Universities in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a Balkan EU nation situated in south eastern Europe, sharing borders with countries including Turkey, Greece and Serbia. With stunning natural beauty, rich history and a culture of hospitality, there are a lot of reasons to visit Bulgaria, but it is also a great choice for international students to consider. Bulgaria is beginning to experience a growth in international students thanks to its low costs of living, safety and high class educational system.

The types of University

There are 52 universities in Bulgaria, which can be categorized into the following groups:

• Public research universities – which are state funded and place their focus on the quality of research output. These include institutions such as Sofia University, the University of Ruse and Plovdiv University.
• Private universities – which do not receive state funding and include institutions such as the New Bulgarian University, Burgas Free University and Varna Free University.
• Academies – which are focused on a specific subject area and include institutions such as the National Academy of Arts, National Sports Academy and the National Academy of Music.
• Medical universities – Focusing on subjects related to health and medicine, these include institutions such as Medical University, Sofia, Medical University Pleven and Plovdiv Medical University.
• Technical universities – Focusing on subjects related to engineering and also economics, these include institutions such as Technical University of Gabrovo, Technical University of Varna and Technical University, Sofia.

Language of tuition

The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, and it is also the language that is most widely used throughout the universities in the country.

There is an increasing number of degrees in Bulgaria taught in English. For example, at Sofia University, there are 6 bachelor degrees taught in English.

You can also study for a degree awarded by a UK university at some Bulgarian universities thanks to partnerships established between institutions in the two countries, such as Varna University of Management (VUM) and Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff Met), who allow students to graduate with two Bachelor degrees.

Popular cities in Bulgaria for international students

• Sofia – The capital city, situated in the west of Bulgaria adjacent to the Vitosha Mountain, Sofia is famous for its thermal spas and spectacular churches. Students will find it easy to navigate Sofia thanks to its efficient public transport system, and the cost of living is generally quite low in comparison to other EU countries. Sofia is the host to many of the best universities in Bulgaria, including Sofia University‎, New Bulgarian University and the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts‎.
  
• Plovdiv – Plovdiv is a truly ancient city, with the oldest continually inhabited ‘Old Town’ in Europe, it was also European Capital of Culture in 2023. Located in central Bulgaria, and built over several hills, it is also a very attractive city, which offers a great selection of food and arts to its visitors. There are several universities located in and around Plovdiv, including the University of Plovdiv and the Medical University in Plovdiv.
  
• Varna – Located on the coast of eastern Bulgaria, Varna is Bulgaria’s largest seaside resort and is also known for its links to maritime activities thanks to its port. It is a popular tourist location, with beautiful beaches, fascinating history, thriving arts, culture and food scenes, and a bustling nightlife. It is also a good place to study, with several universities, including Technical University Varna, the University of Economics Varna and Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy.

The top universities in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has many high quality universities, some of which feature in world university ranking tables.

Table of the top ranked universities in Bulgaria

We have compiled a list of some of the top universities and higher education providers in Bulgaria to browse below. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see what courses are available for international students.