NEW ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS TODAY / Empty lecture halls, 15% fewer enrollments in higher education this year

Students filling lecture halls are rapidly declining: This year 15% fewer enrollments in Higher Education.

The number of students attending university lectures is shrinking rapidly year after year, leaving most faculties operating far below their full capacity. Study programs that once offered dozens or even hundreds of enrollment slots are now barely managing to register enough students to count on one hand. This year, only 16,000 students registered in the first round of Bachelor’s degree applications, down from around 19,000 last year, a drop of 20%, according to official sources from the Rectorate.

The number of students in higher education in Albania has seen a significant decline over the past decade, particularly in public universities. From around 117,000 students in 2016, the figure fell to roughly 86,900 in 2024, reflecting the country’s demographic transition marked by declining birth rates and high youth emigration. The University of Tirana still the largest institution in the country has lost nearly 6,000 students between 2016 and 2024, while the decline has been even steeper at the Agricultural University of Tirana and the University of Vlora.

This drop in public university enrollment contrasts with the growth of the private sector. In 2016, private higher education institutions hosted just 24,000 students, whereas in 2024 the figure exceeded 37,000. Institutions such as the European University of Tirana, Epoka University, and the Mediterranean University of Albania have seen consistent growth, attracting increasing numbers of young people. Likewise, specialized institutions like “Marin Barleti,” “Aldent,” and various business colleges have gained ground, thanks to more labor-market-oriented and flexible programs.

Another notable trend is the growing interest in health-related and dentistry fields, with private universities such as Aldent seeing rapid increases in enrollment. Similarly, institutions offering programs in technology and management have recorded growth, reflecting shifting labor market demands both in Albania and the wider region. Meanwhile, traditional fields such as agriculture and natural sciences continue to lose students, putting the development of these sectors at risk.

The data clearly shows a shift in student preferences from public to private universities, which offer more practical and career-oriented programs. There is also a broader move away from technical and agricultural degrees toward medicine and professions with stronger employment prospects. Many universities outside major cities have suffered sharp declines, as young people increasingly prefer to study in the capital or leave the country altogether.

Overall, higher education preferences have shifted toward programs that offer practical skills and stronger job security, such as business, economics, technology, and especially medicine and dentistry.

“KORÇA BOOM”