Medical University of Sofia

Medical education in Bulgaria began in Sofia. In 1917, the country's first medical faculty was established here; in 1950 it was separated from the University of Sofia, and since 1995 the institution has borne the name Medical University of Sofia. That long history is evident: it is large, tradition-conscious, and the address at which a substantial portion of Bulgaria's medical profession is trained and later continues its education.

The Faculty at a Glance

Under the university's roof sit the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Public Health, as well as a Medical College. Clinical teaching is distributed across several university hospitals in the city, including the Alexandrovska Hospital, the oldest university hospital in the country. For you, this means one thing above all: in the capital you will find Bulgaria's largest hospitals, which means a broader range of cases than at smaller locations. The English-language cohort is internationally mixed — German students are a regular presence, but not the dominant group; Greeks and British students also make up large shares. Anyone seeking exchange with fellow students from a dozen countries will find it here without difficulty.

Studying on Location

The programme lasts six years and concludes with state examinations. Lectures and examinations in the international programme are conducted in English, and Bulgarian is taught as a separate subject during the early years of study. This is no formality: on the wards you will encounter patients who speak no English, and how much you actually take away from your clinical placements depends directly on your language level. The bottleneck is the pre-clinical years. Anatomy, Histology, and Biochemistry are examined both orally and in writing, attendance at seminars and practicals is monitored, and letting a credit requirement slip can quickly cost you half a year. The material is the same as in Germany, the pace is tight, and nobody will remind you to study.

Who This Location Suits

Sofia is right for you if you want a genuine city — not just a campus: metro, theatre, concerts, and in winter a ski lift on Mount Vitosha less than an hour away. It suits you less if you struggle with bureaucracy. The university only accepts documents in person or through an authorised representative, everything must be legalised and translated into Bulgarian, and administrative processes rarely go through on the first attempt. Those who find someone familiar with the process beforehand — whether through fellow students already there or through an advisory service such as Medschool Experts — will save themselves a great deal of effort. Academically, Sofia offers a solid, classically structured Medicine degree with an EU qualification; the only way to waste it is to underestimate the language requirement and the pre-clinical workload.

The Entrance Examination

Your Abitur grade does not matter here. Admission is via an entrance examination taken online, consisting of Biology, Chemistry, and English. In the overall score, Biology and Chemistry results are weighted three times, while the English result counts once; the maximum score is 42 points. A ranking list is drawn up from these results, and places are limited — passing the examination does not in itself guarantee admission.

Timeline

For the 2026 cohort, document submission ran from 27 July to 31 August, the examination for EU citizens took place on 3 September, results were released on 11 September, and the academic year began on 19 October. Dates shift slightly from year to year, but the general pattern remains: applications in midsummer, examination in early September, start of studies in mid-October. Since certificates must be legalised and translated and submitted in person, you should start well in advance of what the deadline alone might suggest.

Fees and Cost of Living

The tuition fee for Medicine in English is 9,950 euros per academic year (as of 2026). In addition, there is an application fee of 100 lev and an examination fee of 400 lev, which is not refunded in the event of failure. The cost of living in Sofia is noticeably below German levels, though reliable all-in figures are not available: what you pay depends heavily on whether you live in student halls, a shared flat in the city centre, or on the outskirts.

Structure and Language

Six years, twelve semesters: first the pre-clinical subjects — Anatomy, Histology, Physiology, and Biochemistry — then the clinical disciplines, and finally the state examinations. The language of instruction and examination throughout the international programme is English. The only exception is Bulgarian, which features as a compulsory subject in the early years of study.

Clinical Training and Practice

Practical training takes place at the university hospitals in the city, including the Alexandrovska Hospital. Because Sofia has Bulgaria's largest hospitals, the range of cases is broad. The limiting factor is more likely to be you: patient histories and ward rounds are conducted in Bulgarian, and those who approach the language half-heartedly will find themselves standing on the sidelines during the clinical semesters rather than learning from them.

Recognition in Germany

Bulgaria has been an EU member state since 2007. The Bulgarian medical degree therefore falls under the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC and is automatically recognised in Germany — there is no assessment of the substantive equivalence of your studies and no aptitude test. You apply for your licence to practise medicine under § 3 of the Federal Medical Licensing Act (Bundesärzteordnung) at the competent regional authority, where you must demonstrate your language skills, typically via the specialist language examination of the relevant medical chamber. This is the standard route for all graduates from EU countries and is straightforward to plan, but it does not happen on its own.

The City

Sofia lies at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and this local mountain shapes daily life more than one would expect of a capital: in winter you can reach the ski lift in under an hour, in summer you go hiking. The city centre is compact, the metro and tram get you anywhere cheaply, and prices in cafés, supermarkets, and gyms are clearly below German levels.

Accommodation and Daily Life

Most international students live in shared flats close to the university; student hall places are also available. Be prepared for signs and forms that are often only in Cyrillic — the first few weeks take some getting used to, after which it becomes routine. A few words of Bulgarian beyond the language course will do more for you with a landlord or at a government office than any app.

Getting There and Community

Sofia has direct flights from several German airports, making a weekend trip home perfectly feasible. There is a German-speaking group at the university, though it is smaller than at other locations in the region — which makes the initial settling-in slightly more demanding but speeds up integration into the international cohort.

Do I need a specific NC for Sofia?

No. Your German Abitur grade plays no role in admission. What counts is your result in the entrance examination in Biology, Chemistry, and English, and your position in the resulting ranking list. Since places are limited, passing the examination alone is not enough to secure a place.

What language will I study in?

Lectures, seminars, and examinations in the international programme are conducted in English. Bulgarian is included as a compulsory subject in the early years of study, because during the clinical phase you will speak with patients who have no English. Without a solid command of Bulgarian, you will lose a great deal of learning time during your ward rotations.

What does the programme cost per year?

The tuition fee for Medicine in English is 9,950 euros per academic year (as of 2026). In addition, there is a one-off application fee of 100 lev and an examination fee of 400 lev, neither of which is refunded. Cost of living, accommodation, and study materials come on top of this.

Will my degree be recognised in Germany?

Yes. As an EU degree, the Bulgarian diploma falls under Directive 2005/36/EC and is automatically recognised. You apply for your licence to practise medicine under § 3 of the Bundesärzteordnung at the competent regional authority and demonstrate your language skills there, typically via the specialist language examination. An aptitude test, as required for degrees from non-EU countries, is not necessary.

Can I transfer to a German university later?

Transferring to a higher semester is possible in principle, but by no means straightforward. The German university will assess your credits individually, and you will need a vacant place in the relevant semester, allocated either through the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung or directly by the institution. Plan your studies in Sofia as though you intend to complete them there.