Study and find schools in Bulgaria

Studying in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is an EU member state on the Black Sea, in south-eastern Europe, with Sofia as its capital and Bulgarian as the language of most university teaching. It attracts international students with its public universities, its bachelor's and master's programmes taught in English and its EU degree structure. Students from EU countries study on the same terms as Bulgarians; students from outside the EU pay fees set for international students.

The university sector includes large public universities in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas, specialised universities in fields such as economics and medicine, and private institutions such as the American University in Bulgaria. Quality is checked by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA), which awarded institutional accreditation certificates to 18 higher-education institutions in 2024.

The education system

Bulgarian higher education follows the three-cycle structure of the European Higher Education Area. According to Sofia University's guide for international students:

• Bachelor's degree: four years of study
• Master's degree: five years from the start, or at least one year after a bachelor's degree
• Doctoral degree: three years after a master's degree (four years part-time)

Some universities also offer a professional bachelor's degree; the Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University in Burgas, for example, lists professional bachelor's, bachelor's and master's degrees and medicine. Students can study full-time, part-time or by distance learning. Lifelong-learning and further-qualification programmes are also common, but they do not lead to a new degree.

Vocational courses are also offered outside the universities; HRC Culinary Academy in Sofia, for example, is a culinary school. Language schools such as English Academy in Varna teach English to adults at all levels from A1 to C1 and prepare students for CAE and IELTS.

Admission and recognition

Bulgarian universities are open to applicants whose secondary school diploma would give them access to university in the country where they obtained it. The route depends on your nationality:

• EU citizens, permanent residents of Bulgaria and foreign citizens of Bulgarian origin apply under the same rules and conditions as Bulgarians
• Students under intergovernmental agreements are nominated through the Ministry of Education and Science
• All other foreign applicants apply under Article 95(8) of the Higher Education Act and pay the annual tuition fees for international students

For programmes taught in Bulgarian, non-EU applicants need a B2 certificate in Bulgarian. Universities run a preparatory language year: at Sofia University it lasts at least nine months, is taught in groups of no more than ten students and costs €3,500. Applicants who already speak Bulgarian can take the exams without the course.

Foreign school-leaving certificates are recognised by the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID), which issues a certificate of equivalence for students who want to enter higher education. NACID also handles the academic recognition of foreign bachelor's and master's degrees for graduates who want to continue their studies or work in Bulgaria.

Student visa and residence

EU and EEA citizens can enter with their ID card. If they stay longer than three months, they must obtain a temporary residence permit from the local police administration.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a long-stay visa (type D) from the Bulgarian consulate in their country of residence. According to Sofia University (checked October 2026), the visa requires a certificate (udostoverenie) issued by the Ministry of Education and Science once the university has sent the complete application file of the admitted student. Sofia University therefore asks applicants to apply no later than 15 September for the academic year. After registering at their faculty, full-time students apply for a Bulgarian ID card for long-term residence at the Migration Office of the Ministry of Interior.

Costs and funding

EU students pay the same fees as Bulgarian students. Non-EU students pay the international tuition fees set by each university, in euro, usually in two equal instalments at the start of each semester. People with dual citizenship, one of them Bulgarian, pay half the international fee at Sofia University.

Private universities set their own fees and scholarships. The American University in Bulgaria, for example, reports that 81% of incoming students received scholarship and financial aid support last year, and its priority admission deadline for autumn 2027 is 15 January.

Where to study

• Sofia: Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", whose Central University Library is the largest university library in Bulgaria; the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), with 53 bachelor's, 90 master's and 45 doctoral programmes; and HRC Culinary Academy
• Blagoevgrad: the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), which offers an American-style education recognised in the US and the EU and had 1,425 students in autumn 2026
• Plovdiv: Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", with bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes
• Burgas: Burgas Free University, with faculties of law, business, computer science and engineering, and humanities; and the Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University
• Varna and Dobrich: English Academy in Varna and Varna University of Management in Dobrich

Practical life

EU and EEA students can use the European Health Insurance Card for public health care. Students from outside the EU/EEA should arrange health insurance in their home country before they travel; according to Sofia University, foreign students pay for consultations and are reimbursed by their insurer. Universities such as Sofia University take part in EU programmes such as Erasmus, so exchange semesters are common, and many universities run student hostels or dormitories.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Bulgaria in English?

Yes. Several universities offer bachelor's and master's programmes in English (Sofia University among them), and AUBG offers an American-style education. For programmes in Bulgarian, non-EU students need a B2 certificate, usually after a preparatory language year.

Do EU students pay tuition fees in Bulgaria?

EU citizens apply under the same rules as Bulgarians and pay the same fees. Students from outside the EU pay the international fees set under Article 95(8) of the Higher Education Act.

Do I need a visa to study in Bulgaria?

Non-EU students need a long-stay type D visa. It is based on a certificate from the Ministry of Education and Science, so apply to the university early; Sofia University recommends no later than 15 September.

How long does a bachelor's degree take in Bulgaria?

A bachelor's degree takes four years. A master's takes at least one more year, and a doctorate three years after the master's.

Who recognises my school diploma?

NACID, the National Centre for Information and Documentation, confirms the equivalence of foreign secondary education for admission to Bulgarian universities.