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Bulgaria is a popular destination for international medical students. Tuition fees are around € 8000 per year. English-taught programmes include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine.
There are 6 universities where you can study medicine in Bulgaria. Medical School experiences here are very enriching as all of the universities offer world-renowned courses. The medical schools in Bulgaria offer extra classes during the week in the Bulgarian language to help students integrate into the country better.
Medical education in the country is generally 6-years. Tuition fees for studying medicine in Bulgaria are between € 7000 and € 8000 per year. Below is a list of all the universities which teach Medicine and Dentistry in English in Bulgaria.
If you hesitate about whether you made the right decision by going to Bulgaria, here are the reason you made a good choice.
Check out our price breakdown of the top medical schools in Bulgaria
1. Medical University of Varna. It was founded in 1961 and had been producing high-quality international doctors and dentists since then. The English programme started in 2003. Varna is located on the Black Sea beach and is a vibrant tourist city, especially in the summer.
During the winter, it is calmer, so students can focus on their education without too many distractions. Medlink Students has been operating in Varna for many years and has helped many students get admitted to various medical universities in Bulgaria.
International students studying Medicine in Bulgaria enjoy English-taught courses. Transport within the city is very fluid, with cheap taxis and buses constantly travelling around.
Generally, a flight from London to Varna Airport is 3 hours long only. Varna International Airport is a 15-minute ride via taxi to the medical university.
This is generally the most competitive university in the country to gain admission in. Students should prepare very well for the entrance exam. Tuition fees for Dentistry and Medicine are € 8000 per year, and for Pharmacy – €6000 per year.
2. Medical University in Sofia. It is located in the capital of Bulgaria in Eastern Europe and is the oldest medical school in the country. The university has a big section for 400 International students hoping to study in the English medical programme.
Foreign students can also study dentistry in Bulgaria on the International programme, with 200 seats. Several flights go directly from London to Sofia International Airport and are usually 2-3 hours long. The airport is usually a 20-minute ride via taxi to the Medical University.
To gain admission, students will have to sit a Science entrance exam at the university. Two multiple-choice entrance exam sessions are held around early September to prove their biology and chemistry knowledge.
This is a very competitive university to get into. Tuition fees for Dentistry and Medicine are € 9000 per year, and for Pharmacy – €6000 per year.
3. Plovdiv Medical University. It is located in a small city called Plovdiv. This medical university was founded in 1945. The Medical University of Plovdiv is in a cosy town in Bulgaria, known as the oldest city in the country. Students can study Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy in the English course.
The institute enrols about 300 students per year and is as well established as the above universities. Flights are not as frequent to Plovdiv International Airport, so most students travel to Sofia International Airport and then get a taxi or bus to Plovdiv. The taxi journey is about 45-50 mins and will cost about €60 per journey.
This university requires applicants to sit a competitive entrance exam and score over 70%. The tuition fee is € 8000 per year.
4. Trakia Medical University. is located in a small city in the mountains called Stara Zagora. The nearest airport is Sofia International Airport which is a 2-hour taxi ride.
Trakia University teaches Medicine and Veterinary Medicine in English but not dentistry. The course capacity and campus are small and cosy. Tuition fees are € 7000 per year for Medicine and €5100 per year for Veterinary Medicine.
5. Pleven Medical University. It is located in Pleven, Bulgaria. The university only has English-taught medical courses, and there are no dentistry courses for international students.
Pleven Medical University is the only medical school in the country that does not begin in September. The academic year starts in February, and the university requires a Biology and Chemistry entrance exam. The tuition fee is € 7500 per year.
Generally, most universities require the student to pass A-level Biology and Chemistry. Do inquire with Medlink Students regarding admission with A-levels, GCSEs, or BTECs.
Furthermore, Bulgarian universities have entrance examinations, usually in Biology and Chemistry. Some schools offer separate exams, while others administer a single composite one. These examinations have the most significant weight in determining entry to the university.
Last but not least, the entry requirements to study medicine in Bulgaria in English may include an English-proficiency exam for non-native speakers. Some universities require just a language-level certificate instead.
The country is one of the most affordable destinations for medical education within the European Union. Tuition fees in Bulgarian medical universities are between € 7000 and € 9000.
In addition, living costs for international students are another €450 - €490 per month without rent. Single-bedroom apartments cost between €130 and €400, depending on the city and the location, and dorms are even cheaper.
Most English medical universities in Bulgaria have a tuition fee of € 8000 per year. All dentistry courses also cost €8,000 per year. However, smaller medical schools in Bulgaria charge a tuition fee of € 7500 or € 7000 per year.
The preparatory courses (medical foundation courses) are usually around half of the annual tuition fee payment.
Bulgarian tuition fees to study medicine in English are among the lowest in the European Union. Romania is the only country that has programmes below €7000.
Average living costs in Sofia are around €490 per month without rent. A single-bedroom apartment costs another €300 to €400 per month. Naturally, prices in the capital are the highest in the country.
Average living costs in smaller cities like Plovdiv, Varna, and Pleven are around 450. Depending on the location, rent prices are even lower, ranging from 130 to 240. Higher rent means the apartment is closer to the city centre, and lower rents imply it is on the outskirts.
Rooms in dormitories cost even less, and they are an excellent way to cut expenses. While some students prefer the privacy of an apartment, others dive headfirst into the authentic student experience of living in a dorm. To each their own, as they say.
Overall, the cost of living in Bulgaria for international students is the lowest in the European Union.
All the universities meet the GMC requirements, as their programmes follow European regulations. Students who study medicine in Bulgaria are awarded 360 credits and 5,500 hours in their final diploma. This allows graduates to work as doctors in the UK.
Generally, Bulgaria's best dental school award could go to any university in Varna, Plovdiv, or Sofia. They all offer excellent courses and flourish the labs with excellent dental resources.
The leading medical universities in Bulgaria generally offer state-of-the-art technology to teach students anatomy in classes in their initial years and offer good clinical experience in the later years. The universities in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna offer outstanding medical education in Bulgaria.
See our reference page for all you need to know about the universities in Europe that teach medicine in English or the top dental universities in Europe.
All Bulgarian programmes are 6-years long. Graduate medicine entry and graduate dentistry entry do not exist in Bulgaria.
The most you can get from your degree is exemptions from subjects you've already studied, as long as your previous university module matches the hours and content taught at the medical university.
Medlink Students can help you with this procedure if you have at least 80% of the subject's total hours. Read more about graduate medicine opportunities here.
Fancy speaking to an advisor about what university is best for you? Just send us a quick free application, and we’ll contact you shortly.
Bulgarian universities offer modern education with international recognition of the degree. The low cost of living and tuition fees make it an attractive destination for international students. However, the natural allure of the country is its magnetic culture, rich heritage, and charming opportunities for recreation.
Bulgaria is the oldest country in Europe, and locals won’t let anyone forget this fact. Thirteen hundred years of history can easily explain national self-esteem and the laid-back life approach. Perhaps, Bulgarians' cordial, generous hospitality is just another way for locals to flex their superior ways of doing things.
Speaking of history, the only thing in greater supply within the country is probably character. Bulgarians are very individualistic and authentic people. They have a great sense of personal freedom, and they nurture and respect it.
Finally, the clinical hours for medical students here will be a challenging yet very rewarding experience.
Here are the main reasons that make Bulgaria a great destination to study medicine:
Bulgaria is on the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it would be a very familiar setting for representatives of both continents while remaining somewhat exotic. Bulgarians, Slavs, Byzantines, and Ottomans have left their traces on the local culture, and the results are more than satisfactory.
The country can boast many ancient landmarks left from Thracian and Roman times. One of them, the Varna Necropolis, contained the oldest gold treasure in the world (6500 years). Furthermore, Bulgaria has many ancient churches, monasteries, and mosques, surviving to this day as a testament to local religious tolerance.
However, the most remarkable landmarks in the country are the natural ones. Bulgaria has astonishing geography, including mystic mountains, scenic meadows, and sandy beaches. The Balkans, Rila, and Pirin have excellent hiking, camping, and skiing conditions.
Furthermore, the Bulgarian Black Sea coast hosts some of the most popular beaches in the EU. The local conditions for kitesurfing and paragliding are excellent, while free divers can enjoy easily accessible shipwrecks.
Bulgarian cuisine possesses its own charm with lots of savoury salads, sauces, cold cuts, and pastries. The traditional dishes include Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods with added local flavours. Furthermore, a tremendous seasonal variety further enriches the abundance of tastes.
Bulgarian medical universities offer excellent education programmes with rewarding clinical hours and exciting opportunities for extracurricular activities. International students will enjoy low tuition and living costs while benefiting from world-renowned training.
Furthermore, living in Bulgaria is a treat to remember for a lifetime. Magnetic culture, glorious food, and a splendid climate are just a few local attractions.
Do you feel like packing yet?
All around the world! Feel free to choose your next destination after graduating.
Yes, all of the universities require an entrance exam.
Yes, you can! All courses for international students are English-taught.
Absolutely yes! Bulgaria is one of the safest countries in Europe. It is a preferred destination for many students and tourists. Locals are very friendly and welcoming.
The cost of tuition is about €8000 per year, depending on the university. In addition, living costs range between €400 and €600 per month, based on various factors (accommodation, travel costs, entertainment budget, etc).
Bulgaria is considered one of the best European countries to study medicine in due to the low living costs and the high quality of the medical education provided.
Bulgarian medical universities offer 6-year medical programmes.
The Medical Universities of Sofia, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora (Trakia) are considered the best in the country. But due to the high overall level of education, most medical universities are considered very prestigious.
