Bulgaria : Postgraduate study

How does the higher education system work?

Higher education in Bulgaria is offered by a number of universities, further education colleges and institutes. It is open to anyone who has completed secondary education.

The qualification structure is similar to that in the UK and is divided into the following degrees:

• Bachelors degree – usually awarded after the completion of a four year course;
• Masters degree – awarded after the completion of a full five year course (or after an additional one year course following the Bachelors degree);
• Doctorate – the equivalent of the UK PhD, it requires an additional three years of study after a Masters degree has been awarded.

The above qualifications can be studied as full-time, part-time or distance learning courses. 

What courses are available?

Bulgarian universities offer a wide variety of options for postgraduate study which are available to international students. While some programmes are taught entirely in English (such as at the American University in Bulgaria), the majority are taught in Bulgarian with some classes in English, German or French.

If the programme involves taught classes in Bulgarian, you will need to pass a language examination. For those with no prior knowledge of Bulgarian, a nine month language course is available at Sofia University , which must be completed before a degree course can be started. Students who are already proficient in the language can sit the end examination without taking the course.

Where can I study?

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education provides a detailed list of Accredited Higher Schools in Bulgaria. This listing also provides some information of the performance of each university.

Universities Worldwide  also gives a list of all higher education institutions in Bulgaria. 

Applying for postgraduate study

For entry to a Masters degree you will be required to have a first degree (undergraduate). For Doctorate degrees the requirement is a completed Masters qualification. Specific grades and subjects required may differ between each institution and they should be contacted directly for further information.   

Depending on the start of the programme there are various closing dates and individual universities should be contacted to find out when these are. Usually the applications for Bachelors and Masters degrees start in June and run to mid-July.

The applications are made directly to the university and they will individually specify their terms and the necessary documents.

For some programmes applications are accepted online and successful applicants are invited to interviews.

For an application to study for a Doctorate degree you will be required to present the following documents:

• a covering letter demonstrating your research interest and specifying what language you will be using in your research;
• an official recognised certificate for your Masters degree – a translated, certified copy of your certificate will need to be presented to the Ministry of Education in order to be recognised.

Further advice is available from individual institutions.

Fees and scholarships

Foreign nationals must pay tuition fees to study in Bulgaria, which are set by the Council of Ministers annually. They vary across institutions but are typically €3,000 - €3,300 for a Masters programme. Course taught in English may cost slightly more. The language course that must be completed if you have no prior knowledge of Bulgarian costs €3,300.

Living in Bulgaria is relatively cheaper than the UK. Reasonably priced accommodation is sometimes provided to international students by the university, which depending on the type, can vary between €35 and €150 per month. It is also possible to rent privately in the city although this accommodation will be significantly more expensive. 

Scholarships are not generally available to international students. You will need to contact each university directly for further details or contact the Ministry of Education. The American University in Bulgaria is most likely to offer support. 

Are there any exchange programmes?

UK students on undergraduate degree programmes, studying postgraduate Masters or on some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in Bulgaria through the Erasmus exchange programme. This programme is open to all subject areas, but check with your institution's Erasmus coordinator first (usually based in the international office) to see which countries they have links with and in what subject areas.

Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?

As Bulgaria is a member state of the Bologna Process , qualifications will be transferable to the UK. You can also refer to the UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom)  for information on comparing international qualifications.