Vesna Janevska opens 2026–2027 academic year at UKIM, announces scholarships and dorm renovations
Janevska announced new scholarship categories, renovated dormitories and accredited study programmes as the academic year opens.
Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska opened the 2026–2027 academic year today at St. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) in Skopje, welcoming incoming students and urging them to pursue knowledge with curiosity and courage.
“On this plateau lies the greatest potential that Macedonia has. You are the future professionals, innovators and leaders who will build the future of this country,” Janevska told the audience, calling on students to take advantage of research opportunities, international exchanges and project work.
Scholarships, dormitories and new programmes
Janevska said higher education is among the Ministry of Education and Science's top priorities and that concrete steps are already under way to align studies with European standards and the labour market. She added that several existing programmes have been evaluated and a number of new study programmes have been accredited.
Regarding student living standards, the minister announced that two student dormitories in Skopje have been renovated, one of which was handed over yesterday, and that the reopening of the Kuzman Josifovski-Pitu dormitory is expected soon. “Around 1 150 students will be able to live and study in modern conditions,” she said, referring to the renovated Stiv Naumov dormitory now in use.
Janevska also said a call for student scholarships will be published shortly and will introduce new categories, including support for students with rare diseases and those with special educational needs. She noted ongoing cooperation with student associations and said she has personally accepted and fulfilled about ten of their requests to improve student life.
With UKIM’s admission call this year, a total of 8 851 places were available for freshmen across 23 faculties. Currently the country’s oldest and largest university enrolls over 26 thousand students, of whom more than 23 400 are undergraduates; the rest attend master’s and doctoral programmes. UKIM offers 242 undergraduate, 313 master’s and 99 doctoral study programmes.
Photo: press material from the event
