Education in North Macedonia: schools, the state matura and university entry

In short

Education in North Macedonia is organised nationally. The Ministry of Education and Science sets the framework, the Bureau for Development of Education prepares curricula, and the State Examination Centre runs the external exams. Children start primary school at about the age of six, and secondary school is now compulsory as well. Students who finish a four-year general secondary school (gymnasium) sit the state matura (Државна матура), an external exam that is used for the school-leaving certificate and for university entry. Teaching is in Macedonian, written in Cyrillic, and in some schools in Albanian, Turkish or Serbian, which the state also provides for.

School stages

1. Early education: Kindergartens take children before school, and a preparatory year helps children who are about to start primary school.
2. Primary school (osnovno obrazovanie): Nine years of compulsory education for children from about six to fourteen. Pupils study Macedonian language and literature, mathematics, a foreign language (often English), natural sciences, social studies, arts and physical education. The first stage covers the lower grades, and subject teachers take over in the upper grades.
3. Secondary school (srednoto obrazovanie): After primary school, pupils choose between several types:
   • Gymnasium (gimnazija): A four-year general programme that prepares students for university and ends with the state matura.
   • Vocational schools: Programmes of three or four years in fields such as technology, health, economics, the arts and trades. Some four-year programmes also lead to a matura.
   • Art and music schools: Specialised programmes that combine general subjects with training in an art.

The national exam and grading

The state matura was introduced in the late 2000s as an external exam that is the same for every student, so that results can be compared between schools. It is run by the State Examination Centre (Државен испитен центар). Students sit compulsory parts, usually Macedonian language and literature (or their mother tongue) and a foreign language, plus elective subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history or geography. The exams are marked centrally, and the school-leaving diploma records both the results of the school years and the external exam.

School grades in North Macedonia are given on a five-step scale where the top grade is excellent and the lowest is a fail. The exact weights, the list of subjects and the dates change from year to year, so check the current rules on the State Examination Centre website before you plan.

University entry

Universities set a number of places for each study programme, and applicants are ranked using their secondary school results and their matura results, and sometimes an entrance exam for fields such as arts, architecture or sport. The largest public university is Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, and there are other public universities in Bitola, Tetovo, Štip and Ohrid, along with several private institutions. Studies follow the Bologna system with credits (ECTS) for bachelor, master and doctoral levels. Applicants should also keep copies of their certificates and check how grades from different school types are counted. Each university publishes its own call for applications, usually in the summer, with the programmes, the number of places and the documents needed.

Driver licensing in North Macedonia (Vozacki ispit)

Obtaining a Category B driver's licence in North Macedonia is administered under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Министерство за внатрешни работи - МВР) and the Law on Road Traffic Safety (Закон за безбедност на сообраќајот на патиштата - ЗБСП). Candidates complete driving school instruction, obtain an official medical certificate, and pass both the theoretical computer-based test and practical driving examination. The theoretical exam evaluates knowledge of junction priority, road signs, lane markings, mandatory winter equipment (compulsory from November 15 to March 15), and emergency first aid procedures.

Studying in North Macedonia as a foreigner

Foreign students can apply to public and private universities. Most programmes are taught in Macedonian or Albanian, and some are taught in English. Certificates from abroad usually need to be recognised by the national authorities, and applicants should ask the university about language requirements, deadlines and visas early.

How to prepare for the matura

Start early and work through the curriculum topic by topic, keeping a notebook of mistakes, solve past-style problems with a timer, and check every explanation, including those for questions you got right. For mathematics, practise algebra, functions, geometry and calculus. For Macedonian language and literature, read the set authors, practise text analysis and know the grammar. For physics, practise short calculations and learn the units.

Practising on GetMyMockTest

These are practice questions we wrote for study. They are not official exams, and we do not claim they match an official exam's current format. Free practice for North Macedonia:

• State Matura (drzavna-matura-macedonia): secondary school-leaving practice across mathematics, Macedonian language and literature, and physics, with timed mock tests and formula flashcard decks.
• Driving theory (vozacki-ispit-macedonia): Category B driver theory test practice covering road traffic safety rules, junction priority, signs and road markings, vehicle safety condition, and emergency first aid.
• North Macedonian general knowledge (gk-mk): history, geography, arts, science, and civic institutions of the Republic of North Macedonia.