Education and Universities in Bulgaria
Universities and colleges
| Higher education institutions | 51, of which 38 are state-owned |
|---|---|
| Students, 2025/26 | 202,900 |
| Doctoral students, end of 2025 | 5,936, of whom 715 from abroad |
Source: Wikipedia: List of higher education institutions in Bulgaria, 51 accredited at December 2025; Manager.bg: 190,000 students in 51 higher schools, 38 of them state-owned; Infoz: Students in Bulgaria, NSI higher education data for 20251,5,2
The largest centres are Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and Burgas. Sofia alone has the Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, the Technical University of Sofia, the University of National and World Economy and the Medical University of Sofia.
Each of 41 universities and academies has its own page in the guide to universities in Bulgaria, with its history, faculties and current figures.
What graduates studied, 2025
Source: Dnevnik: Most new graduates hold business degrees (NSI, in Bulgarian)3
Half of the students in upper-secondary vocational schools study engineering, manufacturing and other technical subjects, against about a third in the EU, and many go on to technical universities.6
Students from abroad
In 2025/26, 16,800 foreign citizens studied for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Bulgaria, and 46.1% of them studied medicine, often in English. The largest groups came from Greece, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany and Italy.4
| Country | Share of foreign students |
|---|---|
| Greece | 17.0% |
| United Kingdom | 13.6% |
| Ukraine | 12.4% |
| Germany | 8.9% |
| Italy | 5.7% |
Source: DBR: 46.1% of foreign students study medicine (NSI, in Bulgarian)4
Strengths and gaps
- 40.5% of people aged 25 to 34 have a degree, against 44.1% in the EU.
- Only 8.2% of young people leave school early, better than the EU average of 9.4%.
- Results at age 15 are weak: in the 2022 PISA tests about half of pupils did not reach the basic level in maths and reading, so employers often invest in training.
Source: European Commission: Education and Training Monitor, Bulgaria6
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited universities and colleges does Bulgaria have?
Bulgaria has 51 accredited higher education institutions, including 38 state-owned institutions. Accredited at December 2025, they comprise universities, academies and colleges.
How many students attend higher education institutions in Bulgaria?
Bulgarian higher education institutions had 202,900 students in 2025/26. At the end of 2025, they also had 5,936 doctoral students, including 715 from abroad.
How many foreign students study in Bulgaria, and how many study medicine?
In 2025/26, 16,800 foreign citizens studied for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Bulgaria. Of these students, 46.1% studied medicine, often in English.
What do university graduates in Bulgaria study?
In 2025, business and administration accounted for 23.1% of bachelor’s and master’s graduates in Bulgaria. Education accounted for 15.5%, followed by health at 9.4%.
How does education in Bulgaria compare with the EU?
Among people aged 25 to 34 in Bulgaria, 40.5% have a degree, compared with 44.1% in the EU. Early school leaving is 8.2% in Bulgaria, below the EU average of 9.4%. In the 2022 PISA tests, about half of 15-year-olds did not reach basic levels in maths and reading.
Sources
- Wikipedia: List of higher education institutions in Bulgaria, 51 accredited at December 2025 (in Bulgarian)
- Infoz: Students in Bulgaria, NSI higher education data for 2025 (in Bulgarian)
- Dnevnik: Most new graduates hold business degrees (NSI, in Bulgarian)
- DBR: 46.1% of foreign students study medicine (NSI, in Bulgarian)
- Manager.bg: 190,000 students in 51 higher schools, 38 of them state-owned (in Bulgarian)
- European Commission: Education and Training Monitor, Bulgaria
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
