Choosing a University and Preparing Documents
In Bulgaria, as in Ukraine, higher education institutions can be state or private. They are divided into universities, specialized institutes, and colleges. Currently, Bulgaria's education system includes 51 universities, 10 of which are private. To obtain a bachelor's degree at one of them, you will have to study for 3-4 years (depending on the chosen program). By the way, upon graduation, you will not have to defend a thesis or take state exams. You will only need to pass a test. After that, you can proceed to a master's program (another 1-2 years).
The quality of education at private universities in Bulgaria is no worse than at state ones. The fact is that the work of all higher education institutions there is strictly controlled by the parliament – the National Assembly. Only by its decision (which is signed by the president) can universities open, reform, or close. Currently, all higher education institutions in Bulgaria are accredited, so they issue European-style diplomas that are recognized in any country in the world. The list of accredited universities can be found on the website of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency: www.neaa.government.bg. The list of universities accepting foreign students can be found on the website of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.mfa.bg.
ADMISSION PROCESS. At Bulgarian universities, depending on the institution, studies can begin between September 15 and October 15. But in most cases, you need to submit documents for admission from mid-June to mid-September so that they have time to review them and communicate their decision. You will need to submit:
– an application form of the approved template;
– a copy of your international passport;
– a medical certificate (with a notarized translation into Bulgarian);
– a copy of your secondary education certificate with a transcript of grades (translated into Bulgarian and certified by the consular service);
– results of an international English language exam;
– an academic transcript (if you have already studied at a Ukrainian university).
The main admission requirement regarding grades: the average score in the certificate must be at least 62% of the maximum possible, i.e., a solid 4. In addition, depending on the university and program, recommendation letters from teachers or professors and a motivation letter are sometimes required. If the chosen specialty is creative (e.g., art, design, music, etc.), a portfolio of works may also be needed. At the same time, the results of the Ukrainian independent external evaluation will not be useful to you.
DEADLINE. After receiving the documents, the university usually sends you a response with its decision within a week. But even if you did not manage to submit them on time, do not be upset. At some Bulgarian universities, they are accepted twice a year: in September and February. The fact is that many students from Asian countries study here. And there, schoolchildren finish their studies in the fall.
ENTRY TO THE COUNTRY. If the response from the university is positive, start applying for a long-term visa (with the right to stay in the country for 12 months) for studying in Bulgaria. To do this, you need to submit 2 application forms, an international passport with copies, 2 recent color photos, an insurance policy, and a certificate of enrollment at the university. If the applicant is under 18 years old, he or she must submit a notarized permission to leave the country from both parents and a sponsorship statement from them. And already in February, start applying for a residence permit. It will be needed to stay in the country and continue your studies. To do this, contact the Administrative Control Service at your future place of residence.
THE MONEY QUESTION. Unfortunately, for foreigners in Bulgaria, higher education is paid both at state and private universities. At state universities, you will have to pay about 2000-3000 euros per year. At the same time, the cost of bachelor's programs in Bulgarian at a private university averages 2700-3500 euros per year, in English – 3000-4000 euros (for comparison, in Ukraine – 1500-2000). For a master's program, you will have to add about another 1000 euros, but sometimes the cost may remain unchanged. The most expensive specialties are in the field of medicine – 5-6 thousand euros per year. But education will be cheaper if you prove your Bulgarian origin.
Language Proficiency Exam
At Bulgarian universities that teach in English, there are no entrance exams. The only test you will have to pass is an English language proficiency test. By the way, about one-fifth of institutions offer all or part of their programs in English. For example, the leading and oldest university in the country – Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski – offers a bachelor's program in "European Union and Eurointegration" in English. And at the International University College in Dobrich, all studies are in English.
If you have chosen to study in English, you will need to pass the international exam IELTS (minimum 6.0) or TOEFL (minimum 80) for admission. It is better to take IELTS right away, as European universities trust it more. The language test lasts almost 3 hours and consists of 4 parts: listening, reading, writing, and checking speaking skills.
But any international language proficiency exam has one drawback – high cost. For example, taking the TOEFL costs $180, and the IELTS costs $190. Therefore, before taking them, inquire at the university you have chosen which type of English testing it recognizes. The fact is that many institutions are willing to accommodate our students and independently administer an English proficiency exam via Skype. And it is free of charge.
If you are a citizen of Ukraine and do not know Bulgarian, but want to study in it, the admission procedure will be different. First, you will have to enroll in preparatory courses in Bulgarian at the university. They last at least 9 months and, in addition to language study, include certification in some subjects. At the end, you need to pass an oral and written exam in Bulgarian, as well as final exams in specialized subjects. Students who pass them successfully receive certificates issued by the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria, on the basis of which they are enrolled in the university. But if you have a good command of Bulgarian, you can take the entrance exams without preparatory courses.
To be continued.