Scholarships and Part-Time Work for Students in Bulgaria

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Bulgaria is cheap by EU standards, but it offers little money to international bachelor's students. Most scholarships are paid by state universities to Bulgarian and EU students, and fee-paying students from outside the EU should plan to cover their fees and living costs themselves. This guide sets out what does exist.

Government scholarships

We found no government scholarship open to all international bachelor's students. There is a separate route for people of Bulgarian origin living abroad, who are admitted under government decrees Nos. 103 and 228 rather than as ordinary foreign students. If you have Bulgarian roots, ask the Ministry of Education and Science or the university about it.

Students from outside the EU who are admitted as foreign students under Article 95(8) of the Higher Education Act pay the fees set for foreign students. See how much it costs to study in Bulgaria.

University scholarships at state universities

State universities pay scholarships under Council of Ministers Decree No. 90 of 2000 and their own rules. The Medical University of Varna, for example, says that:

only students who are Bulgarian citizens or citizens of the EU and the EEA may apply;
you must have passed all exams due and have an average of at least good (4.00) over the previous two semesters (first-year students: over the winter semester);
you need an account with a Bulgarian bank, because certificates from foreign banks are not accepted;
you apply online through the student system each semester, by the university's deadline.

There are scholarships for academic achievement and for special achievements, and some awarded for a whole year. Other state universities run similar schemes; read the scholarship page of your faculty.

Free places for EU students

Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland compete for state-funded places on the same terms as Bulgarians and pay the same low fees. In some priority fields, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, nursing and midwifery, state-funded students pay no annual fee at many universities, under Decree No. 283 of 2021. Our catalogue shows these programmes as free. Non-EU students admitted as foreign students do not get these places.

Private universities

Private universities set their own fees and their own aid. The American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, the most expensive university in our catalogue, says that:

it reviews all applicants for merit scholarships of up to 40% of tuition, and full scholarships for distinguished students;
donor-funded scholarships, both merit-based and need-based, are also available;
87% of its bachelor's students receive financial support.

Ask other private universities directly; few publish scholarship rules for international bachelor's students.

Working while you study

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Bulgaria without a permit.

Students from outside the EU may work without a work permit under Article 38 of the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act, if they are full-time students at a Bulgarian university:

for up to 20 working hours a week during the academic year;
during the university's official holidays;
the employer must register the job with the Employment Agency within 7 days of the start.

You need a valid student residence permit throughout. After graduating, non-EU students can apply for a residence permit of up to nine months to look for work; see student visa for Bulgaria.

Pay, tax and insurance

The national minimum monthly wage in 2026 is €620.20, set by Decree No. 243 of 13 November 2025.

Your employer withholds income tax and social and health contributions from your pay. Non-EU students must also keep the health insurance required for their residence permit; see health insurance for students in Europe.

Be realistic: 20 hours a week at around the minimum wage will help with living costs, but it will not pay the fees for medicine or for a private university.

Where to find work

University career centres. Many universities have one, for example the Career Development Center of the Medical University of Pleven. They advertise part-time jobs and internships.
The Employment Agency, the state employment service, which lists vacancies.
Without Bulgarian the choice of jobs is much smaller, so a language course is worth considering.

Where to look next

Official sources

Medical University of Varna: scholarships
Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act: English text, Article 38 (Ministry of Labour and Social Policy)
European Commission: student in Bulgaria: EU Immigration Portal
National Revenue Agency: minimum wage from 1 January 2026 (in Bulgarian)
American University in Bulgaria: costs and aid

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.