Higher education in Bulgaria

Education · Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

Three cycles and the credit logic

Under the Bologna framework the first cycle is the bachelor (бакалавър), the second the master (магистър) and the third the doctorate (доктор). Bulgaria also runs an intermediate form: in some fields the first two cycles are merged into integrated programmes — medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy and law are the typical examples. Because each programme's workload is expressed in ECTS credits, a semester studied at another European university can be recognised in both directions.

State university or private

Bulgaria has both state and private higher education institutions, and both are subject to the same accreditation regime. Whether an institution and a specific programme are accredited can be checked against the registers of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency and МОН — this is the one mandatory check before enrolling. At state universities fees are set by regulation and there is a split between state-funded and fee-paying places; private institutions set their own fees.

English-taught programmes and the language requirement

• •English-taught programmes are most common in medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, business and engineering, and they are open to international students.
• •A foreign applicant to a Bulgarian-taught programme is normally asked for a preparatory year or proof of language proficiency.
• •Even on an English-taught course, daily life, internships and administrative procedures run in Bulgarian; not learning the language is a cost rather than a choice.
• •EU citizens generally apply and pay on the same terms as local students, with details varying by programme.

Diploma recognition: НАЦИД and the ENIC/NARIC network

A higher education diploma obtained abroad is not automatically valid in Bulgaria. The procedure is run by НАЦИД, the national centre representing the country in the European ENIC/NARIC network. Recognition can be sought for two different purposes, and the procedures differ: academic recognition, so you can enrol in the next cycle, and recognition for professional purposes, so you can practise a regulated profession. For regulated professions such as doctor, nurse or architect, registration with the relevant professional chamber is added on top.

1. 1

   Establish the purpose

   Are you applying for a master's, or intending to practise? Starting with the wrong procedure is the most commonly wasted time.
2. 2

   Collect documents at source

   Diploma, transcript and, where needed, apostille should be obtained before you leave the issuing country; gathering them remotely is far harder.
3. 3

   File through НАЦИД

   Current forms, fees and processing times are published by НАЦИД itself. No intermediary is required.

Frequently asked questions

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