Higher education in Bulgaria. Bulgarian residence permit for foreign students

According to the register of higher education institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria, there are currently  51 accredited higher education institutions operating in the country: universities, colleges, academies and others.

With such a variety of universities in Bulgaria, it can sometimes be difficult to choose a suitable place to study. That is why several tools (websites) created by the Ministry of Education and Science come to your aid, which will help you navigate among universities and obtain more specific information about each of them.

Procedure and conditions for the education of foreign citizens in higher education institutions of Bulgaria

Foreign students admitted in accordance with Council of Ministers Decree No. 103/1993 and Council of Ministers Decree No. 228/1997 enrol at the higher education institution before the start of the academic year after receiving from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science a certificate and the documents with which they applied. Each institution lists the dates on its website, at the institution itself, or you can call the registrar's office by phone and find out by what date/month applications are being accepted.

Students must report to the Functional Dean's Office “Foreign students, doctoral candidates and postgraduates”, where they receive the necessary information for enrolment and accommodation in the dormitory.

After completing the set of documents received and paying the specified fee, they must register with the inspector of the relevant faculty.

Accommodation in the dormitory takes place after submitting an application certified by the inspector of the faculty of academic activities. Foreign students pay the fee and rent set for the academic year.

Everything about the education of foreign students in Bulgaria. According to the decree on state requirements for the admission of students to universities of the Republic of Bulgaria, foreigners who have a document of completed secondary education granting them access to education at higher education institutions of the country where the secondary education was obtained, or a document of completed higher education.

Foreigners – EU citizens may submit documents for study under the conditions and procedure for the admission of Bulgarian citizens if they:

• are citizens of Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area;
• have "permanent residence" status on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• have refugee status;
• are of Bulgarian origin.

Foreigners submit the following documents:

• a form or application containing brief biographical data and the higher education institutions and specialities in which they wish to study;
• a copy of the document of complete secondary education and appendices with grades;
• a document issued by the competent authority confirming the applicant's right to continue their education at higher schools of the country in which the secondary education was obtained;
• an academic certificate – for students entering part-time studies;
• a copy of the document of completed higher education with a degree corresponding to the educational-qualification degree «bachelor» or «master» – for candidates for master's studies;
• a document proving knowledge of the Bulgarian language at level B2 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, issued by a higher education institution in the Republic of Bulgaria. Foreign citizens who do not speak Bulgarian complete a preparatory language course and specialised courses in Bulgarian in the first year at the university's department of language training.
• a medical certificate issued within one month before the date of application and certified by the relevant authorities of the country from which the person is applying;
• copies of citizenship documents – for candidates with dual citizenship, one of which is Bulgarian;
• two photographs.

Studying in Bulgaria for citizens of Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine

Residence permit in Bulgaria for students

For Russians and Ukrainians, the university sends to the Ministry of Education and Science the documents of approved persons in connection with the implementation of the procedure for issuing long-term visas – type «D» visas – no later than 1 October for the first semester and no later than 1 February for the second semester in the year of application.

Is it obligatory to know Bulgarian or English in order to enrol in a Bulgarian university?

• Instruction at Bulgarian universities is conducted in Bulgarian or English.
• Language and specialised training is conducted at the university's language training faculty. The training is carried out according to the educational documentation, which covers the curriculum and syllabuses. Language and subject knowledge training lasts at least 9 months and is conducted in study groups of no more than 10 people. Language and specialised training is carried out through the study of compulsory subjects, divided into two groups with a minimum number of hours, namely:
• For the humanities – Bulgarian or the language in which the training will be conducted – 800 academic hours;
• For all other specialities – Bulgarian or the language in which the training will be conducted – 650 hours, as well as specialised subjects – 350 hours.
• Instruction in Bulgarian or in the language in which the training will be conducted ends with a written and oral examination.
• When enrolling at a university, you can also choose to study in English, having first checked whether this option is offered.

Is free education possible?

A contract with a future employer will provide free higher education in Bulgaria. The conditions for this are set out in the draft Decree on the conditions for ensuring the payment of tuition for students who have concluded contracts with an employer. 

Free higher education will not be available for all university specialities. This opportunity is offered to employers who are short of highly qualified staff.

Financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants and loans at Bulgarian universities depends on various criteria. Foreigners are entitled to the same scholarships covering tuition fees as citizens of the country.

Even if you are not a citizen of the country in which you want to study, if you have lived in Bulgaria for five or more years, you are entitled to receive a scholarship on the same terms as citizens of the country.

What are the tuition fees at Bulgarian universities?

Annual tuition fees at Bulgarian universities range from €200 to €7,700.

The best universities in Bulgaria

Which city of Bulgaria to come to for enrolment and how to find accommodation.

The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) has presented a new edition of the Rating System of Higher Education Institutions of Bulgaria for 2020/2021.

• Sofia University is the leader in teaching specialities in the professional fields of biological sciences, biotechnology, economics, informatics and computer science, history and archaeology, mathematics, earth sciences, pedagogy, law, psychology, religion and theology. Social work, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, theory and management of education, tourism, physical sciences, philosophy, philosophy and chemical sciences –  the study of these disciplines is also offered by Sofia University.
• The Technical Universities of Sofia and Varna are the leaders in teaching electrical engineering, electronics and automation, communications and computer technology, mechanical engineering and transport, shipping and aviation.
• The American University in Bulgaria is the leader in the fields of administration and management, public communications and information sciences, as well as political science.
• At the University of Forestry, the best-taught specialities are veterinary medicine and crop production.
• The Agricultural University in Plovdiv leads in the teaching of animal husbandry.
• The Georgi Stoykov Rakovski Military Academy in Sofia – in military affairs.
• The University of Mining and Geology – exploration, extraction and processing of mineral resources, as well as agriculture.
• The University of Plovdiv – in plant protection.
• The University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Sofia – in materials and materials science, as well as in metallurgy.
• The University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sofia is, accordingly, the best in teaching the specialities of architecture, civil engineering and geodesy.
• The medical universities in Plovdiv, Varna and Sofia share first and second place with 74 points in medicine, and the capital's university is the champion in pharmacy.
• The National Academy of Arts is expected to be the leader in teaching fine arts, the «Prof. Pancho Vladigerov» NMA in Sofia – first in the field of music and dance, the «Prof. Asen Diamandiev» Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv – the best in Theory of Arts, and in theatre and film arts – logically, the leader is the «Krastyo Sarafov» NATFA.
• The Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Sofia is also included in the rating system and is the leader in teaching specialities in the field of national security.

Which city of Bulgaria is better to go to for university enrolment depends on many factors, indicators, points, fields and areas of study, and cost.

How to find accommodation for a student in Bulgaria

Most universities offer dormitories.

If you have decided to live independently, you can find accommodation for rent – a room or a flat – on Bulgarian websites. You can also contact the Bulgaria Avenue real estate agency and we will offer flats at various prices and locations and organise a viewing.

What is better –  to buy or rent a flat for a student in Bulgaria?

If it is possible to purchase accommodation, then investing in urban real estate in Bulgaria is an excellent investment. A trend of price growth of 6–10% has been observed every year. Your child will not have to move from flat to flat, they will have their own «corner», and you will also save money – which you might have paid over 5 or 6 years of rent.

Is it possible to obtain permanent residence in Bulgaria after five years of study at a Bulgarian university and holding a residence permit?

Yes, it is possible to obtain permanent residence in Bulgaria after five years of study at a Bulgarian university and holding a residence permit. Bear in mind that, unlike other grounds for obtaining a residence permit, university studies differ in that later, when calculating the period of residence in the country for obtaining long-term residence or permanent residence, only half of the time the student has spent in Bulgaria is counted. This means that out of five years, only 2.5 years are counted.

The Bulgaria Avenue company will be delighted to assist you in any direction and area – the future must be laid down in the present!