Thinking about studying in Bulgaria? This beautiful and affordable country in Southeast Europe is becoming a popular choice thanks to its low living costs, rich cultural heritage, and welcoming environment for students.
Bulgaria offers several great student cities, each with its own character and advantages. Sofia, the capital, is the country’s largest and most dynamic city, home to many of the top universities. Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities, combines rich history with a modern, artistic atmosphere. Varna and Burgas, located on the Black Sea coast, are popular for those who want to study near the beach while enjoying a relaxed lifestyle.
Bulgarian universities offer a wide range of English-taught programmes in areas like business, medicine, computer science, and engineering. Institutions such as Sofia University, the American University in Bulgaria, and the University of National and World Economy are well-known for their quality education and international outlook.
Have a look below to learn which are the best universities in Bulgaria to help you explore your options and find the right place to start your journey.
University | QS Ranking 2026 | THE Ranking 2025 | ARWU Ranking 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski | 731 | 1501 | – |
Medical University of Sofia | – | 1201 | – |
Technical University of Sofia | – | 1501 | – |
Trakia University | – | 1501 | – |
The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a universitys research is referenced elsewhere).
The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking, or ARWU) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.
Bulgaria is more than just a hidden gem in Southeast Europe - it’s an increasingly popular place to study abroad. With affordable tuition, a growing selection of English-taught programmes, and a welcoming student atmosphere, more international students are choosing Bulgaria for their university experience each year.
Read more about studying in Bulgaria