Not sure what to study yet: should you prepare to study abroad from Grade 10–11?

“My child is in Grade 11 but still doesn’t know what career they want. If they haven’t chosen a major, should we start looking into studying abroad now?”

This is a common concern for parents as their children enter the final years of high school. Families want to prepare early so as not to miss opportunities, but worry that choosing a university and major too soon will add pressure. Meanwhile, students aged 16–17 often have only a rough idea of their future career.

In fact, not knowing what to study does not mean you cannot start preparing. The key is to distinguish between preparing for a future option and making a decision today.

Not every student finds their field at 16

In high school, students mainly study general subjects. Fields such as Business Administration, IT, Engineering or Economics are often known only by name, from the internet or from relatives’ experience.

A student who is good at Maths will not necessarily enjoy Engineering. Likewise, a good communicator is not automatically suited to Marketing or Business. Interests, academic ability and the reality of a job do not always match.

So it is understandable that a student in Grade 10 or 11 has no clear answer yet. Instead of asking them to choose now, parents can help them learn about different fields, look at programmes and gain practical experience.

Preparing early does not mean choosing a university early

When families think of preparing to study abroad, they often think of choosing a university and country and preparing documents. But in Grade 10–11 there are more important things students can start even before choosing a field.

The first is a solid academic foundation. High school results can affect whether students meet university entry requirements, and strong results give them more options when it is time to apply.

The second is language. For families considering English-taught degrees in Europe, preparing English early has long-term value. Beyond admission requirements, the ability to follow lectures, read materials and communicate in English shapes how well students adapt after enrolment.

Students should also gradually build skills in self-study, time management, budgeting and handling everyday problems, all of which are needed when living away from home.

Exploring fields should be a process, not a one-off choice

A good approach is to start from what students already know about themselves: which subjects interest them, which activities they are willing to spend time on, and whether they prefer working with people, data, machines or creative ideas.

From there, families can explore a few related fields together. Besides reading programme descriptions, students should look at the courses in a degree, learn what graduates actually do and, where possible, take part in relevant activities.

For example, a student interested in IT could try an introductory programming course. One interested in business could learn how companies operate, join a small school project or read basic economics material.

Such experiences may not immediately reveal the ideal field, but they help rule out unsuitable options and give later decisions a firmer basis.

For Bulgaria, what should families look into from Grade 11?

Bulgaria is one of the European options with English-taught degree programmes and relatively accessible costs in some fields and universities.

If you are considering it, start by looking at which fields offer English-taught programmes, each university’s admission requirements and the budget needed for the whole course. This helps families judge whether the option fits, even before choosing a specific university.

At the same time, students can focus on improving English, keeping up their high school results and gradually identifying fields of interest. By Grade 12, with a clearer direction, families can narrow the list of universities, check entry requirements and prepare documents for the planned intake.

The exact timing depends on each programme and university. Some fields have entrance tests or specific requirements, so always check official admission information rather than applying one general timeline to everyone.

What parents can do is give their child more options

At 16–17, not yet knowing your future career is not a delay. But if the last two years of high school are spent only waiting for the child to “know what they like”, families may miss a good window to build language skills, academic ability and explore suitable education options.

Preparing early does not mean deciding early. With enough time to explore and gain experience, students are usually in a better position to make an important choice carefully.

SHI Global supports parents and students in exploring study options in Bulgaria, from assessing academic ability and English to identifying fields of interest and estimating costs. For families with children in Grade 10–11, counselling can start with the basics, without rushing to choose a specific university. Hotline/Zalo 0358 998 599 · Contact us.

Read more: Want to study in Bulgaria? Where to start · What level of English do you need?