Search for Grants and Discounts
Unfortunately, the list of grants available to applicants from Ukraine who go to study in Bulgaria is small. It is limited to one item. This is the scholarship for applicants of the American University in Blagoevgrad. But if you receive it, you might not have to pay at all for the full four-year course (9500 euros x 4 = 38 thousand euros). However, having received this scholarship, it is easier to go to study directly in the USA, as it covers the cost of studying at an American university in any country in the world.
But even if you come to the university without a scholarship, you will have the opportunity to save on tuition fees. The fact is that some private Bulgarian universities give students discounts for good grades. And our students often use this. Moreover, discounts can reach 500-2000 euros per year. And the best student of the university can even get 3000 euros per year. Therefore, before submitting documents, check this important point with the university.
GRANTS FROM THE EU. Since Ukraine is not a member of the European Union, our students cannot apply for grants from its funds. But everything changes when a Ukrainian becomes a student of a university in an EU member state. In this case, the European Union funds are ready to consider his application for a grant and allocate money. The amounts can vary, but they often reach several thousand dollars per year. You can apply for such grants already in the 2nd-3rd year of study.
EXCHANGE. In addition, many Bulgarian universities participate in student exchange programs under the Erasmus Mundus program. And Ukrainians, on par with other students, can also receive scholarships within its framework and study for six months to a year at a university in Italy, France, or any other EU country. This is an obvious plus for us, as in Ukraine it is very difficult to get a scholarship under the Erasmus Mundus program.
One of the indicative differences between Bulgarian and Ukrainian education concerns double accreditation of some programs. Thanks to partnerships with universities from other countries (for example, the UK), a graduate can receive a diploma from a British university, while paying ten times less for tuition. But there are relatively few such programs.
6 reasons not to go:
1. Education in Bulgaria is paid even at state universities.
2. Ukrainian schoolchildren, accustomed to copying from a neighbor at the desk and downloading essays from the internet, will be disappointed that in Bulgaria they can even be expelled for plagiarism. And even if they are not expelled, the completed work will not be accepted anyway.
3. Academic performance is strictly monitored, and for failing two subjects, one can be expelled from the university.
4. In some universities, living in a dormitory can be expensive. But you can save money by renting an apartment.
5. Only a few Bulgarian universities are leaders in international university rankings.
6. So far, there is only one grant program for Ukrainians wishing to study at higher education institutions in Bulgaria.
6 reasons to go
1. The diploma of an accredited Bulgarian university is recognized in all countries of the world and allows you to continue your studies in any EU country.
2. When applying, you do not need to take exams in specialized subjects. You also do not need to pass external independent testing in Ukraine. It is enough to pass a language proficiency test and present a secondary education certificate.
3. Students of some universities can receive 2 diplomas: from a Bulgarian university and a partner university. For example, a British one.
4. Foreign students enrolled at the university receive a "residence permit", which significantly simplifies their visa regime and allows them to travel to EU countries.
5. In Bulgarian universities, there is practically no corruption. Therefore, tuition costs will be limited to the annual fee paid to the cashier.
6. By law, foreign students have the right to work part-time during their studies, so they can earn part of the money for their education themselves.
Assistance in preparing the material was provided by: Rector of International University College (Dobrich, Bulgaria) Todor Radev, lawyer of the company "EuroDiplom" (Burgas, Bulgaria) Hristina Kolarova, Director of the Center for European Education (Cherkasy) Natalia Kornilova, Director of the educational agency DEC education Natalia Tarchenko, and education consultant for studying abroad of the agency "Start Plus" Anna Urazova.