What to Study in Bulgaria? 5 Groups of Majors Worth Exploring

When researching study in Bulgaria, many parents first look at tuition and entry requirements. For students, however, the choice of major is just as important. An affordable programme is not necessarily a good choice if its content does not match the student’s abilities, interests and career goals.

Bulgaria’s higher education system covers many fields, from economics and technology to engineering and medicine, and some universities offer programmes taught entirely in English. Below are 5 groups of majors Vietnamese students can consider.

1. Economics – Business Administration: for those who want to understand how businesses work

Economics and Business Administration have a wide range of applications, including management, marketing, finance, accounting and international business. Students learn not only how to organise a business but also about markets, consumer behaviour, financial analysis and business decision-making.

In Bulgaria, the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) offers English-taught bachelor programmes such as Business Economics and Management, Finance and Accounting, International Economic Relations, and Marketing and Strategic Planning.

This group suits students interested in business, with good communication, analytical thinking and a willingness to work with numbers. However, don’t choose it only because business is thought to make job hunting easy. Career paths are very diverse, and the skills required for accounting, finance and marketing differ considerably.

2. Information Technology: not only for those who love coding

IT is often associated with software programming, but the field also includes information systems, computer science, data and business technology applications.

Some Bulgarian programmes approach technology from different angles. For example, UNWE teaches Business Informatics and Communications in English, combining IT with economics and management. Varna University of Management also offers an English-taught Software Engineering programme.

Students considering IT should look not only at the programme title but also at the course structure. A programme focused on software development is different from one focused on information systems for business.

This group suits logical thinkers who enjoy solving problems and are ready to keep learning. English is especially important because most technical documentation and professional tools are in English.

3. Engineering – Technology: for students with a strong science background

For students who enjoy Maths, Physics and how technical systems work, engineering can be a direction worth considering. The field includes computer engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, automation, construction and many applied specialisations.

Bulgaria has engineering institutions such as the Technical University of Sofia, which offers some programmes in English, including the bachelor’s Information Technologies in Transport and the master’s Computer Science and Engineering.

Unlike management-oriented majors, engineering programmes usually require a solid foundation in Maths and science, practical skills and persistence in solving technical problems.

Parents should also note that not every engineering specialisation is offered in English at bachelor level. Check the programme, level and admission requirements carefully before shortlisting.

4. Medicine – Dentistry – Pharmacy: define career goals early

Medicine is one of Bulgaria’s notable international programme areas. Some of the country’s medical universities offer English-taught programmes for foreign students, including Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.

This choice needs more careful consideration of time and finances. Programmes usually last many years, involve a large workload and demand strong knowledge of sciences such as Biology and Chemistry. Tuition is also usually much higher than for Economics or Business Administration.

A particularly important issue is the plan for practising after graduation. If the student wants to return to Vietnam or work in another country, they need to research degree recognition, licensing requirements and language requirements in the place they plan to work.

For health-related majors, the choice of university should not be based only on the chance of admission or the tuition level. Training quality, clinical practice and long-term career direction need to be considered together.

5. Tourism – Hospitality: study in an environment linked to service and international communication

Bulgaria has well-known destinations, from the capital Sofia and historic cities to Black Sea resorts. This context helps students understand the tourism and service industry in a European setting.

At bachelor level, Varna University of Management offers International Hospitality Management in English. Programmes in this group usually cover hotel management, service operations, customer experience and business management in accommodation and tourism.

This group may suit students who enjoy communication, languages, organising work and working in a multicultural environment. However, service jobs also require problem-solving, resilience under pressure and flexibility with working hours.

If students want to intern or work directly with customers in Bulgaria, learning some Bulgarian can be a practical advantage, even though the degree programme is taught in English.

Choose the major first, then the school

These five groups show that Bulgaria offers many study directions for international students. However, this does not mean every major suits every student, or that job prospects after graduation are the same.

Before choosing, students should weigh at least four factors: current academic ability, genuine interest in the subject, ability to study in English and career plans after graduation. Families also need to consider the total cost of the whole course, especially for long or high-tuition programmes.

For students who have not yet chosen a specific major, starting with a field of interest and then gradually exploring programmes is more realistic than choosing a university only for its reputation or tuition level.

SHI Global helps students and parents explore study options in Bulgaria based on academic records, language level, career direction and family budget. From there, students can build a list of suitable schools to check admission conditions and prepare their application. Contact us via Hotline/Zalo 0358 998 599 or book a free consultation.