Transfer from the University of Forestry Sofia: Where to Continue Veterinary Medicine in 2026

What is the University of Forestry Sofia and what does it teach in English?

The University of Forestry in Sofia, Bulgaria, is a state university with six faculties, one of them the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. That faculty opened in 1994 and in 2011 became the first in Bulgaria to teach veterinary medicine in English. The English-taught programme lasts 11 semesters (5.5 years) and leads to a Master's degree in Veterinary Medicine.

The University of Forestry (Bulgarian: Лесотехнически университет, LTU) grew out of forestry teaching that began in Sofia in 1925. It became an independent Higher Forestry Institute in 1953 and has carried its current name since 1995. Today it runs faculties of forestry, forest industry, ecology and landscape architecture, agronomy, business management and veterinary medicine.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine trains about 550 students a year in the Master's programme. The Veterinary Medicine programme is state-accredited. The programme ends with state examinations. Teaching is in English.

For students from the European Union, the English-taught programme is also affordable by EU standards. For 2025/2026 the fee is €2,599.92 per semester in year one, which is about €5,200 per year. You will find more on studying there on our University of Forestry Sofia veterinary medicine page.

Can you transfer from the University of Forestry Sofia to another veterinary faculty?

Yes. Students of the University of Forestry Sofia can transfer to another veterinary faculty in Europe, and passed courses are usually credited against the new curriculum. Medschool Experts is the leading specialist for study transfers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine, and organises transfers from Sofia with the world's largest choice of official partner universities.

A transfer is not a new start. Nothing is wasted. The receiving faculty compares each course you passed in Sofia with its own curriculum and decides which study year fits your record. Transcript, course descriptions and signed practical logbooks do most of the work here.

Veterinary transfers have one extra layer. Faculties look closely at practical hours, clinical rotations and the accreditation status of both schools. That is why the choice of target faculty matters as much as the decision to move. Our guide on how veterinary transfers work in Europe explains the credit mechanics in detail. For Bulgaria as a whole, see our overview of study transfers from Bulgaria.

Why do veterinary students transfer from the University of Forestry Sofia?

Veterinary students at the University of Forestry Sofia usually transfer for five reasons: total cost, a better fit with exam formats, personal or organisational circumstances, a career plan for the USA, or a career plan for Germany, the UK or another European country. Each reason is a planning question and points to a different kind of faculty.

1. Costs and budget

The fee for the English-taught programme is modest by EU standards. Budgets still get tight. Living costs in Sofia of roughly €500–€800 per month add up over 5.5 years, and a repeated year is the most expensive item of all. We compare the total cost, tuition plus city, across the veterinary faculties in our network.

2. Difficulty with specific exams

Some students pass almost everything and get stuck on one or two subjects. Faculties differ in how they examine: written or oral, practical stations or case discussions, one large exam or several smaller ones. A move to a faculty whose format and pace suit you can change the picture completely. We help with exactly this, and it is one of our specialities.

3. Personal or organisational reasons

Family, health, a partner in another country, or a working relationship with an individual lecturer that no longer fits. These situations are real and common. They are also solvable.

4. A veterinary career in the USA

Graduates of international veterinary schools have two recognised routes to a US licence: ECFVG certification and the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE). Both are followed by the national licensing examination (NAVLE). Students with this goal often want a faculty with strong English-language clinical training, and a plan that starts early.

5. A veterinary career in Germany, the UK or elsewhere in Europe

Bulgaria is an EU member state, so the degree falls under Directive 2005/36/EC. Students who aim for Germany plan language skills and practical placements alongside their studies. Students who aim for the United Kingdom look closely at how the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) treats their faculty, because UK registration depends on it. More on that below.

Where can University of Forestry Sofia vet students transfer to?

University of Forestry Sofia veterinary students can transfer to other English-taught veterinary faculties in the Medschool Experts network. The right target depends on the goal: lower total cost, a better exam fit, a US licence, a career in Germany or another EU country, or registration in the United Kingdom.

Medschool Experts has 25+ partner universities in Europe specifically for this situation, checks each profile individually and free of charge, and does not publish lists of accepting universities, because open places in each year change every semester. Goals come first, and we match your record against the whole network.

A study transfer is a complex undertaking. Our experts have almost 10 years of experience in study transfers worldwide, which is why they plan and carry it out confidently. The consultation is free.

For an EU career, our partner faculties inside the EU lead to degrees under Directive 2005/36/EC. For a UK goal, we check the current RCVS position of each target faculty before any offer. For a US licence, we look for strong English-language clinical training and a clean record for the ECFVG or PAVE route and the NAVLE. Fees, languages and admission rules vary between faculties and change from year to year, and so does the number of places for transfer students. Our universities page and the stories of students who have already moved show what that looks like in practice.

How much does a transfer from the University of Forestry Sofia cost or save?

For EU and EEA citizens, the University of Forestry Sofia charged between €2,249.68 and €2,599.92 per semester in 2025/2026 for its English-taught Veterinary Medicine programme. Many other EU veterinary faculties charge more. The biggest saving from a well-planned transfer is usually a year not lost: one extra year in Sofia costs about €10,800 to €14,400.

For 2025/2026, with effect from 1 January 2026, the University of Forestry charges the following fees for Bulgarian, EU and EEA citizens in the English-taught programme. The amounts include the supplement for teaching in a foreign language.

By comparison, English-taught Veterinary Medicine at our European partner universities starts from €3,000 tuition per semester. A move from Sofia is therefore rarely about the tuition line alone. Time is the bigger factor.

Which year can you enter after leaving the University of Forestry Sofia?

There is no fixed entry year after leaving the University of Forestry Sofia. Medschool Experts reviews each record individually and aims for the highest possible entry with no or minimal loss of time. High placements, often into year 4 or year 5, are something we achieve frequently.

The decision rests with the receiving faculty, and it depends on what you have passed. A rule of thumb helps with planning. Usually no more than two exams may still be outstanding, and their ECTS credits must stay below a maximum. Beyond that, curricula differ, so the same record can be placed differently at two faculties.

Comparing pays off. Course descriptions with hours, content and practical components give the receiving faculty the detail it needs to credit your work generously.

How does a transfer from the University of Forestry Sofia work with Medschool Experts?

A transfer from the University of Forestry Sofia with Medschool Experts runs in four steps: a free consultation, a review of your academic record, a placement offer with faculty and study year, and a planned switch. Students stay enrolled in Sofia until the new place is confirmed in writing.

Step 1, free consultation. We talk about your goal, your timing and your budget.

Step 2, record review. We check your transcript and course descriptions against our partner network.

Step 3, placement offer. You receive a concrete proposal: which faculty, which study year, what remains open.

Step 4, switch with a plan. You leave Sofia only when the new place is secure. Nothing is left to chance. What our services include is described in detail on our website, and you can read how other students experienced their move in our student stories.

How is a veterinary degree from the University of Forestry Sofia recognised in the EU, the UK and the USA?

A veterinary degree from the University of Forestry Sofia comes from an EU member state, so Directive 2005/36/EC applies across the European Union. For the United Kingdom, registration follows the RCVS rules on recognised programmes. For the United States, graduates of international veterinary schools follow the ECFVG or PAVE route and pass the NAVLE.

European Union. Directive 2005/36/EC sets a minimum of five years of full-time veterinary training and provides automatic recognition of listed veterinary qualifications between member states. Host countries still handle registration formalities, such as language requirements, through their own authorities.

United Kingdom. The RCVS registers holders of European degrees on the basis of its own list of recognised programmes, which it publishes with date ranges, and graduates of other programmes take the RCVS Statutory Membership Examination. From January 2029, the RCVS will accept only programmes it accredits directly. Students with a UK goal should check the current position of their target faculty with us before they decide.

United States. ECFVG certification is accepted by all state regulatory boards as meeting, in full or in part, the educational prerequisite for licensure. PAVE is the second pathway for graduates of international programmes. Both require the national licensing examination.

None of this is a verdict on anyone's education. It is planning information. A student who knows at year two where they want to work can choose the faculty that fits that plan.

When should University of Forestry Sofia students start planning a transfer?

University of Forestry Sofia students should start planning a transfer about one semester to one year before the intended start at the new faculty. Early planning leaves time to collect course descriptions, compare several faculties and keep the exam schedule in Sofia running while the new place is secured.

Earlier is easier. Course descriptions from the home faculty can take weeks to prepare, and most faculties decide on transfers before the winter or summer semester begins. Starting early also means you can keep passing exams in Sofia, which improves your entry year.

A late start is not a lost cause. We regularly find solutions at short notice, but options narrow as the semester approaches. The sensible first move is a free consultation with your transcript at hand.