Want to study in Bulgaria? Where to start

A sound study abroad plan starts with the student: what they want to study, their current academic level, whether their English is good enough to follow the course, and how much the family can budget for the whole journey. Once these points are reasonably clear, choosing a university and preparing the application has a real basis.

Don’t pick a university before you know what you want to study

University names, tuition fees and entry requirements are the easiest information to find, so many students choose a university first and only then look at which programmes it offers. This quickly produces a shortlist, but it does not necessarily lead to the right decision.

Even within the same field, such as Business, Technology or Engineering, programmes differ in content, entry requirements and specialisation. A suitable university is not simply one with affordable fees or easy admission; above all, it must offer a programme that matches the student’s direction.

Students who have not settled on one major do not need to rush. Start by narrowing down to a few fields based on strong subjects, interests, abilities and career goals. The search for universities in Bulgaria then becomes far more concrete.

Meeting the English requirement is not the same as being ready to study in English

A key advantage of Bulgaria is that international students can choose programmes taught in English, so Vietnamese students can build on the English they already have instead of starting a completely new language.

However, the question is not only whether you have the certificate or meet the admission requirement. Studying a degree in English means following lectures, reading textbooks, writing assignments, presenting and working in groups in English throughout the course. The gap between “eligible to enrol” and “able to study comfortably” can be quite large.

The application period should therefore also be used to strengthen academic English. With a year to go, improving your ability to follow lectures, read subject material and express your views in English can be worth as much as a higher test score.

Budget for the whole course, not just the first year

Many families consider Bulgaria partly because costs are relatively accessible compared with many other European destinations. For some bachelor’s programmes, tuition can be around EUR 3,000–4,500 per year (for reference). Living in a dormitory or other low-cost housing, cooking for yourself and keeping spending under control, living costs can be estimated at around EUR 300–500 per month.

On this basis, tuition and living costs for one year may total around EUR 6,600–10,500, roughly VND 198–315 million at an indicative rate of 1 EUR ≈ 30,000 VND. This is not a fixed figure: costs vary by university, programme, city, accommodation and personal needs. Specialised programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy have considerably higher fees.

Families should think not only about how much the first year costs, but whether they can sustain the budget for the entire course. A plan that is affordable at enrolment can become a burden if later years depend on uncertain income. Planning early also helps families prepare for costs beyond tuition and living expenses, such as documents, insurance, visa, flights and initial set-up costs in Bulgaria.

Choose a university once your field, English and budget are clear

This is when comparing Bulgarian universities becomes meaningful. Instead of picking from the top of a ranking, students can compare programmes side by side: content, entry requirements, language of instruction, fees, duration and which city suits them.

For example, two students who both want to study Business in English will not necessarily choose the same university. One may prioritise the programme and environment in Sofia, while another puts more weight on living costs or a particular specialisation. A “good university” only means something in relation to each student’s profile and goals.

It is also the time to check information directly with the university rather than relying on online summaries. Admission requirements, fees and programmes can change from year to year; what applied to last year’s intake may not apply in full to the next one.

From choosing a university to a workable plan

Once a suitable programme is identified, preparation moves on to the application. Depending on the university and the case, students prepare academic, personal and language documents and complete steps such as translation, certification or legalisation as required.

An offer of admission is not the end. Non-EU students planning long-term study in Bulgaria must also obtain the appropriate visa and arrange insurance, accommodation and other requirements before entry, then complete residence procedures after arrival. From researching universities to the first day of class is a chain of linked stages, not just one application.

This is why preparing early matters: not to rush every step, but to leave time to adjust if English turns out to be weaker than expected, the budget does not fit, or the original field is not the right one.

New to Bulgaria? Start with four questions

Instead of starting with “Which university should I apply to?”, students can first answer four questions:

• Which field or group of fields do I want to study?
• What is my current academic level?
• What is my English level?
• How much can my family budget each year and for the whole course?

These answers are not an application yet, but they are the foundation for the next steps: narrowing the list of universities, checking entry requirements and building a suitable financial plan.

Bulgaria can be a good option for students who want to study in Europe, are interested in English-taught programmes and need a manageable level of investment. But like any destination, it only works when the programme, the student’s ability and the family’s circumstances meet in a plan that can be sustained.

If you are just starting out and are unsure whether to begin with universities, majors or documents, SHI Global can review academic record, English, field of study and budget with you before building a shortlist and a concrete preparation plan. Hotline/Zalo 0358 998 599 · Contact us.