4 Best medical schools in Bulgaria For International Student
Bulgarian universities are renowned for their excellence in various scientific domains, including medicine, mathematics, technical computer sciences, engineering, chemistry, biology, linguistics, and more.
Lofty Scholars has compiled a list of the best medical schools in Bulgaria, offering affordable education with access to excellent infrastructure and highly qualified faculty.
Before diving into the list, let’s review some key points.
Study medicine in Bulgaria
Medical courses typically span six years, providing students with opportunities to gain practical experience in university hospitals. Due to their affordable tuition fees, many international students opt to study most medical courses in Bulgaria. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for students to graduate with a master’s degree.
In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the best medical schools in Bulgaria, all of which are situated in various cities throughout the country.
Why do people choose to study in Bulgaria?
There are several reasons why students choose Bulgaria for their studies, including its affordable tuition fees and low cost of living.
The country’s universities offer relatively easy entry requirements and internationally recognized degrees, making it an attractive destination for students seeking quality education at a reasonable cost.
Bulgaria’s high quality education
Bulgaria is renowned not only for its low tuition fees but also for its high-quality education. Located in the heart of Europe, Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, providing students with access to a plethora of educational opportunities to advance their careers.
List of Best medical schools in Bulgaria
Medical University of Sofia
The Medical University of Sofia, founded in 1917 as a medical faculty of Sofia University by His Majesty Zar Ferdinand, is the oldest institution for higher medical education in Bulgaria. It has a rich history of 96 years and is also the largest medical university in the country. The university has a wealth of experience and traditions in educating Bulgarian and foreign students. Additionally, it is a state university accredited by the Evaluation and Accreditation National Agency of the Republic of Bulgaria.
According to the latest university rankings for 2015, the Medical University of Sofia is highly esteemed and is considered the undisputed leader in its area of education across all five professional fields. In fact, it is ranked number one in each area of study, including Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health Care, and Public Health. The university is home to more than 6,000 students, with over 1,600 of them coming from abroad. It also boasts a faculty of over 800 professors and lecturers.
Medical University of Plovdiv
Established in 1945, the Medical University of Plovdiv in Bulgaria offers a wide range of medical courses. It has faculties for Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health. In addition, it also offers a Department of Languages and Specialized Training, a medical college, and a hospital with 2000 beds. The university provides students with laboratories, clinics, and units for diagnostics, treatment, research activities, and medical and dental student training.
The Central University Library offers students access to 170,000 volumes in multiple languages, as well as an internet hall and local net system. Students also have access to Medline and Micromedex. The university publishes a journal called Folia Medica, which is exchanged with more than 326 specialists from over 54 countries that are included in Medline.
Every year, the Medical University of Plovdiv trains over 3800 Bulgarian and foreign students.
Medical University of Varna
The Medical University of Varna (MU-Varna) is a Bulgarian state institution for higher education, dedicated to training professionals in the fields of medicine and healthcare. The university offers degrees at the Master, Bachelor, and Professional Bachelor levels.
MU-Varna has legal entity status and engages in various business activities, including training and professional qualification of cadres, training of PhD students, postgraduate education for medical and non-medical professionals, conducting medical diagnosis, prevention, consultation, rehabilitation, and expert services at university hospitals, scientific research and applied sciences, international cooperation in education and science, and administrative, social, sports, publishing, information, and other activities.
In 2008, the Medical University of Varna became the first university in Bulgaria to implement the EFQM model for Business Excellence from the European Foundation for Quality Management. The university’s diplomas are recognized in all European Union countries.
Pleven Medical University
Pleven Medical University is one of the four medical universities in Bulgaria, located in the city of Pleven. Established in 1974, it was built upon the foundation of a former regional hospital that was founded in 1865. The university offers a comprehensive range of facilities that includes a large, modern preclinical base, a hospital with specialized clinics, and research sections.
It consists of two faculties: the Faculty of Medicine, which covers subjects such as medicine, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy, and the Faculty of Public Health, which focuses on healthcare. Additionally, there is a college with programs in Medical Laboratory Assistant, Radiology Laboratory Assistant, and Social Worker. The university also provides housing for its students in two hostels, with a total of 315 beds in two- and three-bed rooms.
In 1997, Pleven Medical University launched the first English-language medicine program in Bulgaria, designed for international students. Since then, the university has welcomed 4,081 Bulgarian students and 582 foreign students from 45 countries, with approximately 750 new students enrolling every year. About two-thirds of these students are Bulgarian, and the rest are from other countries, with 50-60% coming from India. Following Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union in 2007, the majority of international students now originate from other EU member states.
The university offers instruction courses through its two faculties and one college. The Faculty of Medicine provides courses in medicine, while the Faculty of Public Health covers specialties such as Health Management, Nursing, Midwifery, and Medicinal Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy.