Study in Bulgaria for Nigerian Students in 2024 [Complete Steps] (2024)

If Bulgaria is your preferred study destination as a Nigerian, you are making a good decision. This country is actually welcoming to foreign study, irrespective of the country. In today’s post, I’ll be talking about coming here to study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students. Yes, you are coming to Europe in this post, and I chose Bulgaria because a lot of my readers have asked for it.

Many of you are surprised to learn that there are affordable medical schools in Europe. I used to think that the University of Prague or other universities in the Czech Republic, whose name escapes me at the moment, were the go-to for cheap schools. But when you compare it to medical schools in the UK, Canada, and Australia, Bulgaria is much cheaper. So, Bulgaria also offers cheap medical education, and Varna Medical University is a great example. Before we go into this guide, I want to highlight that when applying to medical school, Varna Medical University is the most economical choice I’ve come across because its tuition cost is like 7,000-8,000 euros per year.

Study in Bulgaria for Nigerian Students in 2024 [How to]

So, there are a few things you need to know, including the programs, application process, accommodation, tuition fees (which I’ve already mentioned), and also health insurance and residence payments. But keep in mind, I’ll be discussing this with a focus on studying in Bulgaria from Nigeria, using Nigeria as an example. However, I might mention some other countries throughout this guide.

1. Check the Eligibility Requirements

I’ll begin by talking about the requirements for studying at Varna Medical University or any medical university in Bulgaria. I discovered that getting admission is quite competitive. Yes, it’s really competitive. As a result, you need to make sure you stand out.

The first thing to understand is that your grades need to be excellent. You should have high grades in your advanced level subjects, which are necessary to apply for this medical university, costing between 7,000 to 8,000 euros. In fact, this university that I’m using as an example in this guide offers three programs in English for bachelor’s degrees, which last 6 years. The first program is medicine. That’s the first program available in English. The other programs you can pursue are dental medicine and pharmacy. Each of these programs lasts for 5 to 6 years.

Usually, everything is clearly explained on the university website where you prefer to study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students. If you have any doubts, feel free to use my comment section.

Just like I mentioned before, it’s important to have strong grades in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and definitely English. However, if your English isn’t good, you’ll need to take the IELTS exam. But, if you don’t have an IELTS score, you may be required to take an English test online. That’s pretty much it about it. If your English grades are low or you don’t have English, having an ‘A’ grade can help, but even with top grades in high school, you’ll still need to sit for an entrance exam. Bulgarian universities typically schedule dates for these exams. The first opportunity to take the exam is on April 2nd. There’s another date in May, which I believe is the 23rd, and one more in June, likely the 22nd, extending through to August. Make sure to pay close attention to these dates when you visit the website of the Bulgarian university.

Now, to reiterate, your grades in chemistry and biology (for medicine, as an example) need to be particularly good. You should chase at least 65%, which should correspond to at least a ‘B’ grade. The field is quite specialized. Sometimes, if you have ‘B’ or ‘C’ grades, you can apply. But the admission is competitive. You’ll only receive your results after the online test. So, admissions are open until September, but it’s not an online application process from the start.

2. Complete Your Online Application for Admission

You’ll need to complete the online application and then submit your documents later. However, you can begin this process as soon as you finish reading this post. If there’s anything you need to understand, you can reach out to a specific professor listed on the university website or contact someone through the admissions portal. But, you may not need to send an email at all. The good thing is just that everything you need to know is detailed on the university website, which is why I don’t want to dwell on that too much.

Now, students from Europe will have a different date set for them. Some of them will need to take an entrance exam, depending on the program they choose, while others might not have to. Courses such as dentistry, medicine, and pharmacy are available in both Bulgarian and English. It’s up to you to choose which language you prefer to study. All the details are clearly laid out on the website.

3. Get Your Documents Translated

Make sure to translate all your documents before you submit them. There’s a specific submission date that will be mentioned on the Bulgarian university website, so please make sure to check that carefully. As for the tuition fees, you should typically budget from 7,000 to 8,000 euros. To put it in perspective, even in Northern Cyprus, where you pay per semester, the total for two semesters exceeds 8,000 euros.

If you are studying medicine or attending medical school, I strongly recommend applying to this university I’ve mentioned in this post in Bulgaria. Also, the preparatory courses I mentioned earlier. If it turns out you don’t meet the requirements, you’ll be asked to take a preparatory course, and there are fees associated with everything.

4. Take the Entrance Examination

First off, you need to submit your documents. Once that’s done, it’s important to know that there was an error I encountered previously. So, after submitting your documents, the next step is to take the entrance exam.

This exam includes sections on chemistry and biology, which are crucial for those aiming to study medicine, pharmacy, and dental medicine. The exam is divided into several parts: a multiple-choice section where you’ll choose one answer out of four, fill-in-the-blank questions, matching questions where you’ll pair items together, true or false questions, and sections requiring definitions and explanations, all focused on chemistry and biology. Remember these dates: April 2nd, May 12th, June 18th, July 23rd, and August 18th, with an additional date in September. Make sure to take the entrance exam after submitting your documents.

5. Pay the Admission Fee

To register, the first step involves paying an admissions fee of 10 BGN, which is the currency of Bulgaria. If you are not familiar with BGN, you can convert it to euros to understand the amount. The required documents include your WIRE certificate for Nigerians, as well as YX certificates for ordinary and advanced levels for those from West Africa. If you have a Western certificate (like WAEC) or NECO, those are also acceptable, but your grades in chemistry and biology should be at least a B or C. However, the final decision rests with the university authorities, who will review your documents and forward them to the Ministry of Education for consideration.

6. Apply to Study at the University

Next, let’s talk about applying to study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students in your preferred university here. The administrative fee is 10 BGN, as mentioned. There’s also a 30 euro fee for the entrance exam and a registration fee of 200 euros. These fees can be paid into the same bank account, details of which you’ll find on the website of the university where you prefer to study. You’ll also fill out an online application form, especially when applying for a Bachelor of Science in medicine. So, make sure you have included all necessary secondary school documents.

7. Gather the Necessary Documents for Your Application

So, let’s talk about what you need for your application, especially if you’re a master’s student. You’ll start with your own set of documents, including your transcript and any orders. You’ll also need an official transcript from your school. This means asking your university or high school for a transcript that lists all your grades, like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, z, and English. Make sure this transcript has all the necessary stamps.

You also need proof that you are eligible to study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students. This includes confirmation of your Ordinary Levels and Advanced Levels certificates. Send this confirmation to either the Ministry of Higher Education or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as this will be needed later on.

You also need a health certificate. When it’s time for legalization, authentication, and translation, take your health certificate to the Ministry of Health to get it legalized. It should have the Ministry of Health’s stamp.

When you have these documents in place, gather them—your health certificate, confirmation, transcript, and secondary school documents (but not your application form). You’ll need to legalize, translate, and certify all these documents in Bulgarian.

First off, you need to translate your documents, certify them, and then legalize them. I hope that’s clear. To get your documents ready, you’ll need to do what’s required, including paying the necessary fees. This is important for when you sit for your entrance exam. This method is the most simple way to handle things. The process may be long, but it’s relatively simple if you thoroughly read the instructions on the school’s website.

8. Apply for a Bulgarian Study Visa

Once you complete all these steps, your documents have been forwarded to the Ministry of Education in Bulgaria, and you have secured your admission, the next step is that you will receive some documents that are needed to apply for your visa to study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students. There’s a Bulgarian embassy in Abuja. You’ll find it on the school’s website which can help you find the embassy in your country. Remember, you have to translate your documents. For those in Nigeria, there’s a translation office in Abuja where you can get this done. Make sure to verify this information and proceed with the translation.

So, just make sure you follow these steps carefully, from document translation to applying for your visa, and consider Bulgaria for its cheap living costs and the opportunity it presents for studying in Europe.

It Isn’t Expensive to Live in Bulgaria as a Student

In Bulgaria, living and eating aren’t costly. You can manage 200 to 300 euros. Including a place to stay and study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students, which might be between 150 and 300 euros, your total monthly expenses could be around 500 euros. This includes your food. Internet service is reasonably priced, ranging from 15 to 40 euros, depending on the plan you choose.

So, if you add up everything—your housing, food, utilities like water and electricity, and internet—you should be looking at about 500 euros a month. Your electricity bill will depend on how much you use, so if you use a lot, expect to pay more. Just make sure to budget for these expenses. Compared to countries such as the UK, the US, or Canada, Bulgaria is cheap. It really comes down to what you are looking for. For example, if you are interested in medicine, you may consider Europe, and countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, or Slovenia are options. Then, you could return to the US. This is a path many Americans, Canadians, and even someone from the UK choose. So, that’s something to think about.

So, about the visa, I’ve already mentioned the medical certificate. When applying for the visa, you also need health insurance, and you can find the details about this insurance on the website. I don’t want to stress this too much. And remember, the health insurance and the residence payment are important. You need to gather all these documents. When you are getting them authorized, keep the original copies because you’ll likely need them at the visa center or when applying for the visa.

So, generally for Africans coming to Bulgaria, you’ll be applying for a G-type visa. Once you arrive in Bulgaria, you’ll probably make another residence payment and obtain a residence permit. You may not need to get health insurance right after getting your medical certificate and before applying for the visa, but once you arrive in Bulgaria, you’ll get your residence permit and then sort out your health insurance.

Also, pay attention to the entrance exam, especially the subjects I mentioned earlier, like biology and chemistry, along with physics, mathematics, and English. Make sure to translate your documents and get them notarized. For Nigerians, this is done in Abuja. And make sure to pay all the necessary fees. All this information is available on the website, so take your time to go through it.

Conclusion

You have really learned all you need to know to help you study in Bulgaria for Nigerian students. So, you need to take the time to sit down and do all the work to make sure everything is done. But if you can’t, please find a reliable agent. I’ve heard many complaints about agents taking people’s money. You have to be cautious and know who you are dealing with. I hope this post is useful to you. For those coming to Bulgaria to study, be prepared because it is just as cold as some other European countries, so make sure. Also, write well, and study hard. Good luck with your entrance exam.

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