How Much Does It Cost to Study in Bulgaria? Tuition Fees and Living Costs
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries in the EU for a degree, but the price depends heavily on your citizenship. At state universities the government sets every fee, separately for Bulgarian and EU students and for foreign students from outside the EU. Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026, and all 2026/27 fees are in euros.
How fees are set
Each year the Council of Ministers approves a table of annual fees for every state university and every field of study. For 2026/27 this is Decision No. 438 of 3 June 2026, amended by Decision No. 724 of 17 September 2026. The table has two parts:
- fees for Bulgarian citizens and citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland on state-funded places;
- fees for foreign students from outside the EU admitted under Article 95(8) of the Higher Education Act.
Private universities set their own fees, usually the same for everyone.
EU, EEA and Swiss students
You pay what Bulgarians pay. On a state-funded place a typical fee in our catalogue is about €460 a year.
- Some fields are free. Under Decree No. 283 of 2021, state-funded students in priority fields do not pay the annual fee at many universities, for example in mathematics, physics, chemistry, nursing and midwifery. Our catalogue shows these programmes as free.
- English-taught programmes can cost more. Some universities set a separate, higher fee for EU students taught in English. The highest we list is €2,981 a year, for dentistry in English at the Medical University of Varna.
- Paid places cost more. If you are admitted outside the state-funded quota (платено обучение), you pay a higher fee set by the university. Our catalogue does not show these.
Students from outside the EU
Foreign students from outside the EU pay the fees in the same government decision. A typical fee in our catalogue is about €3,200 a year. The cheapest programmes start at €1,000, and the most expensive, medicine and dentistry, cost up to €10,000 a year.
Fees for 2026/27 published by the universities themselves match the decision. For example:
| University and programme | Annual fee, non-EU (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Medical University of Sofia: medicine in English | €9,950 |
| Medical University of Sofia: dentistry in English | €10,000 |
| Medical University of Sofia: pharmacy in English | €8,000 |
| Medical University of Pleven: medicine in English | €9,000 |
The fee is usually paid in two equal parts at the start of each semester.
Preparatory year and application fees
If you need a language year first, budget for it separately:
- Bulgarian. Non-EU students who want to study in Bulgarian usually take a preparatory year. At Sofia University it costs €3,500 in 2026/27.
- English. Medical universities run preparatory years in English, for example €4,800 at the Medical University of Sofia and €4,000 at the Medical University of Pleven.
Universities also charge for applying. For the 2026 intake the Medical University of Sofia charged €55 to submit documents and €210 for the entrance exam; Pleven charges €200 for its exams.
Private universities
Our catalogue lists private universities in Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv and other cities. A typical fee is about €3,000 a year. The most expensive is the American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, at €13,800 a year (charged per semester).
Living costs
Bulgaria's living costs are low by EU standards, but they rise quickly in Sofia. The Medical University of Varna estimates that an international student needs about €450–€650 a month, with a private flat at €250–€400 a month. University dormitories are much cheaper, but places are limited. See student housing in Bulgaria.
Money for the residence permit
Non-EU students must show stable and sufficient means of support, at least the national minimum monthly wage, minimum grant or minimum pension, for the period of their stay. The minimum monthly wage in 2026 is €620.20. The details are in student visa for Bulgaria.
How to keep costs down
- EU citizens: compete for a state-funded place, and check whether your field is free under Decree No. 283.
- Compare universities: fees for the same field differ between universities, and cities outside Sofia are cheaper to live in.
- Check the university's own fee page as well as our catalogue, because the government decision can be amended during the year.
Where to look next
- How to get into a university in Bulgaria
- All programmes and cities in Bulgaria
- Student visa for Bulgaria
- Document recognition for Bulgaria
- Student housing in Bulgaria
- Scholarships and financial aid in Europe
Official sources
- Council of Ministers Decision No. 438 of 3 June 2026: fees at state universities for 2026/27 (in Bulgarian)
- Sofia University: tuition fees for 2026/27
- Medical University of Sofia: admissions and fees
- Medical University of Varna: cost of living
- ECB: Bulgaria to join the euro area on 1 January 2026
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.