Study in Bulgaria

Higher Education Structure in Bulgaria

Study In Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a prominent Eastern European country located on the shores of the Black Sea in Southeastern Europe. Its capital and largest city is Sofia. Over 6 million people live in Bulgaria; it is one of the fastest developing countries in Eastern Europe, with a strong industrial (production and mining) sector. Bulgaria is a mountainous country, with the Balkan Mountains running across the country. With three national parks and several health resorts located on the Black Sea, Bulgaria provides several travel and tourism options for students at its Universities.

The architecture of Bulgaria is a unique mix of influences from the ancient civilisations located to its East and West, and its history is celebrated in the many museums in every city. Bulgarian Universities provide internationally recognised degrees, with credits transferable throughout higher education institutions in the European Union. The living costs and tuition fees in Bulgaria are much lower than those in Western Europe; therefore, it is a popular destination for international students, especially in disciplines like Medicine, where the fee differential is very high.

The Perks of Studying in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

The country is ranked #57 in the world in the US News “Best Countries for Education” report.
The country is ranked #24 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the World Population Review.
The country is ranked #59 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
The country is ranked #61 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.

Higher Education Framework in Bulgaria

There are three kinds of Institutions of Higher Education in Bulgaria:

1. Universities: They offer Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees, along with short-term courses and diplomas. In Bulgaria, there is usually at least one University in each major city.

2. Professional Colleges: These focus on vocational education and issue professional Bachelor's degrees that take 3 to 4 years to complete. They were founded to serve the needs of the labour market in Bulgaria, and the larger companies in the country have partnerships with different professional colleges to ensure a steady pipeline of candidates in the hiring process.

3. Specialised Higher Education Institutions: Most of these focus on fine art, though some focus on military training, languages, and entrepreneurship.

Certificate Programs

Short-term courses in Bulgarian Universities lead to the award of certificates in the Bulgarian language, and business or innovation skills. In recent years, topics like data science and machine learning have become popular subjects of certificate courses for Bulgarian professionals looking to upgrade their skills during busy work periods.

International students often take up short-term language courses. These courses take 2 to 3 months to complete, and most Universities in Bulgaria offer them in hybrid modes, through a mixture of online and in-person teaching.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor's programs in Bulgaria are offered by all types of Higher Education Institutions. At Bulgarian Universities, undergraduate program applicants must hold a valid secondary school diploma or certificate. Most Bachelor's programs in Bulgaria last eight semesters or four years, for a total of 240 credits.

Specialised tertiary education institutions offer three-year professional Bachelor's degree programs. They end with a series of examinations based on which students are given professional Bachelor's degrees. The vast majority of these graduates immediately enter the workforce, but a few opt to join Master's degree programs in the short or medium term.

Postgraduate Programs

Master's programs in Bulgaria last for 2, 3, or 4 semesters. They involve a mixture of rigorous coursework (with assignments and laboratory components) mixed with an introduction to original research work, culminating in creation of a Master's thesis. A few Universities in Bulgaria offer online Master's programs; however, these do not have the same resume value that full time, in person postgraduate degree programs do.

Doctoral Programs

The third cycle of University education in Bulgaria includes doctoral degree programs. PhD courses in Bulgarian Universities can be attended full-time or part-time. The normal full-time duration of a doctoral program in the country is three years.

All PhD programs in Bulgaria end with a doctoral dissertation presentation, in front of a panel of qualified external examiners. Most PhD degrees awarded in Bulgaria are in various scientific fields, and applicants must hold a recognised Master's degree in a field related to the topic of the PhD thesis.

Popular Disciplines Available in Bulgaria

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Bulgaria are-

Agricultural Technology	Philosophy	International Business Administration
European Studies	IT Entrepreneurship	Journalism and Mass Communication
Civil Engineering	Mathematics	Hospitality and Culinary Arts
Mechatronics	International Marketing	Applied Foreign Languages
Data Science	Economics	Computer Science
Applied Physics	Industrial Engineering	Renewable Energy

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Bulgaria

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Bulgaria.

The Name of the City	No. of Universities
Sofia	16
Plovdiv	4
Varna	4
Burgas	2
Veliko Tarnovo	2
Sozopol	1
Nesebar	1
Bansko	1
Ruse	1

Average Monthly Expenses in Bulgaria for International Students

Tuition fees for international students in Bulgaria vary according to the type of degree (UG or PG) and the chosen field of study. Annual tuition fees for Bachelor’s degree programs are between 2,000 and 3,000 Euros for most courses, while Master’s program tuition fees are usually 25% to 30% higher. Professional degrees like Medicine and Architecture are significantly higher.

Accommodation costs are highest in the large Bulgarian cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna. They can reach 300 to 400 Euros per month. Smaller cities have lower-cost housing options, with University students paying a monthly rent of 150 to 200 Euros. Other living costs include food, transportation, shopping for personal items, and study materials. These add up to a total of 200 to 300 Euros per month. Therefore, most international students in Bulgaria pay an average of 5,000 Euros per month on accommodation and other living costs, over and above their tuition fees.

Students' Visa Requirements

Candidates wishing to study long-term at a University in Bulgaria must apply for a type D student visa and a Residence Permit via the nearest Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate. The application may only be submitted after the candidate has obtained an offer of admission to a Bulgarian University.

The residence permit is initially granted for a period of one year. It can be extended multiple times until the program in which the student is enrolled reaches its conclusion. After the student reaches Bulgaria, he or she must contact the immigration authorities within five days with details of the permanent accommodation chosen and the current address.

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Bulgaria.

Visa Application Form.
Valid Passport.
Passport Photos.
Letter of Acceptance from a Bulgarian educational institution
Proof of Sufficient Funds
Health Insurance.
Visa Fee Payment
Academic Transcripts and certificates
Statement of Purpose (motivation letter)
Proof of Accommodation in Bulgaria
Flight Itinerary.
Proof of Language Proficiency (if applicable).
Birth Certificate.
Police Clearance Certificate (if required).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the student visa application fees?

The fees to be paid while submitting the Bulgarian student visa application are 100 Euros (in case the student is applying for a six month Residence Permit) or 200 Euros (for a one year Resident Permit).

What are the requirements related to photographs submitted during the visa application process?

Two photographs must be submitted during the Bulgarian visa application process. They must show the candidate sitting against a white or light grey coloured background. The photographs cannot be more than three months old. The face of the applicant should ideally cover about 75% of the area of the picture, and the expression must be impassive, with no teeth visible. The applicant must be looking directly at the camera, and no external objects or people should be visible.

How to deal with a rejected student visa?

If the Bulgarian Embassy rejects a student visa application, the next steps depend upon the reason given for rejection. If the reason is relatively trivial (for example, an error in the application form or missing documents in the submission package), the applicant can pay the application fee again and make a fresh submission. In this case, it is relatively likely that the second student visa application will be successful; however, this process will take several weeks, and the arrival in Bulgaria may be delayed. In case the student is not satisfied with the reason given for rejection, he or she can file an appeal either with the Bulgarian Embassy or a Court in Sofia. This process is complex and has a low chance of success; it is recommended that a candidate get legal help before appealing the decision in an administrative court. If the appeal is found valid, the visa will be issued, and the student can travel to Bulgaria.

Is it possible to do Part-Time work while studying in Bulgaria?

Students from European Union countries can work in Bulgaria with no restrictions. However, international students who are not from the EU are limited to working twenty hours per week during the semester. The Residence Permit is a necessary document to secure part time employment. During three months a year (two during summer and one in winter), international students in Bulgaria can work full time. Bulgarian Universities usually assist their students with part time job listings; in addition, local job agents are always ready to help students find part time employment, for a small fee.