Bulgaria Scholarships 2023: Study for free in Bulgaria
The fully-funded Bulgaria Scholarships for 2023 Spring intake in all of the Bulgarian Universities and Colleges are now accepting international students under various degree offerings.
Every year, a number of students apply to European universities for higher education. Around 1000 international students get enrolled in Bulgarian universities every year and this figure is on the rise. Low living costs, low tuition, competitive education, and low entry requirements are just some of the things that make students want to study in Bulgaria. With that fully and partially funded scholarships are also being offered in Bulgaria and in this article, we uncovered the top Bulgarian scholarship opportunities available in Bulgaria for students.
Other than that, Bulgaria is a land of opportunities and innovation. So many young individuals have settled in Bulgaria after studying and getting jobs. Many people have managed to organize their start-ups in Bulgaria because it is the kind of country that welcomes innovation with open arms. So, here we have come up with a complete guide on studying in Bulgaria as well as a list of the best scholarships available there to help you finance your education.
English Language Requirement in Bulgarian Universities
The medium of instruction at the university and college level in Bulgaria is English, German, French, and Bulgaria. Since Bulgaria is less popular among international students; the students applying to Bulgarian universities opt for English as a medium of instruction.
These universities of Bulgaria require students (whose first language is not English) to submit proof of their language proficiency. IELTS and TOEFL are widely acceptable in such universities (and the ones which are taken the most) with the minimum score required being 6. Unfortunately, this is the only way through which the students can prove their language proficiency.
Can You Work on Study VISA in Bulgaria?
As an international student, you will be eligible to take up part-time work in Bulgaria. Many students do that to cover the cost of living. Students from the EU and Bulgaria do not need a work permit to work part-time. However, students from outside of the EU need a work permit which will only allow them to work for 20 hours a week. Students are allotted a work permit on the condition that they will not let the work hinder their studies. Remember, that finding part-time work is not all that easy as most of the odd jobs require some understanding of the Bulgarian language.
Cost of Living in Bulgaria:
Bulgaria is one of those countries in the European Union which are fairly cheap to live in. A single person can live off US$557 a month (which doesn’t include rent). The rent costs around 500 BGN to 650 BGN (around US$301 to US$391).
Top Universities of Bulgaria 2023:
Bulgarian Universities are quickly gaining popularity among international students because of their exceptional educational system. Some of the best universities in Bulgaria are, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, New Bulgarian University, Technical University of Sofia, Angel Kanchev University of Ruse, and Medical University-Varna. Most of the nicer higher educational institutions are situated in the capital, Sofia.
Fully-funded Scholarships in Bulgaria in 2023:
The 2023 Scholarships in Bulgaria can be full or partial and are meant for students and researchers. These scholarships help students finance their education and/or stay in Bulgaria. Scroll down to read more:
1# Bulgarian Government Scholarships 2023:
The tuition fee in Bulgaria is considered one of the lowest in the whole of Europe. The students from Bulgaria and the European Union can take advantage of the even lower rates of tuition. Then there is the Bulgarian government scholarship program which is open to local students and students from the EU/EEA. These are partial scholarships and the amount of funding depends upon the academic record of the applicant. Scholarships are only open for the programs taught in the Bulgarian language.
2# Varna Free University Scholarships:
Every year, the Verna Free University awards scholarships and financial support to those students who possess academic excellence. These students should show exceptional talent in terms of academics as well as creativity. There are sports scholarships in place as well which are meant to give financial support to those who are good at sports. Some of these scholarships provide a full-tuition fee waiver and some provide a partial waiver. A number of scholarships have a monthly stipend as well.
3# Eastern European Study Abroad Scholarships:
EESA scholarships allow students to study in Eastern European countries for a semester, year, summer, short-term, or gap year. Bulgaria is one of the partner countries. The funding amount can be:
- $100 to $600 for students who wish to pursue a summer program and have a CGPA of 2.5.
- $1,000 to $7,000, for students who wish to pursue a year-long program in any of the Eastern European countries and have a minimum CGPA of 2.5.
- The need-based award provides funding of $2,500 and requires a minimum CGPA of 2.5
- The merit-based EESA award is also worth $2,500 but requires a minimum CGPA of 3.25
- The recipients of any of the EESA scholarships can also be eligible for additional funding of $100 which will require students to write about their scholarship experience (over on the EESA blog) with EESA once in every two weeks.
4# OppU Achievers Scholarships:
Another similar scholarship is the OppU scholarship which is also open for foreign students to study in Bulgaria. The recipients of this scholarship have exceptional academic achievements as well as leadership skills. The amount of funding is $2500 which goes toward paying for students’ tuition and other educational expenses. In order to apply, the students should be studying in any of the Bulgarian universities and should have a minimum CGPA of 3 out of 4.
5# American University in Bulgaria Scholarships:
The merit-based scholarships in AUBG do not entail the requirement of a separate application. On the other hand, need-based grants are only awarded to students who have applied for them separately.
The Gipson Black sea scholarship is worth $5,000 and is awarded to two students a year who are from Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, or Romania. The scholarship is available for four years and the applicant will have to show proof of financial need.
- Worth $3,000, the pride campaign scholarship is for the first year of study and is available to those students who have exceptional high school and TOEFL scores.
- Philhellene scholarship is available exclusively to Greek students for the first year of their studies and is worth $2,000.
- Yury Zabello scholarships are available to two foreign students from Belarus and are worth $2,500 each.
- USIT scholarship is open for students from Bulgaria, or from a developing country in Asia or Eastern Europe, and is worth $2,500.
- Serdika scholarships are US$2,400 each and are given to four students annually. The Bulgaria scholarship is open to freshmen students.
- The Dynamic Resources Scholarship is worth $2,500 and is open to students who have above-average or exceptional TOEFL scores.