The University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Bitola is the second state public university in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the most important institution for the higher education in the country's south-east region.

Almost 40 study programmes for undergraduate studies and 26 for graduate studies outspread at the 8 higher education units: 7 faculties and one higher vocational school, feature the specific, heterogenous educational offer of the university, that covers different scientific disciplines and educates profiles compatible with the actual demands from the labour market. UKLO, also, numbers 3 research units, one-of-their-kind in the country, University Library and Students’ Residence. The University seat is in Bitola and its units, the higher education institutions and research institutes, are settled down in many city centres: Bitola, Prilep, Ohrid, Skopje...with dispersed study programmes in Veles and many other places. The University St. Kliment Ohridski – Bitola attractes approximately 3.000 new student per year, and the total number of students in the last years remains continuously about 13.000 students.

The founding assembly was held on 25th April 1979 in Bitola. A Self-Managing Agreement for joining into University of Bitola was signed by six higher education institutions and two research institutes, namely:
•    Faculty of Economics - Prilep
•    Faculty of Law - Bitola
•    Faculty of Technical Sciences - Bitola
•    Faculty of Tourism and Catering - Ohrid
•    Agricultural Higher School - Bitola
•    Tobacco Institute - Prilep
•    Hydro biological Institute - Ohrid

Higher education and research institutions joined in the University in Bitola continued the already started activity, presenting at the same time its future developing vision. In the course of time and in accordance with the interest and development the following institutions joined the University:
•    Institute for Old Slav Culture - Prilep (1985)
•    National and University Library "St.Kliment Ohridski" - Biota (1980)
•    Student Center "Koch Racin"-Bitola (1981)
•    Higher Medical School -Bitola (1988)
•    Police Academy -Skopje  ( 2004)

Source: University's website, October 29, 2008.