Public University “Kadri Zeka” Gjilan

Key Highlights

• Public university established by Kosovo Government Decision No. 03/118 on 6 March 2013
• Institutional seat is in Gjilan, in southeastern Kosovo
• University reports institutional reaccreditation through 30 September 2029
• Active 2026/2027 admissions activity confirms continued operation

Student Life & Environment

UKZ’s main building on Zija Shemsiu Street brings academic and administrative functions together. The university describes a library, teaching spaces, faculty offices, student services, an IT office and a finance office within the building. Its website also provides access points for the student-management system, webmail, e-learning and an electronic library. These are useful practical resources, although the university does not publish enough current detail to assess opening hours, collection size or accessibility arrangements. Students have a formal representative structure. UKZ’s student-election regulation identifies the Student Parliament as the highest student-representation body and provides for student participation in university governance. Internationalization rules also provide a framework for student exchange through bilateral agreements, but availability depends on specific calls and funding rather than automatic access for every student. Housing requires advance investigation. The university’s general-information page says Gjilan has a small student center with limited capacity and also refers students to private accommodation and hotels. It does not provide verified 2026/2027 residence prices, allocation rules or availability. Students who need housing should therefore contact the university and the relevant student center before accepting a place.

Location & Surroundings

The university is based at Zija Shemsiu Street, No. 183, 60000 Gjilan, in Kosovo’s southeastern Anamorava region. Its official information places Gjilan about 46 kilometres from Pristina and about 60 kilometres from the international airport. The city is also comparatively close to communities across the regional borders, including Preševo and Kumanovo, which helps explain UKZ’s stated regional mission. The university identifies local cultural amenities including a city theatre, museum, library and gallery. However, its general-information page says Gjilan does not have a municipal local-public-transport system and that movement within the city relies on private buses and taxis. Applicants should independently confirm current routes, fares and late-evening transport before arranging accommodation. For students choosing between Gjilan and the capital, the practical trade-off is a smaller regional setting with the university’s academic and administrative services concentrated at one principal address, but more limited university housing and local transport information. No verified current commuting-time or private-rent figures were available.

Costs & Career Outcomes

A current, comprehensive 2026/2027 fee schedule was not located. The university’s fee page lists historical semester charges and administrative fees, but that page dates from the older website period and should not be treated as a current price list. More recent Kosovo government information from September 2025 states that public higher education had been made free and reports substantial ministry scholarship support for UKZ students. Applicants should still ask UKZ to confirm whether their program or status creates registration, examination, recognition, repetition or graduation charges. Housing and living costs also remain uncertain. UKZ’s general-information page describes a small student center and private alternatives but gives no current residence price, meal plan, private rent or transport budget. Students should obtain written housing terms and build a separate budget for accommodation, food and private local transport. Career support is visible but outcomes data are limited. UKZ maintains a Career Center and Alumni function, and its April 2025 job and career fair brought businesses and organizations to campus to present employment and internship opportunities. This indicates an employer-engagement channel, not a placement guarantee. No sufficiently current, independently verified graduate-employment rate, salary figure or major-employer list was found, so prospective students should ask the relevant faculty about internships and recent graduate destinations in their specific program.