Student Housing in North Macedonia: Dormitories, Hostels and Rent

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Students in North Macedonia live either in a state student dormitory or in a rented room or flat. Public information for foreign students is thin, so this guide sticks to what the universities and Eurydice actually say and tells you where to ask for the rest. The most detailed source is the guide for international students of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM).

State dormitories

Eurydice reports that students who study away from home can receive subsidised dormitory accommodation, together with food and healthcare, and that 40% of dormitory places are reserved for students from lower-income families. Some other groups, for example children without parents and children of single parents, also have priority.

UKIM's guide confirms that a dormitory exists as part of the university's life: the student polyclinic, where first-year students must have a medical check, is in the student dormitory "Kuzman Josephovski - Pitu" on Metropolitan Theodosius Gologanov Boulevard in Skopje.

What we could not confirm from any official page is whether foreign students can apply for state dormitory places, what a place costs for them, and when applications open. Our catalogue holds no dormitory data for North Macedonia. If a dormitory matters to you, ask the university's international office before you accept a place.

Hostels while you search

UKIM's guide does not promise a dormitory place. It tells international students who have not rented a flat before arrival to stay in a hostel while they look. According to the guide, hostels in or near the centre of Skopje cost between 7 and 15 euros per bed per night, and it suggests choosing one close to your faculty, since the university has four campuses around the city: social sciences, technical sciences, medical sciences, and biological, biotechnical and natural sciences.

Private rent

The guide calls private accommodation the most convenient and affordable solution for most students. It gives these figures for Skopje:

Type	Rent per month
Studio	80 to 120 euros
Larger flat	130 to 200 euros
Utilities (heating, electricity, internet, water, waste)	50 to 150 euros

Utilities are not included in the rent and depend on the size of the flat, the type of heating and the number of people. The figures are from the 2025 edition of the guide, so rents may have risen. Check current listings and ask other students before you commit. Prices in the other university cities, such as Tetovo, Bitola, Stip and Ohrid, are not covered by the sources we found.

The lease and your residence permit

Housing is part of the legal process. The Ministry of Interior asks for proof of accommodation when you apply for the temporary residence permit. UKIM's procedure sheet lists a notarised rental agreement, or a university dormitory confirmation, as acceptable proof, and the registration certificate from the local police is also required. Since the sheet names a notarised agreement, ask the landlord to have the lease notarised. The enrolment confirmation from your faculty and the rental contract go together to the Foreigners department. See student visa for North Macedonia.

Food

Every UKIM faculty has a student canteen, and meals are available to all students, including foreign citizens. You can buy a meal plan with one, two or three meals a day.

Practical steps

Book a hostel for the first days and set aside time for viewings.
Choose an area near your faculty, since the campuses are far apart.
Agree the rent, the utilities and the deposit in writing, and have the lease notarised.
Register with the police on arrival, and keep the certificate for the Interior Ministry.
Compare the total with the tuition. See how much it costs to study in North Macedonia.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.