Study Pattern
Asian-Pre, Para & Clinical
European ECTS Based
Clinical Exposure
High (Govt)/Avg (Pvt)
High (begins 2ndyear onwards)
Advantages of studying MBBS in Albania
European Standards: European educational standards are followed by all universities.
English Taught: At Western Balkan University, Albania, you can study medicine in English, similar to India.
Clinical Exposure: The chance to work in a hospital is available to you as early as your second year. It includes having the opportunity to interact with patients and learn every method for the upcoming five years.
NMC Acceptance: The MBBS degree from an Albanian Medical School in English fulfils NMC's requirements. Thus, students may take the NEXT exam after completing the course in Albania.
Paid Internship in Hospitals: Starting your second year, you can work in hospitals and get a stipend. A student who works in a hospital affiliated with the Medical University can earn between $3,000 and $5,000 a year.
Disadvantages of studying MBBS in Albania for Indian Students
While there are many advantages to studying medicine in Albania, there are also certain challenges. You should also consider the issues listed below regarding Albania when planning to move out.
Small Indian Community: India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) records no more than 100 Indians who work for international corporations, are involved in projects, or are students. This number is low compared to any other nation.
Tuition fee for Medicine program in Albania
The tuition fee in Albania for the Medicine Programme is divided into two parts.
Self-Finance: Students enrolled on this programme must pay the entire tuition fee to the university. All three universities allot seats under the self-finance scheme.
Scholarship Based: Unlike Western Balkan University, the other two universities restrict their scholarship programs solely to European students, as per the terms of the European Education Agreement.
The tuition fee in Albania for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme is approx. 8,000 USD for a year for international students.
Cost of Indian Food in Albania
When choosing whether to attend an Albanian medical university, you should consider the availability of Indian food in Albania. Since there aren't many Indian students in Albanian universities, there isn't an Indian mess there. Students who want to eat Indian food may need to prepare food for themselves, costing around 100–120 USD a month.
There aren't many Indian restaurants in Albania, but those that do may charge you the equivalent of 800-1000 INR for a dinner big enough to sustain two people. Likewise, they are ideal for occasional dining.
Hostel facilities in Albanian Medical Universities
Students should not bother much about the accommodations in Albania. Few universities provide dormitories for international students to live in, and they are also quite economical. However, many Indian students may not look forward to this opportunity due to a lack of privacy and cultural differences. Still, it is a good opportunity for those who want to understand the cultures of various ethnicities across the globe. Such dorms cost around 30–40 euros a month.
Staying in a private apartment in Albania is an alternative to a dorm. The cost of a 1-bedroom apartment in Tirana's city centre is approx. 150–200 euros and the same type of accommodation on the outskirts will cost only 100–120 euros. Students can share the apartment to make it affordable for them.
The cost of living in Albania is very low compared to other European countries. It is slightly higher than the living costs of metro cities in India like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi.
Expense Type
INR
Combo meal (fast food restaurant)
400-500
500g of boneless chicken breast
300-350
1 litre of whole fat milk
140
12 Eggs, large
250
1 kg of Tomatoes
150
500g of local cheese
300
1 kg of apples
130
1 kg of potatoes
80
2 litres of Coca-Cola
140
Bread Pack (Big)
50
Utilities: 1 month for 1 person in 45 m2Studio Apartment
10000-12000
Monthly ticket public transport
1000-1200
Standard men's haircut
400-500
Eligibility Criteria for MBBS program in Albania
Admission to MBBS at Albanian Medical Institute for Indian students in 2024 will require
A student must have 50% in PCB in Class XII
Must have qualified NEET (category specification applies).
Age above 17
Admission deadlines for the MBBS program in Albania
For information on the annual intake and application deadline for the Albanian Medical University, see the table below.
Intake
Month
Last Date to Apply
Autumn
September 2024
1st June 2024
Spring
February 2025
15th November 2024
The admission process starts in June and ends in September. It is important to note that the VISA process for Albania takes a long time, which is approx. 4-6 weeks; hence, applying early is advisable.
MBBS Admission Process in Albania
The admission process for MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programs in Albania may vary slightly depending on the specific university or institution. Here is a general description of the admissions procedure though:
Research and Selection: Research and selection are important to make an informed decision, and eligibility criteria must be met.
Eligibility Criteria: Examine the eligibility requirements established by the university or institution.
Application: An application form must be obtained from the university's official website or admissions office.
Documents: Prepare the necessary documents
Completed application form.
Academic transcripts and certificates from secondary school or equivalent (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics).
Proof of language proficiency if the medium of instruction is not your native language. This may require language proficiency test scores or certificates.
Identification documents (such as a passport or national ID card).
Passport-sized photographs.
Any other documents the university specifies, such as recommendation letters (LoR).
Application Submission: Applications must be submitted within the specified deadline.
Entrance Examination: Some universities in Albania may require applicants to pass an entrance examination.
Interview (if applicable): Some universities may conduct interviews during the selection process.
Selection and Admission: After evaluating applications, entrance examination results, and interviews, the university will announce the list of selected candidates and issue an admission offer letter.
Confirmation and Enrollment: Once accepted, applicants must pay any required fees and complete the enrollment process within the specified deadline.
Visa Processing in Albania
The visa process in Albania varies depending on the purpose of the visit. To determine the type of visa you need, visit the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or the nearest Albanian embassy or consulate in your country.
Application Form: Obtain the visa application form from the Albanian embassy or consulate in your country or download it from their official website.
Documents: Gather the necessary documents for your visa application, such as:
A valid passport with at least six months of validity or beyond the intended stay
Passport-sized photographs
Completed visa form
Proof of purpose of visit
Financial means to support your stay in Albania
Travel itinerary
Health insurance coverage.
The embassy or consulate requires any extra paperwork.
Submitting the Application: Submit the application and pay the applicable visa processing fee.
Visa Interview: Show up at the embassy or consulate's visa interview.
Visa Processing: Visa processing times may vary, so applying well before your intended travel dates is advisable. You may be required to provide additional documents or information during processing.
Visa Decision: If approved, you may be required to collect your visa from the embassy or consulate or it may be affixed to your passport and returned to you via mail.
It's important to note that the visa requirements and procedures can change, so it's recommended to check the official website of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
PG Option after MBBS in Albania
Medical License in India after MBBS in Albania
During MBBS study, a student realizes the importance of being a specialist. They also understand the competitiveness to secure MD/MS Seat in Govt College. If we look at the success ratio to get PG in Govt Medical College, which is 11% we can say that only 1 out of 10 will get PG Seat, whereas the chances of getting a Clinical specialty is 1 out of 20 applicants. The PG journey will be very difficult, or else students should have enough money to get a paid seat in Pvt Medical College, which may be in Crores!
Total Applicants NEET PG 2023
Specialty
Govt Med College
Pvt Med College
Seats
Success Ratio
Seats
2.09 Lacs
MD (Non Clinical)
15K
8.6%
10K
MS (Clinical)
8K
4.6%
5K
Total
23K
11.4%
15K
Do you feel early preparation and the right mentorship will pave your dream of becoming a specialist?
NMC has already announced the introduction of the NEXT Exam in India in 2023. This exam will replace all Medical PG exams in India. The exam will be conducted in two parts: NEXT-1 and NEXT-2. The Objective of the NEXT-1 is to assess the Student’s Knowledge of Pre, Para, and Clinical Subjects on the National Level. Only after qualifying for NEXT-1 will any medical student be eligible for an internship. After completing the internship, Students must go through NEXT-2, which will assess their Clinical skills, Patient Management, and Medical history. Those who clear NEXT-2 are awarded a license to practice, and rankers of NEXT-1 will get PG seats of their choice. You may refer to the Page for detailed information on the Next Exam.
We are well aware of the difficulty of getting a PG in India. With the introduction of NEXT, most students in India are attracted to USMLE prep from 1st year of MBBS since it simulates the new NMC Competency-based curriculum much more easily. US Healthcare system is considered one of the best healthcare systems for numerous reasons like High rewards, excellent infrastructure, Merit-based assessment, and Open opportunities for Super specialities. In most of the countries trying to replicate the US health care assessment system for their Medical Graduates, the USMLE exam is divided into 3 Parts. One can appear in USMLE Step 1 after 2nd Year, USMLE Step 2 CK during an internship, and USMLE Step 3 during your residency (Medical PG). The USMLE is an online exam that can be taken at the PROMETRIC centres across India.
MOKSH Coaching focuses on a patient-centred learning approach which helps students score high on both USMLE & NEXT. MOKSH is the leading name in USMLE Coaching. Currently, 1000+ Students from Indian and Abroad medical colleges are preparing for USMLE steps via the MOKSH Platform.
Till 2024, the Professional & Linguistic Assessments Board Test (PLAB test) is the instrument to assess the skills and knowledge of an International Medical Graduate. It also judges whether she can be trained to practice medicine in the UK.
In short, an IMG's performance in PLAB determines her eligibility to practice in the UK. The PLAB test has two stages. PLAB 1 is an exam that has 180 MCQs that test your recall. On the other hand, PLAB 2 is a practical OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exam) that tests your clinical skills.
The GMC ascertains your linguistic skills by assessing your score on specific tests. It may be the IELTS (Band Score 7.0 or higher) or OET (Grade B in reading, writing, listening & speaking).
After you pass PLAB 1 & 2, you apply for the GP registration. There is one constraint. You have a window of 2 years after clearing PLAB 2, during which you may apply no later.
By 2024, the UK Medical Licensing Assessment will replace the PLAB. The COVID pandemic has resulted in a major change that has affected life everywhere and at every level.
Especially the healthcare sector has faced unprecedented pressure. Consequently, the GMC UK will change certain things in PLAB and create the UKMLA exam.
PG in Germany after MBBS in Albania is another great option, though it requires you to learn the German language. Of the 6 levels starting from A1 to C2, you need to clear A1 and A2, qualifying you to apply for the visa.
Once the Language formalities are done, you get into the phase where you do an Observer-ship from a German hospital approved by the German Medical Council. Residency follows this.
This may sound simple here, but the process is quite complicated. To know more about PG in Germany after MBBS in Albania,
Studying MBBS in Albania offers students a rewarding and budget-friendly educational experience. The admissions and scholarship processes at Italian universities are very complex and tedious. You need an expert who can be your companion on your journey to MBBS in Albania. MOKSH counsellors are experts in the Albanian university admissions process. You can connect with MOKSH at +91 9699360370 WhatsApp us at 8269900555 or Visit WWW.MOKSH16.COM.
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