Admission Procedures

 The following steps are taken when a prospective parent/guardian demonstrates an interest in enrolling their child in the school: 

 The parent/guardian expresses interest in school and requests more information.

2. An Admissions Office representative presents general information to the interested parent(s), including brochures, and directs people to the website, making appointments when appropriate and encouraging visits to Albanian College.

3. When visitors arrive, the Admissions Office immediately gathers information on the Interest Form, logging the information into the appropriate database for future contact.

4. An Admissions Office representative introduces the visitor(s) to the Director or another designated leadership team member for face-to-face discussions about programmes and conducts a tour of school, when appropriate.

5. Student applicants for Early Years 1 through Grade 3 should be met by Admissions staff and/or leadership team members to screen for any observable special educational or physical needs (see Special Educational Needs Policy). 

6. Students in Grade 4 through Grade 12 must have their English language assessed by a designated staff member only.
1. This may require a separate appointment to be established by the Admissions Office with the designated staff member.
2. Once the English language assessment is complete, the Executive Director determines enrollment status and specifies whether enrollment will be offered with or without conditions which may include summer school or other, additional requirements. 
3. Results are entered by the designated staff member into the Admissions Sheet for each campus of Albanian College for the Executive Director’s review.  
4. No assessment results are shared with anyone outside Albanian College staff. 

7. Families are informed of the school’s decision regarding enrollment in writing by email and/or hard copy letter by a representative of the Admissions Office.

8. If it is deemed that a student is eligible for enrollment, parents/guardians are required to submit the following documents: 

1. Grade reports for the two previous school years from the school(s) most recently attended, if applicable
2. Birth certificate
3. Family certificate (Albanian nationals)
4. Two passport-sized pictures of the applicant
5. Photocopy of parent/guardian official identification (eg. passport or national ID)
6. School’s student information form and Student Language Profile form (see below)
7. School’s medical form
8. Court documents regarding custody (in the case of divorced parents/guardians)
9. Receipt of bank transfer for tuition payment

In some cases it may not be possible to provide all of the required documents listed above and the Director may recommend that an exception be made (see Exceptional Enrollment). 

9. Once a student is enrolled, an Admissions Office representative ensures that the following details are arranged for each enrolled child:

1. Uniforms are distributed. 
2. Calendar and first day of classes are communicated. 
3. An official student file is created with enrollment documents, former school records, enrollment contract, receipt of tuition payment, and Student Language Profile.
4. Transportation requirements and payment receipt, when appropriate.

Student Language Profile

As part of the admissions process, families will provide information to allow the school to develop a language profile for each individual student (See Admissions Policy and Language Policy).  Families will indicate the student’s:

●     Mother-tongue language(s)

●     History of exposure to languages other than mother-tongue

●     Choice of additional language to be learned at the acquisition level if eligible (see Language Policy)

For students in Grades 4 and above, the school will note the student’s CEFR level based on the English-language assessment conducted during the admissions process.

The Student Language Profile informs the school about the student’s language abilities and needs to guide decisions regarding placement in language courses and/or specific support provided which may include: 

●     Assessment accommodations which may include one or more of the following: 

○     Modification or and/or definition of command terms and other instructions.

○     Translations and/or use of translation devices or dictionaries.

○     Use of additional visual aides.

○     Support provided by a teaching assistant.

○     Additional time for completion of assessments.

○     Customised formatting of written assessment materials to highlight key terms and concepts.

●     Language course eligibility depending on phase level (see Language Policy).

●     Language phase development over time.

Student language profile information will be maintained by the programme coordinator, accessible to teachers and will be updated annually. 

English-Language Assessment 

The Duolingo English Test is the English assessment that must be completed as part of the AC Tirana admissions application process.  The exam is completed at the ACT campus and uses computer-based, adaptive testing, meaning the questions become more or less challenging depending on the student’s performance.  The assessment session is recorded and validated by a Duolingo proctor.  Assessment sessions may last up to one hour.  The score reports provide the school with the student’s Common European Framework (CEFR) level, which allows the school to determine whether or not the student meets admissions criteria for the grade level (see Admissions Policy). 

The Albanian College application fee of 50 euro covers all associated costs relating to the Duolingo English Test.  Students must bring a valid passport or government-issued photo ID to the assessment session.