Mirela Bogdani graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tirana. Following her graduation she worked in public clinics and then in her private practice. After this she spent nine years in the Albanian public administration as Chief Dental Officer in the Ministry of Health. She undertook postgraduate studies in health policy, administration and management at Boston University, USA (1995), at University of London - UCL, UK (1997) as a Research Fellow, and at "George Washington" University, USA (1999-2000) as a Visiting Scholar. She obtained her "Doctor of Science" (PhD) degree in medical sciences from the University of Tirana, Albania in 2001. In 2002 she published her first book “Oral Prevention and Dental Public Health” (Botime Toena 2002).

In 1998 she became involved in Albanian party politics and later stood for elections. She was engaged in the “women in leadership” issue and advocated an increase of women’s representation in political decision-making structures and in the political parties. During 2002-2003 she did a "Master of Science" (MSc) in "European Public Policy" at Cardiff University, UK. This programme and her previous involvement in Albanian politics changed her career from dentistry and public health to politics. Since 2002 she has been living in the UK, pursuing a career in politics, both as an academic/political scientist (she worked at Cardiff University as a lecturer and researcher in the School of European Studies) and in real politics (actively involved since 2003 in the British Conservative Party). She further completed her formal academic education in politics by reading for a "Master of Philosophy" (MPhil) in "European Politics" at Oxford University, St. Antony’s College (2006-08).

Her current fields of interest are the European Union, British politics, Albanian politics, and in particular the EU enlargement policy and European integration/accession process of Albania and its relations with the EU. In 2004 she published her second book “Albania and the European Union: European Integration and the Prospect of Accession” (Dajti 2000, Tirane). In 2007 her third book "Albania and the EU: Tumultuous Journey towards Integration and Accession" was published by I.B.Tauris (London-New York). Her fourth book, again on EU Enlargement, this time focused on Turkey, entitled "Turkey and the Dilemma of EU Accession: When Religion meets Politics", was published in October 2010 in London (by I.B.Tauris). Dr. Bogdani has also written many professional, scientific and political articles in Albanian and international journals, newspapers and magazines, as well as has held many conference papers and presentations in professional and political activities. She has also given lectures and talks in various academic institutions, such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, London School of Economics (LSE), University of London (UCL), University of Bristol, University of Tirana, European University of Tirana and Marin Barleti University.