How much does it cost to attend a Bulgarian university? What private options are there for education?
The Sofia Echo answers these questions and more in the second of its two-part series on education in Bulgaria

When Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, all eyes were set on regulations on recognising Bulgarian diplomas. There was a reason. After the fall of communism, Bulgarians discovered the advantages of studying abroad as a way to improve their qualifications in search of a well paid job.

The problem was that because of the uniqueness of the Bulgarian educational system, which had undergone several changes in the past 18 years, not many countries were willing to recognise Bulgarian high schools and university diplomas.

That was one of the reasons why Bulgaria’s high school system was changed a few years ago and the number of grades became 12 as opposed to 11. The 12-grade system was closer to that of EU countries, the Education Ministry said at that time, which would help students who wanted to study in the EU.

To do that, Bulgarian students had to legalise their diplomas. This meant that they had to translate the diploma into one of the official EU languages or the language required by the education institution for which they were applying, get a stamp from Bulgaria’s Education and Foreign ministries proving that it was an official document and that it could be recognised abroad, and then send it to the desired school.

The high number of students who wanted to study abroad created an entirely new business.

Today, all larger cities are full of “legalising agencies”, as they call themselves. Their role is to ease the process of legalising diplomas by taking care of the whole process.
Such agencies employ people who specialise in translating diplomas into several languages and, depending on the language, charge a certain fee. The rarer the language, the higher the fee. Naturally, translations into English, French, German, Italian and Spanish are less expensive than Finnish or Hungarian, for example. The agencies also save time by queuing at the two ministries, which the applicant can do himself if s/he has the time or inclination.

The whole process usually last about a week and half and costs about 50 leva, depending on the agency and the language.

Unfortunately, for Bulgarians, the present system has not changed substantially since the country became an EU member. Today, if a high school student wants to study abroad, either in part or in full, he will still have to legalise his diploma or the results of his exams, depending on whether he is still in school and does not have a diploma yet.

As for universities, it all depends on the bilateral agreements that a given Bulgarian university has with given universities in other EU countries. All Bulgarian universities have departments dealing with such issues, and the process might or not require the legalisation of one’s diplomas.

In terms of job opportunities, Bulgarian diplomas are recognised in the EU, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, but under certain conditions. It depends on whether the job position is one of the so-called regulated professions. These include the professions of doctor, dentist and architect. In this case, Bulgarian diplomas are recognised automatically by the EU, the Education Ministry told The Sofia Echo. If, however, one applies for the profession of electrician in an EU country, he might have to sit additional exams if the country in question so requires, the ministry said.

If talking about Bulgarian diplomas being recognised outside the European Union, all that can be said is that it is best to check with the country and institution in question.
The list with the regulated professions is available online at regprof.nacid.bg. It is available in English as well.

The cost of a diploma

Dental medicine is the most expensive course of education in Bulgaria’s state-owned universities, according to a Government decision published in the State Gazette this year.

In the academic year 2008/09, a student in dental medicine will have to pay 960 leva a year at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski and at Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski.

Fees for pharmacy are 900 leva a year, while for medicine the sum is 950 leva.

Courses at Sofia Medical University will cost 900 leva year while at Varna Medical University, it will be 768 leva a year. In Pleven, medical students will be asked to pay 820 leva.

The National Musical Academy Pancho Vladigerov has set its annual fee at 960 leva. But those who want to become a music teacher will pay just 267 leva.

At the National Academy of Theatre (NATFIZ), fees vary from 800 leva to 960 leva a year, depending on the duration of the course of study.

Tuition at the National Art Academy is set between 700 leva and 800 leva a year.

Law students at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski will pay 427 leva a year, the same as those studying social sciences. One year of studying natural sciences, mathematics or IT will cost 614 leva. Public administration, tourism and economics will cost 267 leva.

Those studying mathematics at Sofia’s Technical University will pay 550 leva a year.

At the University of National and World Economy, students in economics will pay 266 leva a year. Law students will pay 426 leva a year.

Students in architecture will pay 600 leva a year at Sofia’s University for Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy.

Published as part of the Education in Bulgaria special feature of The Sofia Echo, May 23 2008